Timber removed from a maturing mixed conifer plantation in a selective thinning operation, graded and stacked ready for transport to sawmill. Seedlings from the maturing trees are provided with more light to grow in the canopy gaps to form the next crop.
Forestry
Bradford Estates' woodlands cover an area of 500 hectares (1,235 acres) in the rolling countryside of Staffordshire and Shropshire, from Gnosall in the north to the M54 in the south.
Terry Merchant, who looks after Bradford Estates' woodlands, provides a brief overview of what is involved;
Thinning Operation
Continuous Woodland Cover
The preferred method of management on the Bradford Estate encourages the development of trees of all sizes growing together to provide continuous woodland cover in the landscape.
Risk Management
A plantation recently cleared of Larch to reduce the risk of potential infection from the pathogen Phytophthora ramorum. The young replanted trees are protected with plastic sleeves to prevent damage from rabbits.
Storm Damage
Clearing recent winter storm damage in preparation for replanting with young trees.
Transporting the Timber
Windblown timber is transferred by Forwarder to the nearest track, graded and stacked ready for transport to the Sawmill.