Woodland management
From traditional sweet chestnut coppice grown on a 14 year rotation (home to the white admiral butterfly), continuous cover forestry (CCF), dealing with ash dieback (chalara) 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.
If pests such as deer and grey squirrels can be managed and controlled, the growing of high value broadleaves can be achieved. If there is any doubt about this long term objective then profitable conifers can be grown in a sympathetic manner, often combined with broadleaves. Some species of broadleaves do not suffer from grey squirrel damage.
Above: ‘A wonderful stand of Western Hemlock and Chilean Beech’
Harvesting and marketing of timber
We have access to the full range of markets in England, Wales and Scotland. We undertake standing timber sales and roadside sales, depending on what suits our clients’ objectives. We have access to a wide range of harvesting contractors, from modern high-output teams as pictured below, to low-impact methods such as horse loggers and everything in between. We advise our clients on what is best for their site and objectives. Crops are measured before harvesting and an indication given on the estimated timber income. A full discussion with the client, and agreement of the budget, is undertaken prior to any work being carried out.
We work on a number of estates where some timber is harvested and sold on the open market, and the estate retains the small diameter wood for their own woodchip-fired boiler.
If the woodland owner wishes to undertake their own harvesting, we have access to a national range of marketing and processing companies, from large national markets to small, niche (and often very profitable) markets for hardwoods.
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!