Maybe the UK should plant more....

[Khriss]

1 hour ago, David Cropper said:

I've actually poked my eyes out at the thought of it. I am using the medium of Braille to respond. 

As you were.  Sick parade 06.30 Hrs And do that top button up !      K

[Khriss]

35 minutes ago, Big J said:

 

Using the example of the eucalyptus plantation I've been mentioning, I'd start strip felling and replanting along the north and east side of the UK. The trees are largest here, 

Fixed.  K

[dumper]

36 minutes ago, Big J said:

 

Using the example of the eucalyptus plantation I've been mentioning, I'd start strip felling and replanting along the north and east side of the block. The trees are largest here, having been sheltered from the prevailing wind. Conversely, the trees on the western edge are smallest, so these would be the last to be felled. 

 

I'd spread the felling out over 8 years, allowing 2 years between each operation. Tackle the block in four bites, each time replanting immediately. Each time, moving further west and south. The retained trees would afford the newly planted trees substantial shelter, the brash left on the ground would help surpress weeds to an extent, and canopy closure would be achieved in 18 months. The final strip to be felled would be the western edge (which, from my measurements if about 30-35% less productive). The replanted trees on this edge wouldn't have as much shelter from prevailing winds, but it would only represent a quarter of the plantation and would still be no worse than a new planting. They'd still have the brash on the ground. 

 

Then, leave for 5-6 years and repeat. Most of the plantation has decent protection from inclement weather through it's growth cycle and production on this site exceeds 50 cubic metres per hectare per year. So each 1/4 removed would be around 600t, with 2500t being the expectation per 12 years.

 

If you were to completely clearfell, you'd stunt the trees a little in their first couple of years until canopy closure was achieved.

 

More broadly, looking at other species, there are loads of other reasons for CCF, many of which focus on the composition of the soil. Either way, I don't like clearfells and I try to avoid them now.

How many hectares is the plantation?

[Stere]

Big euc forest in portugal one downside is they really burn well in forest fires.

[dumper]

6 minutes ago, Big J said:

4.5 ha. Already standing at about 2100t at 10yrs, 7 months. It's epic. Doubly so because it established badly due to the harsh winter 10/11 when it was only 7 months old.

So what is it worth £40.00 tonne felled 25 standing?

[AHPP]

How much is planted economically and will end up in the firewood market and how much is being planted for subsidy and will end up as biomass (which I suspect also hurts taxvictims)?

[AHPP]

Other plots you know of. Is it for real money or WCU etc money?

[AHPP]

You’re not necessarily being evasive but you’re not bursting with answers either. Are people primarily growing eucalyptus because it’s a good crop or because it makes good money in subsidy?

[Paul in the woods]

2 hours ago, Big J said:

 

I'm sorry to hear that your plantation has suffered.

 

It's just a few acres of amenity woodland, not a plantation. But it does highlight many problems.

 

I'm not convinced pine martins are the answer to grey squirrels everywhere, they may well eat them but they also eat a lot of other mammals, birds, eggs etc. Also not sure how many decades it'll take to eradicate greys from places like Devon.

 

With regard to fire, even it wet Devon you do get extended dry periods where fire does become a worry when you're living on the edge of woodland. Not sure if Euc is any worse than gorse and pine though.

 

I'm seriously thinking of putting in a acre or so of Euc, just for our own firewood. Something to diversify away from the ash that's coming out elsewhere.

Edited December 23, 2020 by Paul in the woods

[AHPP]

Now you are being evasive. Answer the question if you don’t mind.