Shredding is a traditional European method of tree pruning by which all side branches are removed repeatedly, leaving only the main trunk and top growth. In the Middle Ages, the practice was common throughout Europe, but it is now rare and found mainly in central and Eastern Europe.
The purpose of shredding is to allow the harvest of firewood and animal fodder from the side branches while preserving a tall main trunk, which may later be harvested for timber. By repeatedly removing lower lateral branches, a clear bole (trunk) of 5 to 7 meters or more is achieved, while the upper crown is left intact to sustain the tree's growth.
The practice was formerly carried out in Britain, though historian Oliver Rackham noted that "the medieval practice of shredding – cropping the side-branches of a tree leaving a tuft at the top – vanished from Britain long ago." He reported seeing only a few ancient ash trees at Haresfield (Gloucestershire) that may once have been shredded.
Regional names for this technique include "podar" in Spain, "ragosses" in French Basque areas, and "sidohamling" in Sweden. Another term used mainly in Northern England for cutting side branches off trees is "snagging."
Shredding is related to other traditional woodland management techniques such as pollarding (cutting a tree at head height to promote regrowth above the reach of livestock) and coppicing (cutting a tree to ground level to stimulate multiple new shoots).
