Managed woodland?

[MikeE]

Many years ago I used to be a warden on a wooded reserve in Derbyshire, I now hate Sycamore, Rhododendron, bramble and most especially Japanese Knotweed
Without the planned intervention of 'man', in this case my boss the conservation officer, Pat, and her team of volunteers and a very large supply of tools (and occasionally chemicals ), the reserve would rapidly have become choked with all the above. I'm not sure why, but I still have a dislike for Sycamore, but keeping out the more foreign invaders to maintain native species is great, especially if it includes productive use such as coppicing.
Rant over!!

BTCV used to do guides on woodland management as did some of the Wildlife trusts or RSNC (now RSWT), don't know if they still do.
BTCV still do!!!!!!! On line versions too!

 

[Arth]

I would love a guide to the basics of woodland management techniques, anyone know of any good resources online or a book? 'dummies guide to woodland management' perhaps? Would just like to learn what practices promote growth in certain areas and environments and why etc.

I have three books,

The Woodland way by Ben Law, a permaculture approach to sustainable woodland management.
Woodland managerment by Chris Starr.
Woodland Habitats by Helen J Read and Mark Frater

 

[Arth]

Arth how do you deal with your "deer problem"? I know a lot of folk think that culling is the answer. I have no ethical problem with culling deer or cutting trees though it is actually very difficult to significantly reduce a deer population to the extant that you would notice a reduced level of browsing regrowth and of course its only killing females that reduces the population. Young shoots of regrowing coppice stumps seem to be the tastiest thing growing in a wood, I have cut coppice and been very happy with the regrowth for several months then one morning its all munched. One deer on one morning can munch a lot of regrowing stumps so I am not sure population density has a great effect on regrowth (though I would be very happy to see objective research results on the matter)

I brought the woods without the rights to hunt deer so I have no direct control over them. What I am doing is making a brash fence around the area I want to regenerate, like you say hopefully the deer won't go into that area. My theory is that deer don't want to risk injury to themselves.

 

[Nightwalker]

BTCV used to do guides on woodland management as did some of the Wildlife trusts or RSNC (now RSWT), don't know if they still do.
BTCV still do!!!!!!! On line versions too!

Great I'll look them up, thanks MikeE!

 

[Nightwalker]

I have three books,
The Woodland way by Ben Law, a permaculture approach to sustainable woodland management.
Woodland managerment by Chris Starr.
Woodland Habitats by Helen J Read and Mark Frater

Any comments on those books?

 

[British Red]

I have the Woodland way. Its a good read but quite instructional and covers things like how to get grants etc. as well as a lot of more interesting (to me) stuff.

I do personally recommend the history of the countryside too. Its fascinating but far from a "light" read - something to dip into or work through slowly. Packed with insight though

Red

 

[SOAR]

The woodland way is a really good book very informative and interesting it covers all aspects from what trees are used for to grant as Red said.