Setting Up a New Group

Step 1 – Find potential members

In order to become affiliated to the National Coppice Federation, you’ll need to find yourself a few coppicing chums to help form a group of at least 5. Sending an email to anyone you know that might be interested and asking them to forward it to their contacts is a good place to start. Coppice workers, hedgelayers, green woodworkers and conservationists are all likely candidates.

You could also:

• Use the Small Woods Association’s Coppice Products website to find coppice related businesses in your area.
• Check if there is an Association of Pole Lathe Turners group nearby.
• Use Facebook to find related groups who may be interested in joining.
• Contact local groups and organisations (such as the Wildlife Trust, National Trust, green woodworking clubs etc) and ask them to promote your group to their members.

Step 2 – Get together

Invite everyone to a meeting, perhaps in a pub, or a wood. Discuss what you all want to get from being a part of the group. This may include:

• Networking with other like-minded individuals in the local area;
• Holding talks, work parties and exhibitions;
• Attending local craft / country shows either as punters or exhibitors;
• Producing a newsletter or having a website; and
• Providing advertising opportunities for coppice products and services.

Step 3 – Decide on a structure

You’ll need to decide whether you want to be an informal group that gets together for a cuppa and a chat every now and then, or something for formal with some sort of structure in place. The NCFed is made up of both informal and formal groups, some of which are new and developing and others are larger and well established. Most groups find it useful to form a committee to share the workload and will generally have a chair, secretary and treasurer. Many will also have a simple constitution that sets out how the group will operate. These documents can be borrowed from another similar group and adapted to your group’s needs. For further advice on this or to find out more about how other regional groups are set up get in touch with our Membership Secretary on membership@ncfed.org.uk.

Step 4 – Get affiliated!

Whatever type of group you decide on, you’ll need a named representative who will act as the main point of contact with the NCFed and who will be responsible for circulating information to your members. You’ll also need to get in touch with the Membership Secretary on membership@ncfed.org.uk to register your group with the Federation. There are a couple of forms to fill out and you’ll need to pay a membership fee which will depend on the size of your group.