Chopped up softer wood (6)
I believe the answer is:
forest
'wood' is the definition.
(I know that wood can be written as forest)
'chopped up softer' is the wordplay.
'chopped up' indicates anagramming the letters.
'softer' with letters rearranged gives 'FOREST'.
(Other definitions for forest that I've seen before include "eg Sherwood" , "green area" , "Dense woodland" , "Area thick with trees" , "Land covered with trees" .)