Archive for March, 2010

STOP WORRYING ABOUT THE WOODS

Despite two public meetings, three newsletters (which were delivered by our members to EVERY house that is built around the woods) and various newspaper articles stating very clearly that 40% of trees would go from the woods, people are coming to us saying they are ‘shocked’ and ‘horrified’ and ‘how can we stop this’.

Here, once again for the avoidance of doubt, are the facts:

- Management of woods – ie thinning – should be carried out every 5 to 10 years, say all experts. Lochend Wood has had no thinning for 60 years.
- Our Management Plan was drawn up in 2000 by our own forestry expert Simon Bell. It was approved by the Forestry Commission.
- Please note – the STRONGEST TREES are left, and the weaker trees are taken away. After 60 years of competing with each other, we are left with tall skinny trees with weak crowns. These stronger trees will grow stronger still, and by the summer, we are assured by experts, their tops will grow bushier and green over to fill gaps.
- Thinning is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY for the long term health of the woodland. Air and light gets in between the gaps and generates growth on the forest floor.
- a small section of poor Sitka Spruce, close to gate to Lochend Cottage, is being clear felled. This will be replanted in the Autumn with native species, providing a more natural habitat for wildlife
- The Woodland Group have been awarded funding grants to improve paths, put up interpretive signs, and repair old broken drains. These grants were on condition we carry out the Management Plan.
- Work was due to start on 5 January. This was delayed till 23 February because our contractors were snowed in at their previous job. This is still a good time of year to carry out felling, since spring is still not quite with us after a hard winter.
- Birds do not start nesting till the end of March, some species later. 2 sections of felling are already complete.
Brush and small branches are being put in to piles after the machines leave the sections. this is good for providing hiding places for small creatures. This will eventually rot down.
- The work will be complete by the end of March.

And finally – WE NEED YOUR HELP.
This work will breath new life in to the woods, but there is much more work to be done.
we need as many volunteers as possible to make piles of the branches, to help the wildlife and to make the woods look tidier with less trip hazards.

Isobel Knox
Convener DCWG