Back in the summer I was contracted by the Leconfield Estate to provide a month’s worth of cover for one of their regular foresters who, unfortunately, had become injured. I was delighted to have the opportunity to work for Leconfield as the Estate has a reputation for producing fine hardwood timber (principally oak) and owns some beautifully managed woodlands.

I was working on a hardwood thinning in Holland Wood, just north of Petworth. Here we were removing a mixture of hornbeam, ash, beech, and some smaller oak in order to give more space and light to the better oaks so that they could grow on for the future.

Also growing in the woods in relative abundance is Wild Service Tree. Related to Whitebeam and Rowan, it is considered to be an indicator of ancient woodland and is one of my favourite trees.

As we progressed through the woods, so the amount of produce built up. As well as oak and ash butts for timber, we were cutting oak and ash rail blanks for cleft rail fencing, ash mini-logs for a specialist market, and a fair amount of cord-wood for the firewood market. The photos below show some of the butts stacked at ride-side awaiting uplift.

The work can seem very dramatic at first and it’s not uncommon to receive the odd negative comment from passers-by when in the woods. However, it is important to remember that we are continuing a cycle of management that has been carried out in Britain’s woodlands for thousands of years. Indeed, much of our native woodland flora and fauna depends on this management and it’s not long before nature starts to reap the benefits of increased light in the woods.

In the photos below you can see Yellow Pimpernel (an ancient woodland indicator species) and common dog violet growing in one of the compartments.

However, come next spring the woods will really be at their best. The wild flowers will come in to bloom and a riot of colour will be on show.

All too soon my month with the Estate was at an end, but the work at Holland Wood continued in earnest. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the guys at Leconfield Forestry, and especially Brian Carver who I worked with for the majority of my time there.