Coppicing time

                      In my last blog I talked of the damage caused by recent storms and of the challenges of sorting out fallen and leaning trees. I like to think I am a reasonably dab hand with a chainsaw but there are some jobs that I would certainly not undertake myself. Trees that have succumbed to strong winds and are then left leaning against other trees, often entangled up high by small branches are the biggest challenge. Felling trees like this is a risky business; the trunks are under tension and unpredictable as to when and how they will fall when cut. It is easy for a saw to get trapped as the cut being made closes around the blade as the trunk moves. Its a job for the experts. Fortunately the duo from Weald Woodscapes, who know our wood well, were able to spare me a day this week to address the most dangerous trees and bring them safely to the ground. The less dangerous trees can wait until the Autumn now. Watching the experts at work is always  humbling experience and I was very glad this time to be the audience. Old multi stemmed Sweet Chestnut stools are a particular problem and several of these were blown over. I counted the rings of one out of interest and it showed that they had last been coppiced in 1993, which tallied with other records I have of the wood. The tree was likely first planted in the 1850s and subsequently cut right back every 25 years to produce poles, the one sapling having now grown to a fallen giant of eight huge trunks.

                 Spring in the wood is advancing rapidly with the first Primroses and Snowflakes in flower.  Seeing deer in the wood is a very infrequent occurrence but the noise of the chainsaws working startled a Roe Deer out of hiding. I knew one was about somewhere having seen both droppings and a deer "slot" earlier on my visit. Its good to know there may be one or two about. Sadly the presence of leaves and twigs poking out of the Tawny Owl box suggests that the squirrels have managed to take it over during my time recuperating from knee surgery. They are little devils ! Hopefully the Tawnies will find another place to nest this year. Next year will be a different story !

The old chestnut "stool" nearly dealt with

Clearing the surrounding area of dead wood

 A "Roe Deer "slot in wet ground

Nearly 30 years of growth, shown in the rings 

It is delicate work dealing with these unpredictable trunks

the upside of the storms is plenty of good fire wood.

Making the first cut.....

 The first Primroses

the Owl box now a (temporary)home for squirrels

Snowflakes in flower

More evidence of Roe Deer in Crow Wood (note the pointed ends !)