During the 1990's, Britain saw a surge of interest in the management of old trees, which is now filtering through from the ecology/conservation sector to the arboriculture industry. Of particular interest are the many lapsed pollards scattered around this island.
The management of lapsed pollards (trees that were regularly pollarded but have been uncut for many years) has been the subject of much discussion and debate over the past decade. Generally, the perception of the modern arborist is that pollarding is the practice of pruning a young tree to develop a framework of branches to produce the frequently cut trees seen commonly in mainland Europe, a view that appears to have been reinforced by A. L. Shigo in his drive to change pruning practice in favour of natural target pruning and in particular against topping. Having viewed a number of such pollarded and pleached trees in northern France, it is my interpretation that most, if not all of these trees were topped at ages in excess of 20 years to initiate the pollarding cycle.
Our knowledge of the origin of pollarding in Britain is a little vague; Rackham, Trees and Woodlands in the British Landscape (1995), dismisses the suggestion by others that the disappearance of elm from Britain in the period around 4000 may have been, in part, attributable to pollarded elms being more susceptible to Elm Disease. Rackham does not, however, reason that pollarding was not practiced at this time. The practice of pollarding is no more or less than coppicing on a 2.0-4.0 metre high stem, where new growth is out of reach of browsing animals. Up to the early 19th century, pasture woodland (usually pollarded trees at spacings sufficient to enable the maintenance of a grass sward) was common throughout much of Britain and still exists here and in less developed areas of mainland Europe. Pollarding in Britain may have evolved from clearance of the Wildwood, where the removal of the largest trees was such an arduous task with crude tools that these trees were topped and their subsequent growth harvested.
The pollarding system utilises every element of the cut branch, with large diameter timber used in the construction of boats, ships, barns and houses. That the curved timbers seen in barns and medieval houses were hewn from straight trees is almost inconceivable when the curved limbs of pollarded trees could be cultivated, and examination of many such timbers indicates that the curve is that of growth. Smaller limbs were used for many purposes, and burnt for firewood and charcoal. Foliage was bundled as hay or fed directly to stock.
From the early 19th century, pollard management declined in Britain, with increasing industrialisation and availability of fossil fuels reducing the need for the products of pollarding. Lack of management has resulted in many lapsed pollards collapsing, with the decaying bollings (stems) unable to support multiple huge limbs. Many have been enclosed by conifer plantations and have died as a result. Management of lapsed pollards is being attempted at many sites with varying degrees of success.
The attached links are to photographs of a lapsed sessile oak (Quercus petrea) pollard in the north of England. The circumference of the discontinuous stem at the narrowest point is currently 14.8 metres (4.7 metres diameter). Various age estimates put the tree at 600-1000 years old, but I consider that it is considerably older and possibly in excess of 1500 years. The top photograph at http://www.tree-tech.com/board_files/pollardoak1.jpg is a drawing dated 1876 and below is a photograph taken in 1999 of the same view as the drawing. Note how little the tree has changed in 123 years. The dead stem to the front right appears to have been dead in 1876 and the live stem sections have evidently increased in diameter. The photograph at http://www.tree-tech.com/board_files/pollardoak2.jpg was taken by photographer Austin Farrell and is of better quality. Past uses of the hollow bolling have included a bullpen and the home of a mock Tudor playhouse.
What was the point of this ramble into the history of these living relics? Partly to share a little history, partly to demonstrate that pollarding, which derives its name from the dehorning of livestock, is not necessarily the practice described in recent arboricultural literature. The size of timber harvested from some pollards was substantial and totally contrary to the practice expounded in the recent literature. I could go on and on and on and…..

Reply to post by Mike Ellison, on August 05, 2000 at 13:23:30:

Hi Mike. Interesting posting particularly as Ted Green gave two papers at the Baltimore Conference this month, one of which was in respect of the varied forms and views on pollarding. My distinct impression was that most delegates were sceptical but then they as yet do not have any real veteran trees over there. Where relatively old trees were seen they were the subject of too much tlc and fear over potential litigation from the safety standpoint. As such our colleagues over the other side of the pond seemed to be afraid to allow the trees to grow old gracefully.
Colin

Reply to post by Colin Bashford, on August 05, 2000 at 13:23:30:

Colin

I understand from someone who was in the audience at one of Ted's sessions in Baltimore, that the local oysters represent a greater risk of embarassment than does the failure of old trees.

Reply to post by Mike Ellison, on August 26, 2000 at 16:19:59:

Mike. Almost correct it was actually the Baltimore "Liberty" crabs. As Ted said almost three days later they were still seeking their freedom!
Colin