Lowland Woodland Management Problems and Opportunities Mike Strachan
Problems and opportunities Issues Lack of woodland culture Cattle need me today, the trees will be there tomorrow My father planted trees in 1948. We made £190 from the sale and it cost us £5000 to replant the site They get in the way of the tractor. Do you know how much wing mirrors cost? Trust Paperwork Time Skills
UNDERESTIMATE The resource Over 300,000ha of woodland on farms <5% is being managed Growing at approx 1.5 million tonnes/year Approx 1 million tonnes sustainable cut/yr If all as firewood value of approx £30 million/yr UNDERESTIMATE
Undermanaged woods
What you could have!
How Select Prune Thin
Quality Broadleaves
How to manage? DIY Legislation and paperwork Forestry Agent One stop shop Collaboration
Why Manage? Financial Shelter Biodiversity Fuelwood Sporting Animal welfare Natural lambing sheds
Oil, LPG or Wood?
An option? Qualified Forester sets up in business to manage small woodlands for landowners. He/she does all the necessary paperwork and manages the woods. Landowner receives say £100/ha from the Forester, gets field trees pruned back and some firewood. Forester gets the timber removed to sell and any grant support. Would you entertain them if they knocked on your door?