Linear managed woodland is exactly what hedges are for. I spotted a sad, overgrown block of subsidy woodland the other day, and was able to take a good look at it with binoculars from a gateway. All a dark jungle within what the map shows as once being a productive 7 acre pasture. The only alive area is the outer edge of the block, which is only one side. Hedges have two sides.
that is why I have such a dislike for the current obsession with tree planting, the most exciting areas are the edges or areas of change, so I am convinces as mentioned above, the "Savanah" landscape is the most productive for wildlife with small irregular copses. But that landscape does not fit in with our "tidy" minds. Just had a coffee, so am going to get off my arse and continue putting up a fence on 250m of hedge bank/ditch I plan to plant up this winter. I know partly the fence is to keep the stock out of the newly cleaned out ditch, and also to continue double fencing the boundary (stop anyone giving anyone else scab etc), but I will pop in some whips on the bank this winter (if they aren't too expensive, not that long ago I was paying 18p each, last winter 75p!). Plan to pop a few Golden Chain cuttings in too, but haven't had too much success with that so far, but they are free so I can live with that! And, if it is allowed to grow up, it makes great wood for the fire too.
yes, I believe Golden Chain is poisonous, however there is lots in this part of West Wales in the hedges, no idea why, someone said, they thought that there had been stuff coming into Cardigan port in Golden Chain crates and locals used the wood for fencing (and it took), anyway it looks lovely when it flowers, and if or when it gets big it is really hard and when made into logs they burn for a long time. Doesn't seem to affect any stock, so no problems there.
How on earth can they be good for soil fertility? Just what are they putting in to the soil - it all looks like take, take, take.. to me?
Lots of Ash and Oak around here and that`s exactly my point...
Deciduous trees convert lots of CO2 into leaves (and oxygen), which then obligingly blow about the place come autumn.
Years ago, foxes were controlled. I was shown a cutting from a local paper that must be 50 years old by now. "Mr X shot a fox". Such a rarity that it made the local news. Google foxes these days and you will learn how to humanely discourage them from raiding your dustbin and from digging up your garden!
Theyre hammered nowadays with the advent of night vision and now thermal technology. I saw a bloke the other night had 15 in one night.
Have thought it many times and still do. Around here there are oak trees everywhere. Every hedge has at least 3, all that remains of ancient hedges from before the wars are the lines of big old oak trees. People say “oh don’t they look lovely”
winch em over one at a time on stormy nights...'oh dear, another windblow'!
Not always the case.
If you`ve ever seen what a car CAN`T do when it hits a tree at speed you`d no doubt realise that it`d take one SERIOUS winch to shift an oak tree.................
It`s sometimes nice if they do shake a little....
oh I think when the old Boughton's wire rope starts to creak, and the County is standing up on the anchors....something soon gives!If you`ve ever seen what a car CAN`T do when it hits a tree at speed you`d no doubt realise that it`d take one SERIOUS winch to shift an oak tree.................
It`s sometimes nice if they do shake a little....
Dads got a fair winch on the MB Trac on the forestry side.oh I think when the old Boughton's wire rope starts to creak, and the County is standing up on the anchors....something soon gives!
In a previous life used countys with Boughtons on the back to pull drilling rigs across difficult terrain or up hill sides. Good for pulling big trees out of the way too. Seriously powerful winches when the anchor bites.oh I think when the old Boughton's wire rope starts to creak, and the County is standing up on the anchors....something soon gives!
