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It’s been a strange and diffi cult year for many of us as a result of Covid, but surprisingly the Boughton Estate forestry team have never been busier, as the timber industries were classifi ed as ‘essential’. At the height of the pandemic we were at full stretch to meet the demand for wood fuels (mainly wood chips for commercial heating), and we eventually sold out of all products. To replenish the stocks we have just completed the third, of four years, of woodland restructuring as a result of the ongoing calamity that is Ash Die Back, or ADB. We are in a race to recover what value we can from the ash trees before they die and decay. Recognising the impact such work can have on the ecology we work closely with specialist in birds, bees, bats, etc. to identify the most important aspects before we start work and preserve them as much as possible; we have saved and/or relocated a number of rare native bee colonies, and have left where safe to do so any trees with useful looking rotten cavities. After felling we replant with a more diverse range of native broadleaf tree species that should make the woodlands more resilient in the future; this winter we will plant over 40,000 trees. The trees in the areas we replanted three years are up to 2m tall now and so recovery is quicker than many expect, and the more open young woodland areas make great hunting grounds for the likes of owls and kestrels. During the few quieter moments we have been working on other projects, such as the conversion of some of the bomb shelters on the old airfi eld into bat hibernacula, the installation of barn owl boxes on trees and buildings, as well as the DNA testing of woodland pond water to fi nd out what lives in them and so how we can improve them. We even are sponsoring on the estate an internationally important project looking into the ecology of our native honey bees. Of course we haven’t forgotten our fi rewood business, and the sheds have been full for several weeks now going through the fi nal bit of seasoning before sale. In line with Government policy we have gained HETAS accreditation for selling fi rewood that ensures your wood helps meet the Government’s targets for clean air. To order please go to our website for the full range of products and prices. www.boughtonfirewood.co.uk |
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