Farm Woodlands

Many owners of farm woodland schemes up and down the country will have recently received yellow forms through their letter boxes, inviting them to claim for another five years of grant payments. They remind us of the reasons we planted those woods in the first place, and to stand back and look at them again. They are the game cover, the shelterbelt, the improved view from the kitchen window, and the wet corner of the field that would never grow corn.

If you have a Farm Woodland plantation, I suspect your Forestry Commission contract sits quietly in a filing cabinet alongside quotes for trees, catalogues for tree guards and the odd invoice for weeding. Rarely seen, rarely needed, but representing something good on the ground. Many of the woods, like the forms we once filled in, sit quietly in their place.

Unlike your filed paperwork, you can get more from your woods than what they’re probably giving you now. Yes, it involves time which is hard to find on a farm - but they can bring you more. They also offer a good deal more fun and satisfaction than paperwork and forms will ever be.

We will all have different reasons for planting these woodlands, but there are a few jobs which are worthwhile doing to get the most out of them. Simple things - like removing or adjusting tree guards are going to be a good start. Tree stems can be damaged by trapped water and compression if the guards are left on too long. Secondly, remember that some of the longest living trees we have can be the slowest to establish. Make a decision on what trees you want to establish in the long-term, and get some qualified help to make sure those trees have the space and light that they need.

Thinning is so often forgotten, but can make such a difference to the farm woodland. Light reaches the floor again, helping any understorey of shrubs and allowing a herb layer to develop. Tracks through the woods benefit wildlife and game birds which like the mix of shelter and sunshine. Trees are able to put on girth, and you begin to see which ones should be there in a hundred years time. Consider pruning the best stems at the same time, and you’re left with a few logs and plenty of kindling for the fire.

Nicholsons have been happily involved in getting many farm woods planted and maintained over the years. They’re all different, and farm owners and managers often appreciate knowing about next steps, getting thinning licences, and knowing if there’s any more grant support out there for what they do. We can help at any stage in thedevelopment of your farm woodland, and helping you get the most from it.