Thinning or selective felling licence?

[Vushtrri]

Evening all....

Originally started out with a 7 acre mixed broadleaf wood, mainly Beech, a bit of Ash and about 40 x Douglas. Maximum age is about 60 yrs apart from a 200 yr old Yew which is obviously staying! Over the years I've kept well within the 5 cubic metre felling allowance per calendar quarter mainly for home heating.

I've recently  acquired an adjacent  wood, again mainly  Beech, the same age,  a bit of Ash and out of rotation Hazel copice giving me a 15 and  1/2 acre total. I've looked into acquiring an Alaskan mill and suitable chainsaw and happy with my choice with a few to felling a number of Beech ..approx 15 and use the milled timber for a number of projects along with a number of the Douglas approx 10 for additional projects including replacing the floorboards in my cottage when seasoned. 

Obviously I realise that this will necessitate my applying for a felling licence, my question being...should I be applying for a Thinning or Selective felling?  Apologies if it sounds like  a dumb question!

Edited March 20, 2018 by Vushtrri

[openspaceman]

10 hours ago, Vushtrri said:

Evening all....

Originally started out with a 7 acre mixed broadleaf wood, mainly Beech, a bit of Ash and about 40 x Douglas. Maximum age is about 60 yrs apart from a 200 yr old Yew which is obviously staying! Over the years I've kept well within the 5 cubic metre felling allowance per calendar quarter mainly for home heating.

I've recently  acquired an adjacent  wood, again mainly  Beech, the same age,  a bit of Ash and out of rotation Hazel copice giving me a 15 and  1/2 acre total. I've looked into acquiring an Alaskan mill and suitable chainsaw and happy with my choice with a few to felling a number of Beech ..approx 15 and use the milled timber for a number of projects along with a number of the Douglas approx 10 for additional projects including replacing the floorboards in my cottage when seasoned. 

Obviously I realise that this will necessitate my applying for a felling licence, my question being...should I be applying for a Thinning or Selective felling?  Apologies if it sounds like  a dumb question!

it's not a stupid question and IMO hinges around whether the trees you intend to take would otherwise  be final crop trees or whether the ones you take  will improve the remaining stand. Thinning  licence won't entail having to replant or expplain you will recruit trees from the  remainder for restocking.

[Vushtrri]

Thanks for that. As both the Douglas and Beech formed part of a plantation I'll go along the lines of a Thinning application...

 

Thanks