Woodland Custodianship

[TLM]

I have now had time to go through the winter's damage, not really much. My larches wintered very well same with firs. No losses on the various pines either. Acer tataricum has again lost a lot of boughs, same with Salix fragilis. Birches shed dead boughs anyway. So not a bad winter for the trees at least so far, even though the weather was strange.

 

[Code 4]

I have started another Willow coppice. I already grow my own so taking some cuttings was easy.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iFM5HF]wils1 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]

I had a couple of areas turned over ready for planting in February.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iFKBLF]wils2 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]

These were planted last month and are already budding up. The weather has been perfect for them. Planted about 200.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iFGTET]wils3 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]

Just having it fenced off today before the sheep arrive. I will get a picture of my little wood, The Dingle, when we get a nice day.

 

[Broch]

Ah, fencing for sheep - spent just short of £2K on one border of my wood (the only border that is my responsibility), got all of my neighbour's sheep out and yesterday there were two back in

I lost a whole year's coppice growth last year so I'm going to have to get firm with them (the neighbours not the sheep).

 

[Code 4]

I have started another Willow coppice. I already grow my own so taking some cuttings was easy.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iFM5HF]wils1 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]

I had a couple of areas turned over ready for planting in February.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iFKBLF]wils2 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]

These were planted last month and are already budding up. The weather has been perfect for them. Planted about 200.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iFGTET]wils3 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]

Just having it fenced off today before the sheep arrive. I will get a picture of my little wood, The Dingle, when we get a nice day.

Finished the fencing on Tuesday and just in time as no one is moving about now. Dare I say it but I could do with a drop of rain down now.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iJgZB3]cop1 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]

 

[Broch]

Finished the fencing on Tuesday and just in time as no one is moving about now. Dare I say it but I could do with a drop of rain down n on Flickr[/URL]

All looking very tidy - certainly compared to my wild patch. Doesn't look like we are due any rain for the next week though.

I've been working in the wood all day today - clearing the brash from the coppicing and cutting up the main timber to stack for drying out. I'll post some pictures when I've got it all a bit tidier tomorrow

Unfortunately I found a tree down across one of the fences in an area I haven't been down to for a few weeks so tomorrows' first task is to clear that and repair the fence. It's not my fence but the tree that came down was mine so it's up to me to fix it.

I started the day by winching some potential bow staves I'd cut late last year up onto the track. There are a few tools I've acquired recently that make all these jobs on my own possible that I'm really growing to appreciate and the capstan winch is one.








Quite a large but decaying tree has come down as well. It's always a shame when a tree that provides such a good environment for wildlife falls but it will carry on doing good work on the wood floor . The ivy stem shown in the second photo is at least 130mm (5") thick!

 

[Code 4]

All looking very tidy - certainly compared to my wild patch. Doesn't look like we are due any rain for the next week though.

I've been working in the wood all day today - clearing the brash from the coppicing and cutting up the main timber to stack for drying out. I'll post some pictures when I've got it all a bit tidier tomorrow

Unfortunately I found a tree down across one of the fences in an area I haven't been down to for a few weeks so tomorrows' first task is to clear that and repair the fence. It's not my fence but the tree that came down was mine so it's up to me to fix it.

I started the day by winching some potential bow staves I'd cut late last year up onto the track. There are a few tools I've acquired recently that make all these jobs on my own possible that I'm really growing to appreciate and the capstan winch is one.

View attachment 57853

View attachment 57854

View attachment 57855


Quite a large but decaying tree has come down as well. It's always a shame when a tree that provides such a good environment for wildlife falls but it will carry on doing good work on the wood floor . The ivy stem shown in the second photo is at least 130mm (5") thick!

View attachment 57856

View attachment 57857

Wow, I could use that winch. I've got some trees down from storm Dennis. Got a big Holly gone head first into the stream at the bottom of the dingle. Will try and cut it up in the summer but its an awkward job. Will try and get some pics.

 

[Code 4]

Earlier today on the small Willow coppice burning the winter trimmings. I was adding to the fire for 3 hours. That heap will burn now for a couple of days I reckon.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iJfmvF]cop2 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]

 

[Orhdposs]

Do any of you extract wood for any purpose?

Up to now all I've done is use windblown for firewood and, of course, the odd stick from hazel. But I'd like to make better use of some of the timber. We get a number of windblown trees down each year (mainly ash) and it seems a shame to just burn it. The problem is the local mill wants it in longer than 6 foot sections and I have no way of dealing with anything that large (the wood is on steep ground with tracks zig-zagging through it). So, I've just bought myself a cheap (sub £100) chainsaw mill to attempt to get some planks out of a few of the trunks.

Any experience of using them? any tips?

Hi still getting used to posting on this site When I've used my mill I found the best way to get a decent start was to secure the log, then level a line where you want to make your first cut on one end of the log do the same at the other end, then nail a parallel piece of ply from the lines going up into thin air, I sit my ally ladder on this secured with a few screws to stop it moving this is the flat surface for your mill to run om make sure the ladder is longer than your log and the first cut is just below your nailed on ply, second cut runs along the cut you just made happy planking.

Broch

 

[Broch]

Wow, I could use that winch. I've got some trees down from storm Dennis. Got a big Holly gone head first into the stream at the bottom of the dingle. Will try and cut it up in the summer but its an awkward job. Will try and get some pics.

Well, if it can wait till this isolation thing is over I can pop over with the winch and give you a hand

 

[Broch]

It was too windy here yesterday (and as cold as winter) so I couldn't light a fire and get any more brash clearance done. I did clear the fallen tree and repair the fence though. It's quite eerie in the wood when the wind is blowing in the tops - all sorts of creaking and groaning noises




I wonder what future this little self seeded sapling has got; will it still be here in 100 years?

 

[Toddy]

All looking very tidy - certainly compared to my wild patch. Doesn't look like we are due any rain for the next week though.

I've been working in the wood all day today - clearing the brash from the coppicing and cutting up the main timber to stack for drying out. I'll post some pictures when I've got it all a bit tidier tomorrow

Unfortunately I found a tree down across one of the fences in an area I haven't been down to for a few weeks so tomorrows' first task is to clear that and repair the fence. It's not my fence but the tree that came down was mine so it's up to me to fix it.

I started the day by winching some potential bow staves I'd cut late last year up onto the track. There are a few tools I've acquired recently that make all these jobs on my own possible that I'm really growing to appreciate and the capstan winch is one.

View attachment 57853

View attachment 57854

View attachment 57855


Quite a large but decaying tree has come down as well. It's always a shame when a tree that provides such a good environment for wildlife falls but it will carry on doing good work on the wood floor . The ivy stem shown in the second photo is at least 130mm (5") thick!

View attachment 57856

View attachment 57857

See that thick ivy stem ? if you cut a bit off it and split it, that'll dry out well and it makes a great hearth board for a firebow

 

[Broch]

See that thick ivy stem ? if you cut a bit off it and split it, that'll dry out well and it makes a great hearth board for a firebow

That's true, but if leave it grow it will continue to provide habitat for the wildlife even on the ground - it's very tempting though because I've never used an ivy hearth as I've never wanted to cut a big one. If the ivy wilts because it's snapped under the tree though, that would be another thing I'll inspect it more closely next time I'm down there.

 

[Toddy]

We get a lot of trees blown down round here that are covered in ivy. One of the tree surgeons says the ivy acts like a huge sail and catches more wind.
On the whole I like the ivy. It's full of life, and it's evergreen too. Mine's just about to fill up with fat fruits, so it'll be full of woodpigeons just shortly :roll:
Daft things, cute but pretty gormless, if very determined to guzzle.

M

 

[Broch]

We get a lot of trees blown down round here that are covered in ivy. One of the tree surgeons says the ivy acts like a huge sail and catches more wind.
On the whole I like the ivy. It's full of life, and it's evergreen too. Mine's just about to fill up with fat fruits, so it'll be full of woodpigeons just shortly :roll:
Daft things, cute but pretty gormless, if very determined to guzzle.

M

I think this ivy was holding the tree up for the last couple of years! I have heard that before, about the ivy catching the wind; I'm not convinced to be honest - it's not as much of a sail as the tree in leaf and it hugs the trunk (usually). I suppose if the rest of the trees are leafless then more wind is getting through and so the ivy could contribute to it coming down but it does add a lot of strength to weakened trees I think

It is a fantastic wildlife habitat though there's no doubt.

 

[TLM]

Back to cold reality.
Caught a snow flurry:
Snow
My largest spruce
Tree
My pine hill
Pines

 

[Broch]

Back to cold reality.
Caught a snow flurry:
Snow
My largest spruce
Tree
My pine hill
Pines

Nice woods. What wildlife is there in those woods? I only have a small patch of Sitka Spruce so don't have any large pine specialists - just goldcrests.

 

[Code 4]

Well, if it can wait till this isolation thing is over I can pop over with the winch and give you a hand

That's one kind offer. Come the day, still living, yes please.
I plan to shimmy down there in July/August and start cutting it back to the trunk with hand tools.
This first picture is where the Holly stood.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iK5qnt]hol1 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]
You can see why I lost it as it was growing on rock. Shame as it overhung the path below and I do like my Hollies. Not what I would usually chop up.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iK3MFi]hol2 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iK3Mf3]hol3 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]


[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iK11nd]hol4 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]

 

[TLM]

What wildlife is there in those woods? I only have a small patch of Sitka Spruce so don't have any large pine specialists - just goldcrests.

Pinus sylvestris here have few specialist species, treecreeper is one of the few that seems to favor pine. Pines with larger seeds have more, my few Pinus cembra are seldom producing mature cones. Pinus peuce is liked by red squirrels and noted by nutcracker. Pinus contorta just is but the resin smells nice and it sometimes produces large amounts.

I am doing my twice yearly desprucing presently the conditions are optimal for once.

 

[Broch]

I hope Nomad64 will forgive me for copying his post into here as it may be of interest to some. I subscribe to the TCV handbooks and they are quite useful. I also have a number of their paper published handbooks.

So, from Nomad64:

<
Friends who work for Wildlife Trusts swear by the manuals produced by TCV for conservation land management projects which are accessed online via subscription.

TCV are currently offering a 50% discount on annual subscription which makes it £7.50 with the VAT which may be of interest to those managing their own land or permissions.

https://www.conservationhandbooks.com/
>

 

[Orhdposs]

That's one kind offer. Come the day, still living, yes please.
I plan to shimmy down there in July/August and start cutting it back to the trunk with hand tools.
This first picture is where the Holly stood.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iK5qnt]hol1 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]
You can see why I lost it as it was growing on rock. Shame as it overhung the path below and I do like my Hollies. Not what I would usually chop up.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iK3MFi]hol2 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iK3Mf3]hol3 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]


[url=https://flic.kr/p/2iK11nd]hol4 by kymco kid, on Flickr[/URL]

Won't hurt to leave it as it is I have a big Holly blown down 10 years ago still growing, shoots will start to grow straight up.