It seems a bit odd to be talking about fi rewood when the trees are only just getting into full leaf and the Bluebells have only just gone over, but woodland management is a long-term commitment. The seasoned timber has now been chopped up and put into store for the last bit of drying before being ready for sale. We are also fi nalising the details for this autumns timber harvesting, which will provide the fi rewood for the winter of 23/24, and so the cycle continues. An important part of this cycle is replanting trees where necessary. Nearly 10,000 trees went in over the winter, and, compared to the last couple of years, so far the growing conditions have been excellent.

To avoid disturbing nesting birds and ground damage from heavy machinery, usually at this time of year we are catching up with machinery and property maintenance (gates, fences, drains, roads, etc). While the forestry team are busy fi xing things, we usually have several experts in monitoring and recording what species we have in the estate woodlands; the results from this work is fed into our management plans to help us keep any negative impacts to a minimum. The forestry dept works closely with the Farms and Parks dept to make sure that any environmental improvements we are working are likely to have the widest possible benefi t.

The picture is of one of harvested sites after replanting. We have left as many larger trees as possible to help species and habitat diversity, as well as hopefully seed sources for more trees. The tubes are an unfortunate necessity to stop them being eaten by deer, but we will recycle as many as possible as soon as the trees are out of reach of being eaten.

We usually start deliveries for fi rewood in the fi rst week of August, with website taking orders from the middle of July. Keep an eye on the website - www.boughtonfi rewood.co.uk - for when we open up for sales!

www.boughtonfirewood.co.uk