Somerset & Classified Tel: 01823 619073 ava@countrygardener.co. SMALL WOODS NEWS EVENTS


wonderful Causeway Wood near Heathfield in East Sussex. Our host was David Brown, our new Small Woods Regional Organiser for the South East. The heavy relentless rain was no match


Causeway Visit O


n 9th November 2013, 21 of us assembled in less than ideal weather conditions to see the


for David’s irrepressible enthusiasm and warm welcome. The only person without a hat, he positively lit up as he conducted the visit like an orchestra. Originally Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland (ASNW), it was clear felled and replanted by the Forestry Commission in the early 1960s. The compartments include a field that had previously separated two areas of ASNW and most had been stocked with various softwoods as was the FC fashion then but they also planted substantial compartments oak and of beech. In the 1980s, the wood was deemed too small by the Forestry Commission to be commercially viable; this was hugely to everyone’s benefit as David then bought it and made it his lifetime’s work to restore it to its former glory. Especially refreshing was the fact that


David had encouraged natural regeneration after embarking on the slow process of conifer removal. It was a delight to see how placing tree guards round self-seeded saplings was enabling native woodland to recapture the land. The ground flora in


Recent Events


The first event of the autumn took place in a 8ha ASNW SSSI at Old Copse, Beenham near Reading (top left). Although managed by the owners with biodiversity as a main objective they have invested a sizeable amount of money in kit for extraction and conversion into logs for their own use and neighbours, and for planking some of their ash and oak. At Rawhaw Wood (below), Kettering, Hugh Ross and Carolyn Church, of Hazel Woodland Products, ran a one-day Introduction to Hazel Coppicing in their beautifully-managed 20ha woodland. At Hatfield Forest David Hooton (top


right, with clipboard) of the Deer Initiative ran a one-day course for members on identifying and monitoring deer impacts for 12 members. We were joined by a few professional stalkers, who were stunned by how much impact deer have on woodland. Then, at Round Laun, Corby, Members Gerald and Susan Collini welcomed members to their historic 8ha ASNW oak woodland in the Rockingham Forest. They have just had a management plan agreed with FC to thin the park, manage some areas as coppice with standards, and put in access tracks and a loading area. Members also enjoyed courses at the


Woodland Skills Centre in Wales, which ran two, two-day home user chainsaw courses and one-day courses offering an introduction to woodland management and practical woodland tasks.


06 Smallwoods New Year 2014 www.smallwoods.org.uk


restored areas includes heather and many interesting forbs – a reassuring testament to the persistence of wild seed banks. In common with many PAWS (Plantation on Ancient Woodland Site) restoration projects, brambles have taken advantage of the extra light where conifers have been removed and flourish under the relatively slow growing oak monoculture. David showed us what can be achieved by painstakingly pulling brambles by hand, revealing native saplings as well as permitting spectacular displays of spring flowers, rather than mechanically obliterating friend and foe alike. I am sure everyone learnt something


from the visit, from the ingenuity of construction of his welcome dry woodstore and workshop, where tea and coffee and delicious cakes were served, to the clever use of electric fencing and dead hedging to limit deer damage on new coppice and, above all, the benefit of using sound ecological principles in restoration. Philip Glyn


In the Autumn the National Coppice Federation was officially launched by Rebecca Oaks, having been nurtured for a few years by Small Woods' Richard Thomason. The high profile event in the centre of London featured a number of excellent speakers, including Ed Suttie of Grown in Britain and Julian Evans (above), the recently appointed president of the Institute of Chartered Foresters. Pooran Desai (below) spoke about frustrated efforts to empower the charcoal industry, while Martin Warren of Butterfly Conservation highlighted the benefits to wildlife of coppicing.


Coppice Federation


PLANTINGNEWHEDGESORWOODLAND? Call us for all your forestrysupplies!


● ● ● ●


Trees &Hedging Plants Native Provenance Handled with GREATCARE


Transparent Spiral Guards Our OWN Brand Better Quality,Overlapped, Easy Chemical Use


Fine Mesh Shelters For Shrubs &Trees No Outdated Tubes!


Deer Fencing -Plastic Mesh, Easy Erection! Ideal for Glade /Garden Protection


Fax: 01588 650631 www.farmforestry.co.uk FARM FORESTRY


FARM FORESTRYCOLTD Tel: 01588 650496 /650460


Tel: 01588 650496 /


WOODLAND MANAGEMENT Planning for a successful future


A Woodland Management Plan will:


• Clarify your aims and objectives for your woodland • Identify the most suitable woodland design and planting plan • Ensure your site is developed in harmony with nature • Set out a logical and budgeted programme of work


Michael Littlewood Cards:Layout 1 19/07/2011 00:39 Page 1


To realise your dreams, you need to start with a Plan Please contact me for a copy of my brochure


NORTHCOTE HILL, HONITON, DEVON EX14 9TH gROwINg IN DEVON SINCE 1957


PERRIE HALE NURSERY


woodland Planning & grant Applications Trees & Shrubs for woods & hedgerows


01460 75515, michael@ecodesignscape.co.uk, www.ecodesignscape.co.uk L A N D S C A P E D E S I G N E R


FLI FSGD 6 George &Crown Cottages Plantoil 60x90mm_Layout 1 14/12/2011 15:25 Page 1


Church Street • Hinton St George • Somerset TA17 8SD Telephone & Fax: (01460) 75515


Email: michael@ecodesignscape.co.uk Web: www.ecodesignscape.co.uk


littlewood.indd 1 Plantoil CHAIN SAW OIL • 2-STROKE OIL • 01/01/2014 13:40


cares for the environment


SAW BLADE OIL FREEPHONE 0800 013 7363 www.plantoil.co.uk


SHROPSHIRE FORESTRY CONTRACTORS URGENTLY REQUIRED


TIMBER WANTED Hardwood & Softwood YEW AND OAK preferably standing Large DOUGLAS FIR AND LARCH


ALSO ALL OTHER SPECIES - HARDWOOD OR SOFTWOOD, STANDING OR FELLED, LARGE OR SMALL PARCELS CHERRY, SWEET CHESTNUT & OAK. FIREWOOD ALSO WANTED.


TOP PRICES AND PROMPT PAYMENT


CONTACT: JOHN HALL, FAIRACRES, COUNDMOOR, SHREWSBURY SY5 6AY TEL: 01694 731621 FAX: 01694 731 624 MOBILE: 07802 366653


The world’s fi nest pruning saws Silky Fox Saws


Foxley Estate Offi ce, Mansel Lacy,


Hereford HR4 7HQ Tel: 01981 590224


Fax: 01981 590355 www.silkyfox.co.uk


PRUNING MADE EASY


Quality bare rooted plants available from early autumn Tree shelters etc. & advice on tree protection Planting, maintenance & establishment


FOR EXPERT, FRIENDLY ADVICE phone: 01404 43344 www.perriehale.co.uk perriehale@eclipse.co.uk


www.ecoangus.co.uk 01934 862642


THIS PROOF REQUIRES PLEASE CHECK


DEADLINE FOR NOVEMBER 2


✓ Offer the complete range of wood log boilers ✓ Two complete ranges Angus Super and Angus Orligno ✓ Output range 18kW, 25kW, 40kW, 60kW, 80kW, 100kW, 130kW ✓ ✓ Grants available under Renewable Heat Incentive ✓ ✓ ✓ Incorporate into existing heating system


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15