The Forestry Commission is a government department whose main functions are to manage most of the forestry land owned by the government and to regulate the UK’s privately owned forests and woodlands.    It also has a significant research branch headquartered at Alice Holt on the Surrey/Hampshire border.  The Commission was set up in 1919 after the First World War with the twin aims of developing a reliable source of timber and creating employment in the forestry sector. Read more...

The hardy rowan tree (Sorbus aucuparia) is found all over the northern hemisphere.  It can grow at elevations of up to 1,000 feet, hence its other name, the mountain ash.  Found throughout the UK, it is most common in Scotland.  Its berries are very popular with birds and it’s quite common to see rowan saplings growing in inaccessible, rocky crevices where bird droppings have fallen. Read more...

A by-product of coppicing and thinning, pea sticks and bean poles are an alternative to imported, bamboo canes in the garden or vegetable plot. Read more...

Man has created the necessity for deer management by eradicating the natural predators of deer - the wolf, bear and lynx.  Escapees from deer parks introduced several non-indigenous varieties into the wild.  During the two World Wars, when manpower was limited, deer parks were left in disrepair and escapee deer spread.  With the formation of the Forestry Commission, land owners were encouraged to plant trees.  The aim was to create a national reserve of timber against future conflicts, but also created an ideal habitat for deer.  Improvement in farming practices provided more food. Deer Damage Deer are responsible for forestry and crop damage and, as they increase in number and range, more damage is now seen in gardens in urban areas. The damage they do to trees and plants are as follows: Fraying is damage done by territorial behaviour when deer rub and trash antlers on trees and shrubs. Browsing this is caused by the deer’s natural feeding and can kill or inhibit the growth of trees (note in the image below, small trees are the same age as the larger ones).  Has the effect of creating 'bonsai'. Control Measures There are numerous so called effective deterrents i.e. lion dung, sweaty socks, chemical agents and mechanical worriers, these are all short term solutions.  The only effective control is proper deer fencing put in by qualified persons, bearing in mind that roe deer can get under an 8” gap. Proper fencing is expensive and is not cost effective on large woodland areas therefore most areas have deer culling taking place in some form or another. [caption id="attachment_34415" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Remnants of birch woodland near Loch Muick are subject to browsing by red deer (especially in the winter), so temporary fences have been out in place to allow for regeneration.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_40967" align="aligncenter" width="675"] Fencing in place[/caption]   Culling This is done these days more and more by trained personnel who have obtained qualifications like DSC Level 1 and 2 from Deer Management Qualification.  These qualifications mean that all culling should take place in a professional, safe and humane manner enabling  field post-mortem to be carried out to confirm the health of the deer and its fitness for human consumption and carried out under strict hygiene  procedures The gralloch (Scottish word for evisceration i.e. removal of internal organs) must take place within 30 minutes maximum or less in the summer, after being culled the carcass must be bled immediately to stop the carcass becoming unfit for human consumption, by law. This generally has to be done in the field depending on how far one has to travel and disposal of the head, feet and gralloch should be by burial in the field (ensuring it is not near a water course).  Thus, taking other countryside users into consideration. Venison  Venison is one of the best meats to eat (recommended by the heart foundation) it is free-range meat with approximately 60% less cholesterol. The purchasing and eating of venison helps promote good deer management as they are looked at as a natural renewable resource,  instead of a pest. All six species of deer in the uk produce good quality venison,  although there is a slight difference in taste between them depending on what the deer have been eating and this can produce quite a unique taste.  It is recommended that a carcass be hung for at least three days to help venison mature, hanging for longer would produce a stronger taste (this should always be in a fly and vermin proof area and at 7 degrees C). Deer Species in the UK Red Deer                        One of our indigenous / native deer and the largest Sika Deer                        Introduced by the Victorians into deer parks and collections, medium sized. Fallow Deer                   Introduced by the Normans for food and hunting. Roe Deer                        The second indigenous / native deer, nearly wiped out in the Middle Ages  Muntjac Deer                Introduced by the Victorians. Chinese Water Deer  Introduced by the Victorians.   [caption id="attachment_557" align="alignleft" width="202"] Fraying[/caption] [caption id="attachment_563" align="alignleft" width="451"] effects of browsing[/caption]

Round turn and 2 half hitches A simple knot for tethering, or attaching a mooring line. Read more...

As a small woodland owner you will inevitably produce a certain amount of timber, even if this is not your main aim for the woodland.  But one of the problems facing a small woodland owner is that the amount of produce created is relatively little and therefore sometimes tricky to sell.  Read more...

Many people with small woodlands are attracted by the idea of using their wood for charcoal making.  You can either allow a charcoal burner to use your woodland for a season or you can try making it yourself.   Several people who have bought woodlands from us have successfully made their own charcoal and they have been selling it at woodfairs and other rural events. Read more...

A few tips from past purchasers …. Of course, buying your woodland is a very personal decision.  What’s important to you might not be to someone else and vice versa.  However, it’s safe to say there are a couple of constants to bear in mind: Read more...