Covering 20 000 Ha, chestnut is the second most important species in terms of planted area after oak in Poitou- Charentes region.
This coppice is a traditional forest occurring on silty acid soils in temperate regions with 700 mm of annual precipitation.
When not attacked by chestnut blight the productivity of these stands can exceed 8m3 ha:yr.
This multi-purpose durable wood can be used for cabinet, parquet floor, as well as outside clap-board and tool handles.
Usually, the coppice is between 35 and 50-year-old with 150 to 250 stems per hectare and stems are of 35-50 centimetres diameter when harvested.

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This species that was very common in the past century is now coming back into favour thanks to strong support from the Institute for Forest Development and the Regional Center of Private Ownership.
This species is frost sensitive and is very site demanding, requiring rich deep soils. It does not tolerate dry summer conditions.
This species is established on ripped land either by direct seeding or planting seedlings at a final spacing around 10-12 meters.
Stems are pruned to a height of 3 to 6 m to give high value logs for sawn timber and the annual crop of walnuts can provide regular income for the farmer.

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