Discovering Long Wood – A year in the life of a small woodland – January
So now you're a woodland owner. What do you actually do? Follow a year in the life of a small woodland ...
Heather fell in love with Long Wood. Like any lover, she needed to know everything about her beloved. First of all, every muddy track and tiny overgrown pathway. Then the seasonal changes of gales, torrential rain, sunshine, and the excitement in the spring of the gradually re-emerging shoots. And after that, she wanted to know the names of every plant, every tree, every moss and lichen and fungus. A Herculean task, but not impossible in a small woodland.
Rodney was desperate for fresh air and exercise. Working unsociable hours in the bowels of a cross-channel ferry, he needed to use his physical and his creative energy. With only a tiny garden, and great stretches of free time between his work commitments, his mind turned to forestry. Not commercial forestry with bulldozers and forwarders, but simple one-man operations, for which his training in engineering and his natural talent and inventiveness stood him in good stead.
Together they bought Long Wood, and in the second year of their ownership they put together a diary of what happened. We will be publishing the diary in pdf form on this website over the coming weeks and months. The first couple of instalments can be downloaded here:
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Discussion
Like most people interested in the country side i have thought about buying a wood I havent seen one near enough yet to tempt me but reading your account is most interesting and informative
keep going how much better it is than having nothing to do !!!
I am interested to read more from you and your background. I am really interested in purchasing a small woodland but am really worried about the costs. I have a young family and believe it would be great for them. I will definately be watching for more write ups from you.
Its wonderful to read Heather, looking forward to the rest of it!
Tracy
What a lovely piece about your wood, so fresh and honest! Well done. I’ll keep looking back and hear how your wood develops.
What a lovely idea! I enjoyed reading your story….it gives me hope…and it sounds wonderful. I’m pondering about buying a wood, but am not quite there yet…..and having read your tale I realise that it’s something one shouldn’t be afraid of….I’ll add it to my list of life experiences…soon I hope! Will watch for the next instalment.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your January posting and am full of admiration for you (and a little envious !). Long Wood sounds a wonderful spot. I’ve worked in forestry so have an idea of what you’re up against, more power to your elbows – and backs. Hope the awful weather isn’t causing too many problems. Can’t wait for the next part…
Hi Jeff
It can seem like quite a lot of money to buy a woodland, but the yearly running costs can be quite low. Trees just grow – its not like agricultural land that needs tending and farming. You can do much of the work in the wood yourself, to improve rides and biodiversity, but you can also get grants to help too!
Using the wood for firewood can save on heating bills and it is easy to sell some if you want to, to help with the small costs.
Most of all, it’s a lot more fun that sitting watching telly ;-)
Tracy
Tracy Pepler
3 March, 2009