2024 finally blew itself out here in the woods, with the latter quarter of the year punctuated with storm after storm. It seemed that Ashley, Bert, Conall and Darragh had teaming up to test the resilience of our trees. Thankfully we got off lightly. But, one sizeable sycamore, decided to Read more…
A delightful day at Hickling Reserve working on the Brush-Tailed Bird workshop. The weather was very kind and the students full of enthusiasm. At the end of the day we were left tableful of creatures displaying their impressive (steam bent) plumage, and after a vote on the collective noun, it Read more…
Creating woodland trackways, or rides, has many advantages. Not only do they allow unhindered access across the site but they also let in valuable light, encouraging ground flora to flourish – that magical ‘edge effect’. And, of course, should the unimaginable happen, a cleared breathing space, cutting through the woodland Read more…
The shaving horse is undoubtedly one of the most ingenious machines ever invented – or perhaps I should I say ‘ever evolved’ – its unique combination of practical dynamics and ergonomics make it a joy to use and it’s an indispensable tool in the woodland workshop. Put simply, the shaving Read more…
Now that the thinning of conifers is well underway, it’s time to plant up an understorey of hazel and protect any self-set saplings. A very successful model for a productive woodland is what’s known as ‘coppice with standards’. It’s a system that has worked in Northern Europe for centuries, where Read more…
Getting timber out and away is more difficult than it sounds, especially as access to the woodland is limited. However, it’s amazing what can be achieved with a bit of dry weather, expert help, and a beautiful U400 Unimog.
We have started thinning out the conifers in the mature woodland. It’s a big project, but after 55 years or so, since the conifers were planted, the struggling broadleaves now need a helping hand. The conifers, I guess, were planted as a cash crop but they were never felled, let Read more…
A welcome visitor to the woods, but how difficult to photograph! This is the best of over fifty attempts – I gave up trying to freeze the wingbeats!
It’s been nearly five years since this section of the conifer plantation was felled and replanted. Now it seems the 1100 saplings have suddenly reached adolescence to form a youthfully vigorous, broadleaf woodland. The plan to leave plenty of clearings and let the understorey thrive seems to have paid off. Read more…
One aspect of bracken’s ability to dominate the landscape is its very effective adaptation of smothering and then collapsing young trees. This, it does in the autumn, after reaching a critical height and mass. It then can catch and twist into the branches and on wilting, brings the sapling to Read more…