Aspect Forestry and Rural Management

Sadly, this is now what I’m routinely dealing with.

A positive tree planting story!!
This project has transformed the landscape of the area I was born and grew up in.

Thank you Neil. That looks a really interesting event. I will look into costs etc. However, combined with the loss of earnings for a couple days as well as the travel it might be financially prohibitive. Let me have a think.
Thank you again.

Your spot Alan. I have nothing against rewilding at all. In the right place with the right conditions it can be the best option. However, you have hit the nail on the head. It won’t help us rapidly decarbonise and it can’t provide meaningful amounts of wood and fibre to get away from steel and con.

The National Forest has literally transformed that former coal mining area where I lived. It is positively, unrecognisable from the area I knew as a child. Again, without millions of trees being planted + the drive and commitment of people to see that through, that simply wouldn’t have happened.

Thank you Alan. An impressive project that is appreciated by so many people around Glasgow I’m sure.
I grew up in NW Leicestershire. When I first started in forestry I worked for a contractor on the National Forest planting scheme. This would mirror the age etc of your project around Glasgow

@kilmaha.bsky.social @foresterwill.bsky.social @andyheald.bsky.social
@royalforestrysoc.bsky.social @forestryjournal.bsky.social
@forestrycommission.bsky.social @charlie-cheeze.bsky.social

Thank you for reading
A very frustrated and depressed forestry contractor!
End of thread 🧵

If anyone is sceptical of the work myself and others do. Contact me, come out on site, experience the work we do and judge it with your own eyes rather than reading about it on a misinformed social media post. 8)

The general public need to hear about all the positives of the industry and not the regular condemnation from the few…7)

THESE ARE ALL HUGHLY POSITIVE THINGS!
I don’t want outspoken individuals to continue to condemn forestry with a completely one sided view. I love the industry I have worked in for 25 years. We collectively do some brilliant work.…6)

they provide a magnitude of conservation and habitat benefits, water retention and flood prevention, carbon storing sustainable timber products, shade, wind protection, soil stabilisation, visual landscape enhancement - I could go on but you get my drift.. 5)

Why should we put up with this daily criticism when all we are striving to do is earn a living, feed our families and make the world a better place. Forestry like farming is one of the oldest industries in the world. Growing trees can be so positive…4)

strive to do better. However, what about the huge amount of good work that’s carried out? There is so much negativity out there at the moment and to be honest, it not only effects my mental health but many others in the industry doing the same work. 3)

Yes - that’s right, tree planting! Some of it from the rewilding community and some of it from elsewhere. Obviously, like any type of industry bad practices can go on and people always quote these examples. Bad practices shouldn’t be excepted and we should always…2)

A 🧵 about a matter I want to get off my chest. Please share or respond as I wish to hear others views on the subject.

Most days now I will look at my feeds across social media and there will be posts critical of forestry and tree planting. 1)

New week, new site but similar work!
I moved the machines this morning to a site near Bury St Edmonds.
Phase 1: 6 hectares of thinning and ash regeneration felling.
Part standing sale of timber, part wood chip production for the estate house heating system.

This was one of the last loads of timber to be extracted with my current trailer. It’s been a lovely machine to drive for the last 3.5 years but one or two features have disappointing let it down. Dealer support has also been poor…so time for a change! Watch this space.

2/2….to prevent deer browsing of the coppice regrowth. This coming winter there will be some enrichment planting carried out to diversify the number of broadleaved species present. This coppice compartment was previously ash dominated.

Well that’s another site wrapped up! 215 tonnes of timber have been extracted for the clients own use in their wood-chip boiler and they will also market the surplus. The brash will now be chipped and extracted by a third party. The perimeter will be Heras deer fenced….1/2

The deer numbers in Suffolk are getting ridiculous!

Wow. It just goes to show what can be an achieved and the results that follow.

Was the browsing pressure reduced through concentrated stalking or has the area been fenced?

A great example of positive forestry. Timber products, rural jobs and habitat management.

☹️

2/2

The felling on my current ash regeneration site was all wrapped up last night. Starting the extraction of the timber today. The brash will be chipped, removed and sold. 1/2

I’ve had bat surveys carried out on suspected trees on certain sites. They’ve all been carried out in the daytime. The tree has to be climbed and inspected by a suitably qualified arborist, trained and licensed for bat survey work.

as a pervasive weed. It shows how relatively quickly views can change.