28 CONTEXT 189 : SEPTEMBER 2026 The amount of woodland actively being coppiced, and the number of coppice workers making spars or thatchers skilled in making spars from hazel gads, have dwindled. Factors such as the war in Ukraine and Brexit have also impacted spar supply. A continued concern is the sometimes variable quality, finish and longevity of imported spars. If dried out and improperly finished with blunt ends, they lack the spring, workability and durability to secure thatch for the 20 to 25 years needed in average coatwork. Some failures have been noted within five years. Plastic spars, which can be produced at a fraction of the cost of split hazel, have been used in recent years, particularly at times of supply shortages. This is of additional concern as they are of non-traditional material and questionable longevity. They can destroy historic thatch layers on removal and are not recyclable. This is unacceptable in terms of sustainability; nor is it good economic value for owners of thatched homes if roofs need refixing after five rather than 25 years. Wherever possible sustainable supplies of home-produced hazel spars should be used. Over recent years, efforts have been made to address the materials and skills shortages. Historic England has carried out research into materials shortages and the use of machinery in thatch production, and is seeking to support solutions. The National Coppice Federation (NCFed) has carried out a coppice mapping project in the south west of England, supported by the Forestry Commission, to establish the condition of coppice, what has been lost, and what areas might be regenerated or planted. The survey is being rolled out to other areas of the country. As the results become known, the potential availability of hazel for products such as fencing and spars will become clear. Some good news is that DEFRA has recently instigated several countryside stewardship capital grants for coppicing in England, with one of them (category code FY6) specifically designed to restore unmanaged or neglected woodland coppice. Many coppicing initiatives are taking place up and down the country as part of A cottage in North Hinksey, Oxford, thatched by Richard Gregory with combed wheat straw and a block wrap over the ridge, secured by hand-twisted English spars and liggers (Photo: Andy Raffle) Spars securing thatch on a thatched cob wall at Blewbury, Oxfordshire (Photo: Sally Stradling)
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