Pollarding is a woodland management method, but has in recent years found its way into the practice of arboriculture. The process involves the removal of all branches and most limbs resulting in the remainder of only the trunk and occasionally a framework of the major limbs. A tree that is pollarded is known as a pollard. A tree which has not been pollarded is called a maiden tree, which also refers to the fact that pollarding is normally first undertaken when a tree is quite young. After a tree has been pollarded the tree is given some time to re grow, after which the process may be repeated. Originally this management method was carried out to stop browsing animals reaching the new shoots and growth within the woodland environment.
