Met, perhaps, by rear of these trees (5)

I believe the answer is:

copse

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'these trees' is the definition.
(a copse is a small wood)

I cannot understand how the remainder of the clue works.

(Other definitions for copse that I've seen before include "A little wood" , "Small thicket" , "Cluster of trees" , "Wood - thicket" , "Dense growth of bushes or trees" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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