Woodland Creation & Cultivation

Coppicing existing or recently planted chestnut or hazel is a productive and sustainable practice.

As part of our management planning we identify programmes to manage areas such as coppice to enhance biodiversity and land health.

Coppicing woodland understorey is a very satisfying operation reinvigorating hazel and chestnut stools. Well grown chestnut can be cut commercially and in some woodlands is the dominant silvicultural system.

To find out how we can help you with your woodland conservation get in touch via our enquiry form and one of our forest managers will get right back to you.

All woodlands have areas of natural habitat whether it be old coppice, open ground or internal ride edges. These areas are rich habitat for native plant, insect and animal species but need managing to maximise their potential.

On suitable soils Heathland is the natural state and restoration/management is often the most suitable course.

Open ground within woodlands is encouraged to provide a variety of habitats for insects to mamals to plant and fungi species.

To find out how we can help you with your woodland conservation get in touch via our enquiry form and one of our forest managers will get right back to you.

Operations include:

• Coppicing
• Ride edge improvement & management
• Heathland restoration

On some sites natural regeneration can prove to be an effective method of restocking. Planning for the natural regeneration of woodland starts with the existing trees still standing and involves the creation of suitable ground conditions and light intensity to encourage germination.

Not every woodland or tree species is suitable for this method and sometimes the most successful examples occur without planning. In our region Scots pine regeneration on lighter soils has been particularly successful.

Ash, Birch and Willow are pioneer broadleaved species that will often quickly colonise an open site from dormant or blown in seed. Heavy seed trees like oak require stand preparation over decades to be successful.

Whilst Natural this method is sadly not free and requires greater management engagement to ensure timely intervention of ground preparation and vegetation control.

Revenue generated by well managed woodlands and forests is well understood and documented. Existing markets for woodfuel, raw timber for construction, joinery & furniture making are well developed, however wood is increasing it’s market share in all areas and we expect it to continue to do so in light of climate change and the benefits offered by one of teh only truly sustainable raw materials.

The value of a woodland is assessed in multiple ways. Valuation for insurance, for use, for contents i.e. trees and plants of value, for quality of development, for locale and regional property values

The capacity of soil, plants and trees to capture and lock in carbon is called sequestration. This process has an intrinsic value to the planet but it is also becoming a measured economic mechanism with revenue attached to land and forests.

Currently forest carbon credit are only applied to newly planted trees but we hope for and expect development in this area of economics and trade, the benefits of which could be enormous  

Restocking by planting may be part of a woodland creation project, or a step in an existing management plan.

The choice of species to restock with is guided by soil type, owner preference, woodland designation and forester advice. Suitability of species to soil type is the most critical factor but where woodland has an Ancient Woodland designation and conifer has been the previous species (PAWS) there is a presumption to restock with Broadleaves. Owners can opt to restock with conifer but are not eligible to claim grant aid.

The quality of transplant and provenance is essential to the long term performance of the stand. We liase with leading tree nursery’s to ensure this quality.

In the South East Region many of our woodlands are designated ancient or ancient semi natural woodland. Through the 1960’s forestry policy was to clear broadleaves or convert heathland to productive softwood timber. These Planted Ancient Woodland Sites (PAWS) are now ready for felling providing opportunity to reassess species suitability.

To find out more about forest operations get in touch via our enquiry form and one of our forest managers will get right back to you.

Restocking by planting may be part of a woodland creation project, or a step in an existing management plan.

The choice of species to restock with is guided by soil type, owner preference, woodland designation and forester advice for climate change resilience.

Suitability of species to soil type is the most critical factor but where woodland has an Ancient Woodland designation and conifer has been the previous species (PAWS) there is a presumption to restock with Broadleaves. Owners can opt to restock with conifer but are not eligible to claim grant aid.

The quality of transplant and provenance is essential to the long term performance of the stand. We liase with leading tree nursery’s to ensure this quality.

For the first two/three years after planting control of competing ground vegetation is essential. At this point dormant seed banks take advantage of the sudden open canopy.

We use a combination of mechanical cutting and selective herbicide application to control weed growth just enough to enable trees to establish.

We also like to accept suitable naturally regenerated trees into the stand.