We had been looking for a wood preferably with a open area for sometime.   We had a look at a few that were not right for us, thinking it was never going to happen.   One day I opened an email and there it was - in September 2022.  Golden Hill Wood, I immediately called Stuart, the area manager, and we arranged to view it.   Well,  it was just perfect and literally five minutes away from our home, so the ball started to roll. It was time for some research on equipment, we got some good advice locally, so a chainsaw, brushcutter, and other equipment was purchased.  Having a walk around with Stuart, taking on some good advice, we then started to work on our new heaven. Golden Hill Wood has some old broadleaf trees but mainly spruce, fur and a few Douglas Firs amongst others.  The wood not been cared for in many years, so I set to taking lower branches off to head height, a few had to be removed including a couple of tactical removals with trees broken half way up, removing the many brambles that had stored from the ground to the canopy in a web like manner.  I found myself pulling brambles from one tree only to see I'm pulling a tree further away as there was so much of it.   Patience is a virtue and I got there.   It is not the end, but everything is now manageable so I have a few hours work and then a chill out. I have a couple of tarpaulin areas which the granddaughters just love and embrace and lend their little hands.   When Roe or Red Deer are about, we have two sets of Buzzards along with Red Kite and. of course, Bunnies.  We spent New Years Eve 2022-23 there and I've made a wild camp under a basher. I'd recommend anyone taking a wood on.  It is so peaceful and calming.

“I don’t  need to attend a chainsaw course: I have been shown how to use one by someone who has been using a chainsaw for years, read a book, and have all the protective equipment required.” That’s what I thought until I attended a course with my son, who I had shown how to use a chainsaw safely. I have been using a chainsaw for five years, for clearing overgrown tracks, and feeding the voracious wood burning stove that provides all my heat and hot water at home. My chainsaw usage couldn’t be all bad – I had survived five years use without any problems, and only one near miss, that wasn’t that near anyway. However, my son and I decided that the time had come to go on a training course Read more...

On a beautifully hot and sunny May day, Mike welcomed a group of existing and potential woodland owners to Ferriby Wood, in the Yorkshire Wolds.  The purpose of the gathering was to share experiences of woodland ownership.  Folks met at his clearing where a fire was burning and the kettle was on. After a cup of tea and an introductory chat, we set off on a guided tour. Mike showed us how he has been managing his woodland in the five years since he bought it, looking first at a small section of coppiced ash.  He explained that he has been selling the poles to his local allotment association for use as bean poles, Read more...

Woodlands.co.uk has always been keen to encourage training for new owners of woodlands.  For those who have never owned woodland before, some good training can help them get to grips with their purchase more quickly, and for those who are old hands, it can broaden interest and enjoyment.  We have regular blogs with a selection of courses on woodland management and other related subjects to encourage you, but now we have introduced a scheme to “put our money where our mouth is” and pay owners to go on courses. From June 2009 anyone buying a woodland from us will be entitled to a payment of up to £300 towards the cost of  a woodland management course.  This will be available for any course which relates in some way to managing or enjoying a woodland.  Buyers can choose their own course - which could, for example, be on butterfly identification, chainsaw training or coppice management.   For most one-day courses this will pay the full cost and for longer courses we hope that it will cover a large part of the cost. We hope owners who go on these training courses will help each other by commenting on how useful the course was and whether they would recommend it to others. You can see some courses that are available this summer at https://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/conservation/woodland-courses-2009-pt-2/ or you might like to suggest a course you feel would be most useful to new woodland owners. nb. Update : a list of training / course providers can be found here :- https://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/events-places/training-and-course-providers/ 

Tips and hints on maintaining that essential bit of kit.  Guy Litchfield of Plumpton College gives a video demonstration for Woodlands TV: Read more...

Traditionally woodland was kept “clean” by clearing away fallen timber. However, nowadays it is recognised that deadwood has an important part to play in forest management. Deadwood was removed to prevent the transfer of disease and pests – a mistaken belief as it happens, for almost all species which inhabit deadwood are specific to that habitat (“saproxylic”) and will not inhabit living wood. Now deadwood is recognised as an essential part of the forest ecosystem. Read more...

Proper training is essential if you're planning to use a chainsaw. Make enquiries with the National Trust or your local agricultural college about City & Guilds NPTC Forestry, Chainsaw and Arboriculture courses. Mike Pepler gives us the lowdown on his course:- Read more...