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"Woodmen traditionally make use of the self-renewing power of trees.
- nearly all native species grow again either from the stump or the root system."
Oliver Rackham
OUR VISION
We're passionate about effective ancient woodland management; it's benefit to bio-diversity, habitat creation, public health and the importance of looking to our local woodlands for more ethical fuel.
Our primary aim is to continually improve our woodland for all it's inhabitants, including the people who use and study it.
THE WOODLAND
Much of the woodland that we work was rescued by the current owner from the gloom of conifer plantation. With the conifers removed and active management in place, the woodland is now a thriving success story of native trees and complex plant and animal life.
COPPICING AND FORESTRY
Coppicing is a traditional woodland management technique.
The stems of trees in a selected area are cut close to the ground with a chainsaw. Over the ensuing years, new growth will sprout from the stump, grow until ready to harvest and be cut again, so the cycle goes on!
With trees in their young, bushy form and sunlight now bathing the woodland floor, new ground flora will flourish. This sunny aspect and improved plant-life provides habitat to a much wider group of wildlife than overgrown woodland might offer.
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We then collect the logs using low ground-pressure machinery, only when the ground is suitably dry. This sensitive approach to forestry means we can minimise our impact on tree roots and precious underground fungal connections.
ECOLOGY & SURVEYING
We're not Ecologists,
so thank goodness some of our friends are...
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Over the years we've had the privilege of valuable advice from professionals and special interest groups
in our area and beyond.
With their help we can keep our management as sensitive and effective as possible and we're always learning!
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Wildlife surveys undertaken in the wood include plants, ponds, moths, bats, small mammals, butterflies,
fungi and birds.
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Among those species are some rather special individuals including, you guessed it... The Nightingale!
THE NIGHTINGALE
An illusive and private bird with a big voice.
Nightingales are a perfect example of a creature that can't get enough of managed coppice woodland.
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Who could make a better poster bird for our project!?
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They're scarcely found in the UK nowadays but we're lucky enough to have many pairs nesting thanks to the owner's de-coniferisation effort and our re-establishing of a coppice cycle within the wood.
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Thanks for supporting us.
Firewood sales allow the woodland to pay for itself, just as it would have for the woodsman of olde!