Recently acquired woodlands - advice appreciated

[KevinParker]

Hello All

 

I recently acquired - as a total & absolute novice - 86 acres of lovely woodland up here in Scotland. It is a mix comprising mainly Sitka, Japanese larch and some hardwoods. Maybe 70% trees and 30% open space (including a brilliant duckpond).

 

I'd like to acquire a tractor, trailer, PTO driven wood chipper and PTO driven splitter.

 

Does anybody have any opinion on what chippers and splitters are good and which should be avoided?

 

Many thanks.

 

 

KAP.

[doobin]

Forget the splitter, get a processor for that lot.

[KevinParker]

Thanks for the quick reply. We're hoping to take out around 25% of the trees as they are around 18 years old and have not been thinned. Ideally, we'd like to get a couple of Clydesdales to pull the wood out and are investigating this at present. It should be noted we're doing this purely as a hobby and are not fussed about making money from the exercise!

 

The idea of a processor is appealing though. Is there any particular variety you'd recommend?

[PhilBeech]

Hi there, where abouts are you? You could always pop into our offices for a chat if your in The Highlands.

[KevinParker]

Just outside of Aberdeen - Highlands are quite some way away!

[Guss109]

Give born to trot a pm as the horse logging is his thing and he is aberdeen based also

[AlexB]

@ 18 years you've got atleast another 7 till its time to worry about thinning. Also, forget the chipper, let the brash brake down naturally. A reasonable 2nd hand dalen processor may set you back around 5k. Perhaps instead of a chipper a timber trailer with a crane might be more versatile. Have you got your local woodland officer out for a chat? Normally quite helpful folks. Good luck! I'm very jealous!

 

 

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[NI Tree]

i would forget about kit at this point in time as you have said you self you a total novice when it come to forestry. it is very important to have a clear plan for the future and what you what to use the woodland for. a hobby could be lots of things be it the fun of it, shooting or you are wanting to produce some of timber, (fire wood as you have stated). thiss affect hugelly how you go about mannaging it as a well as the location, soil type, wind acess deer exctra, . as each method is very driffernt and you very unlightly be just be using one method but several.

 

I will also back up guss about born to trot he is a very nice man.

[KevinParker]

Many thanks for the advice, chaps. I'll get in touch with Born to Trot and will also give the local forestry officer a call.

 

It's a very exciting project! Thus far we've cleared about 750m of blocked drains, have emptied and cleared the duckpond & built an island in it.

 

I'm sure I'll have many more (gormless!) questions so any & all advice very gratefully accepted.

 

I may also be looking to employ a forestry/estate worker / gamekeeper etc on a part time or full time basis so if there is anybody in the Aberdeenshire area possibly interested then feel free to PM me.

[born2trot]

Hi Kevin , put the ' cart before the horse ' there and answered your pm before reading the post . Bit clearer now on your plans !

Fantastic you are thinking of horse extraction as i said , so feel free to pm me . I might be on full time contracts shortly so an opportunity to see my work may be coming up .

 

Guss109 and N.I thankyou for your kind words ...