Clearing woodland to put to pasture

[Howler]

As the title says. Got 4 acres of woodland which we'd like to put back to pastureland. just an idea at the moment. What is the process we'd have to go through to do it, if it's possible at all. Mainly made up of hazel, holly, blackthorn, ash. all big trees. Not a conservation area, and would still be 2 acres of woodland remaining if we push out what we want to.
My dad can remember there being grants available in the 70's to clear woodland for pasture but seems like it's gone the other way now, with them wanting you to plant woodland instead!!!

 

[renewablejohn]

Chance of putting back to pasture in my opinion is zilch. You will need a felling licence which will only be granted if you agree to it being replanted to the terms of the licence.

 

[Blod]

Better to investigate the opportunity the wood offers. Do you own and farm the adjacent land?

 

[multi power]

Would be a shame if the trees all fell over one windy night

 

[Blod]

Would be a shame if the trees all fell over one windy night

Hang on a minute! Does it offer income from stewardship schemes? How long would it take, for the land released by clearing, to pay off the cost of the clearance? What area is the OP in? Too many people fail to make the most of what they have. Livestock farming isn't going to justify clearing mature woodland so maybe the OP is arable. Would the sums add up then?

 

[multi power]

Hang on a minute! Does it offer income from stewardship schemes? How long would it take, for the land released by clearing, to pay off the cost of the clearance? What area is the OP in? Too many people fail to make the most of what they have. Livestock farming isn't going to justify clearing mature woodland so maybe the OP is arable. Would the sums add up then?

I'm just looking at it from the it's my land I can do what I want with it idea. If good land and nature timber it's bound to be worthwhile.
Having said that there could well be a good income from keeping the woodland
I'm just young and stupid enough to not hesitate to go to the work of clearing it

 

[martian]

Put some pigs or chickens in it and sell them at twice the market price as woodland reared meat. They'll stop any natural regeneration and in about 400 years time you'll have bare pasture

 

[renewablejohn]

I'm just looking at it from the it's my land I can do what I want with it idea. If good land and nature timber it's bound to be worthwhile.
Having said that there could well be a good income from keeping the woodland
I'm just young and stupid enough to not hesitate to go to the work of clearing it

Unfortunately once trees get beyond a certain size you can wave goodbye to the "its my land I can do what I want with it idea ".

Unless your the RSPB then you might get away with it and receive a grant for doing it.

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/f...ould-be-fined-for-chopping-down-100000-trees/

 

[Longlowdog]

At 4 inches diameter at 4 feet 6 inches from the ground they become trees in the eye of the law. As stated felling licence will be conditional and reversion to pasture or arable highly unlikely unless the rumoured squadron of porcine aviators makes a fly past.
My land I'll do as I want hasn't really been true for generations.
I guess you are young enough to relish the work but not old enough to appreciate the joys of owning or managing a small wood.
I'd be careful about talking about this if it was my plan. You could very well end up with eco-mentalists camped in there and steel rods driven into every viable piece of timber waiting to wreck chainsaws and mill machinery. 40 of the 65 acres I own are in immature trees planted by the previous owner. 20 years since planting and the locals are all under the impression that they are there for their own pleasure and convenience. Nothing in the way of work in the tree goes unnoticed or unremarked upon.

 

[caveman]

Sounds more like coppice material to me.
Start a plan to coppice x area every year. Maybe one fifteenth to one twentieth. Fill in with sweet chestnut for a start of chestnut stools for fencing materials next time around. Stick in a couple of real timber species to grow on over the years such as oak beech and ash that will help draw up the underwood. Enjoy and take pride in what you create over the years.

 

[nails]

As the title says. Got 4 acres of woodland which we'd like to put back to pastureland. just an idea at the moment. What is the process we'd have to go through to do it, if it's possible at all. Mainly made up of hazel, holly, blackthorn, ash. all big trees. Not a conservation area, and would still be 2 acres of woodland remaining if we push out what we want to.
My dad can remember there being grants available in the 70's to clear woodland for pasture but seems like it's gone the other way now, with them wanting you to plant woodland instead!!!

Sometimes woodland has been left as woodland for a reason E.g it is not much good for anything else . Woodland has been cleared and planted for thousands of years and our ancestors found out some areas were better than others.

 

[Pasty]

Is the land flat? Do you have a steep bit you could plant for trees instead? You may be able to do a deal on that basis. Used the timber well and replace the same acreage with new woodland with a full management plan. Unlikely, but maybe.

 

[uztrac]

As I have stated before on these matters " as you take the states shilling you do the states bidding " probably like being on benefits !!

 

[Recoil]

Just go about clearing the trees slowly, don't just chop them all down.

 

[robandles]

I'm just looking at it from the it's my land I can do what I want with it idea. If good land and nature timber it's bound to be worthwhile.
Having said that there could well be a good income from keeping the woodland
I'm just young and stupid enough to not hesitate to go to the work of clearing it

Sorry but we don't own the land. We are only caretakers.
The tree you walk by everyday has seen more than we ever will.
We are only here to look after it till we are dust.

 

[organicguy]

As my father said "We are all only tenants for life".

 

[multi power]

Sorry but we don't own the land. We are only caretakers.
The tree you walk by everyday has seen more than we ever will.
We are only here to look after it till we are dust.

That's all true but we also need to eat

 

[robandles]

Acorns. Apple's.

 

[caveman]

Nuts. Berries. Fungi. Sap for wines.

 

[multi power]

Acorns. Apple's.

Nuts. Berries. Fungi. Sap for wines.

I prefer steak