News
The Exmoor Squirrel Project 2023
The Exmoor Squirrel Project is a collaboration between ourselves, Red Squirrel South West and Exmoor National Park, funded by the Forestry Commission. We are focusing on a 35km stretch along the North Coast of Exmoor using its landscape as natural barriers. To one...
ESI Issue 40: Squirrel
Here is the current issue of Squirrel brought to you by the ESIWoodland management From traditional sweet chestnut coppice grown on a 14 year rotation (also home to the white admiral butterfly) to undamaged English oak, we have experience of...
Optimised Air Rifle Methods for the Humane & Lethal Removal of Grey Squirrels
A Case Study from a Manor House Estate in the North of England Written by J.D.J Braithwaite and Charles Dutton A Report Compiled for and on Behalf of the European Squirrel Initiative https://www.europeansquirrelinitiative.org/Part I: Overview This report outlines a...
Red Squirrel and Timber Harvesting
“Too often we have heard that shooting cannot control grey squirrels, but following the publication of my Grey Squirrel Management handbook, Dr Jason Braithwaite has done an in-depth study on controlling grey squirrels using an airgun at bait stations over several...
Woodland Management and Grey Squirrels UKSA 2021
Woodland management From traditional sweet chestnut coppice grown on a 14 year rotation (also home to the white admiral butterfly) to undamaged English oak, we have experience of managing all types of silvicultural systems, rotations and objectives to suit a range of...
We may have lost red squirrel nests, says forestry agency
The Scottish Government’s forestry agency has admitted that red squirrel nests may be “lost” when it cuts down trees, and promised to improve its “processes and procedures”.The admission from Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS) came in response to allegations that...
ESI Issue 39: Squirrel
Here is the current issue of Squirrel brought to you by the ESI Woodland management From traditional sweet chestnut coppice grown on a 14 year rotation (also home to the white admiral butterfly) to undamaged English oak, we have experience of...
Costing the Earth
Gene Editing Nature Costing the Earth Gene editing could revolutionise environmental conservation. But should we use this this power to edit nature, and if so, how should it be controlled? Listen to the recent Radio 4 program hereWoodland management From traditional...
Standing Up For Rivers
Wild fish and their waters need you. Our report on the Environment Agency (EA) 'Doing its job?' exposed its lamentable failure to protect our rivers and their wildlife. Now we need your support. We have launched a Parliamentary Petition calling on Government to give...
The Future of Restocking Grants – a debate or a way forward?
The cost of restocking after clearfells is a long term financial burden for all growers, especially if forced clearfelling has taken place as a result of Ash Die Back (chalara/hymenoscyphus fraxineus) and/or Larch disease (Phytophthora ramorum). There is some...
our Services
We provide the following services
Woodland management
From traditional sweet chestnut coppice grown on a 14 year rotation (also home to the white admiral butterfly) to undamaged English oak, we have experience of managing all types of silvicultural systems, rotations and objectives to suit a range of management and wildlife aims.
Grey squirrel management
Grey Squirrels destroy more young broadleaf trees in lowland Britain & Ireland than almost any other woodland pest. The damage they do costs the UK forestry industry upwards of £45m/yr. At last, some innovative research is under way into a long term solution. Whilst we wait for that, we can do much to limit their damage and even grow trees which will not be damaged. The key to grey squirrel management is to understand exactly why they damage trees in the first place.
New woodland design
Establishing a new wood can be a life-changing experience, regardless of whether you are a farmer or private estate. You will be creating the landscape of the future and doing your bit for the environment and biodiversity. The Government and the EU have set ambitious targets to combat climate change of net zero CO2 by 2050. The UK has around 13% tree cover against Europe’s 37%, and with thousands of hectares available across the country, there has never been a better time to take advantage of the excellent grants for planting trees. Now is the time to get planting!