OUR SERVICES

A management plan is a good starting point when considering the options for your woodland. In England, grant funding is available to support the process and having a management plan approved by the Forestry Commission is a prerequisite for further grant funding under Countryside Stewardship.

A management plan involves taking stock of your woodland, setting out your objectives and identifying the constraints and opportunities. A detailed ten-year work programme is then put together to best meet your objectives. After a process of consultation with the Forestry Commission and other stakeholders, the plan is officially approved and a ten-year felling licence is issued. 

Digital mapping and geographic information systems (GIS) have transformed forest management over the last 20 years and are now an essential part of planning and day to day management. We can work with your existing digital data, digitise old paper maps or start from scratch with the use of high-resolution drone imagery and ground surveys.

The grant options available to you are complex and differ in each of the devolved nations. We will guide you through the options, advise on scheme requirements and work with you to put together a strong application. In England there are currently good levels of grant support for woodland creation and the new round of Countryside Stewardship includes a wide range of payments for managing exiting woodlands. There are also new payments for establishing and managing agroforestry systems where trees and agriculture are combined on the same parcel of land.

Pests and diseases are an increasing challenge - Phytophthora ramorum continues to have a major impact on commercial forestry. Ash dieback is present throughout the country and has a significant impact on timber quality as well tree safety and liability. Deer and grey squirrels have a huge economic and ecological impact, making it almost impossible to grow broadleaved trees in many areas of the country without effective control strategies.

There is grant support available for replanting areas affected by tree diseases and for managing deer and grey squirrels as well as invasive plant species such as rhododendron. We can put together invasive species management plans, advise on recovering timber value and managing tree safety.

Felling is an essential part of good woodland management, but must be carried out with a valid felling licence, which we can obtain on your behalf. Occasionally additional protection is in place in the form of Tree Preservation Orders or Conservation Areas. These designations should not be a barrier to positive woodland management or arboriculture and we can advise and obtain consent for work where necessary

Harvesting and marketing of a crop that has been growing for many decades is a serious responsibility. We have access to the best markets, harvesting contractors and hauliers to ensure the work is done to the highest standard and the very best prices are secured. Unlike many forest management companies, we are truly independent, we do not buy timber ourselves and are not owned by a timber processing company. We only ever act as impartial third party to organise and oversee the whole process on your behalf.

Once a site has been harvested, it’s time to establish the next generation of trees. Species choice in a changing climate with new and emerging pests and diseases can be challenging. We draw on a thorough understanding of silviculture to advise on appropriate species, provenances and mixtures.

We source the best quality plants, with the best genetics, and deliver restocking programmes that have the strongest possible chance of thriving for decades to come.

Creating a new woodland is hugely rewarding and a wonderful legacy to leave future generations. It can often be a financially attractive option as well, with generous grant funding, carbon credits or biodiversity net gain payments.

We can advise, design and cost up your project. For schemes over 5ha in England, there is support for the scoping and design process available under the Woodland Creation Planning Grant.

Once the scheme is designed we can plant, monitor and maintain the trees to ensure the best possible establishment – your new woodland will start to have an impact within just a few years

Tree safety is a significant concern where you have woodland or individual trees in reach of roads, rights of way, buildings or other public areas. Landowners have a legal duty to manage risks to the public and must take reasonable steps to identify and deal with dangerous trees. We can put together a proportionate tree safety strategy, carry out professional tree safety surveys and organise and oversee any remedial work required.

We also have the expertise to carry out tree surveys for planning and development in line with BS 5837m and can provide general arboricultural advice on individual trees, gardens and parkland.

Non-woodland habitat can be an important part of a woodland holding or wider estate. We have experience of a wide range of habitat management operations from creating and restoring ponds and lakes to removing scrub from scheduled monuments to restoring ancient wood pasture.

Good access infrastructure can transform a woodland and significantly improve profitability and capital value. There is grant support for forestry roads and tracks in England and we can design schemes, navigate the planning system and apply for funding, right through to delivering the projects on the ground.