Its a long term thing - Woodland Management

Some good advice for all!

Difficult to escape the ongoing news on Ash dieback, the Forestry Commission  announces further spread involving 6 more counties. With this fungal disease its difficult to know how it can be contained given the spores can be carried on the wind and can be carried by any 'living' organism coming into fungal contact within infected areas. Is there enough of an 'appetite' in this country to protect our woodlands and especially supporting the long term strategies needed {trees life cycles encompass many years!} something I know is beyond a lot of the mover/shakers. Unfortunately we already import 90% of wood we use which is good quality and competitively priced. So to keep the commercial side of woodland management viable isn't easy and conserving woodland habitat becomes increasingly challenging with limited resources. Interestingly Mike has had to make a quick survey {timescales set were unrealistic with resources  available} on the Sherborne Ash which was additionally difficult given the absence of leaves.  The nursery source of our recent ash saplings doesn't look to be directly connected to infected sources but this may not be the end of the story. As an aside Mike has some new Elm strain to be planted but how this pans out will have to wait a quite a few years!

Additional lone swan on Sherborne Brook

Started the sunny day with a wood delivery in Sherborne village. Although the new wood store has been finished by Mike over the weekend,  the wood processing machine has not yet arrived, so it was back to splitting for the rest of the morning.  Enjoyed a relaxing lunch break by Sherborne Brook where the only newcomer spotted was a lone friendly swan occupying the water above the weir and away from the resident swan family.

The afternoon was spent in the West Belt where the thinning work continues. Worth mentioning that the wooded area worked provided more challenges than previously faced. Firstly the density of trees was greater which meant most of the trees felled refused to fall directly to the ground. So the tree lever, wedges, and a 'wood lever' all were called on before the trees could be grounded. Secondly the distance to the cord piles & rides, from some of the felled trees was longer, which meant more carrying effort for me. Sadly access for either the tractor or if available horse plus 'trailer' was not an option, so just my manual effort the only option. 

Wildwood, part 3 , carries on with more highlights of the need for good and sustained woodland management. Two observations I would highlight are the need for longer term planning { planting for the future} and the impact on wood quality and woodland diversity in the absence of sustained management. Was also pleased to see that on the non disease front public enemy no 1 'the grey squirrel'  for woodland got  a mention although trapping and shooting still looks inadequate against the millions of grey squirrels out there.