Citation
Ancient Woodland: Its History, Vegetation and Uses in England
TL;DR
Coppiced oak stools in England dated to 1,000+ years old
Authoritative source on coppiced woodlands in England, documenting oak stools dated to 1,000+ years old. Rackham's work provides the biological foundation for understanding regeneration from surviving root systems - the central metaphor of organizational regeneration.
The book demonstrates that organisms can regenerate repeatedly over centuries if their root systems remain intact and they maintain energy reserves. This directly translates to business: companies can survive multiple crises if core capabilities, brand equity, and customer relationships survive.
Key Findings from Rackham (2003)
- Coppiced oak stools in England dated to 1,000+ years old
- Individual trunks 10-30 years old with millennium-old root systems
- Trees regenerate dozens of times from same root system
- Coppicing as traditional woodland management for 300-500 years