& Context Current production from natural forests will not satisfy future world demand for timber and fuel wood, and new land management options are required. & Aims We explore an innovative production system that combines the production of short rotation coppice in wide alleys with the production of high-value trees on narrow strips of land; it is an alternative form of alley cropping which we propose to call 'alley coppice'. The aim is to describe this alley coppice system and to illustrate its potential for produc-ing two diverse products, namely high-value timber and ener-gy wood on the same land unit. & Methods Based on a comprehensive literature review, we compare the advantages and disadvantages of the alley cop-pice system and contrast the features with well-known existing or past systems of biomass and wood production. & Results We describe and discuss the basic aspects of alley coppice, its design and dynamics, the processes of competi-tion and facilitation, issues of ecology, and areas that are open for future research. & Conclusion Based on existing knowledge, a solid founda-tion for the implementation of alley coppice on suitable land is presented, and the high potential of this system could be shown.Read less <