Making a profit from woodland?

[Charlieh]

on 47 acres of softwood, you wont employ anyone, you wont buy any extraction equipment (unless your doing the work yourself), and you probably wont make any return on your investment (well not at that price per acre for softwood unless its close to final crop)

 

I would suggest very seriously if you considering this you seek specialist advice, as its too much ifs and guesswork without walking the site, predictions of timber yields, and knowing exactly what the terrain is like to work

 

the estimated value of the thinnings will depend on so many variables, what thinnings is it? first, second, what is the quality, if your getting sawlogs what grade are then? if its early thinnings then unless its very easy harvesting, it will be a cost operation.

you could be looking at a range from -£5/ton to +50/ton depending on the above.

 

You need to be realisitc about this, and seek some detail advice thats specific to the site for that level of investment

[Charlieh]

on 47 acres of softwood, you wont employ anyone, you wont buy any extraction equipment (unless your doing the work yourself), and you probably wont make any return on your investment (well not at that price per acre for softwood unless its close to final crop)

 

I would suggest very seriously if you considering this you seek specialist advice, as its too much ifs and guesswork without walking the site, predictions of timber yields, and knowing exactly what the terrain is like to work

 

the estimated value of the thinnings will depend on so many variables, what thinnings is it? first, second, what is the quality, if your getting sawlogs what grade are then? if its early thinnings then unless its very easy harvesting, it will be a cost operation.

you could be looking at a range from -£5/ton to +50/ton depending on the above.

 

You need to be realisitc about this, and seek some detail advice thats specific to the site for that level of investment

[Backpain]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

I wouldn't have thought thinning 47 acres will provide a long term sustainable solution as there's simply not enough timber there and at that size employing staff and investment in equipment wouldn't give you much return either. Probably better to use contractors.

 

My advice would be to look at other way's of using the woodland for leisure or eductional activities.

 

There's a good chance you'll get grants for the thinning work but what happens after that.

 

We run educational programs which provides the funds and resource to help maintain our 45 acres of ancient woods and SSSI called Holly Hayes Woods.

 

Also, have a look at Hill Holt, just google it and it will come up.

 

PM me if you'd like more info.

[Backpain]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

I wouldn't have thought thinning 47 acres will provide a long term sustainable solution as there's simply not enough timber there and at that size employing staff and investment in equipment wouldn't give you much return either. Probably better to use contractors.

 

My advice would be to look at other way's of using the woodland for leisure or eductional activities.

 

There's a good chance you'll get grants for the thinning work but what happens after that.

 

We run educational programs which provides the funds and resource to help maintain our 45 acres of ancient woods and SSSI called Holly Hayes Woods.

 

Also, have a look at Hill Holt, just google it and it will come up.

 

PM me if you'd like more info.

[Backpain]

Hi and welcome to the forum.

 

I wouldn't have thought thinning 47 acres will provide a long term sustainable solution as there's simply not enough timber there and at that size employing staff and investment in equipment wouldn't give you much return either. Probably better to use contractors.

 

My advice would be to look at other way's of using the woodland for leisure or eductional activities.

 

There's a good chance you'll get grants for the thinning work but what happens after that.

 

We run educational programs which provides the funds and resource to help maintain our 45 acres of ancient woods and SSSI called Holly Hayes Woods.

 

Also, have a look at Hill Holt, just google it and it will come up.

 

PM me if you'd like more info.

[Chris Sheppard]

on 47 acres of softwood, you wont employ anyone, you wont buy any extraction equipment (unless your doing the work yourself), and you probably wont make any return on your investment (well not at that price per acre for softwood unless its close to final crop)

 

I would suggest very seriously if you considering this you seek specialist advice, as its too much ifs and guesswork without walking the site, predictions of timber yields, and knowing exactly what the terrain is like to work

 

the estimated value of the thinnings will depend on so many variables, what thinnings is it? first, second, what is the quality, if your getting sawlogs what grade are then? if its early thinnings then unless its very easy harvesting, it will be a cost operation.

you could be looking at a range from -£5/ton to +50/ton depending on the above.

 

You need to be realisitc about this, and seek some detail advice thats specific to the site for that level of investment

 

What he said ^

[Chris Sheppard]

on 47 acres of softwood, you wont employ anyone, you wont buy any extraction equipment (unless your doing the work yourself), and you probably wont make any return on your investment (well not at that price per acre for softwood unless its close to final crop)

 

I would suggest very seriously if you considering this you seek specialist advice, as its too much ifs and guesswork without walking the site, predictions of timber yields, and knowing exactly what the terrain is like to work

 

the estimated value of the thinnings will depend on so many variables, what thinnings is it? first, second, what is the quality, if your getting sawlogs what grade are then? if its early thinnings then unless its very easy harvesting, it will be a cost operation.

you could be looking at a range from -£5/ton to +50/ton depending on the above.

 

You need to be realisitc about this, and seek some detail advice thats specific to the site for that level of investment

 

What he said ^

[Chris Sheppard]

on 47 acres of softwood, you wont employ anyone, you wont buy any extraction equipment (unless your doing the work yourself), and you probably wont make any return on your investment (well not at that price per acre for softwood unless its close to final crop)

 

I would suggest very seriously if you considering this you seek specialist advice, as its too much ifs and guesswork without walking the site, predictions of timber yields, and knowing exactly what the terrain is like to work

 

the estimated value of the thinnings will depend on so many variables, what thinnings is it? first, second, what is the quality, if your getting sawlogs what grade are then? if its early thinnings then unless its very easy harvesting, it will be a cost operation.

you could be looking at a range from -£5/ton to +50/ton depending on the above.

 

You need to be realisitc about this, and seek some detail advice thats specific to the site for that level of investment

 

What he said ^

[Nature]

Wow, so many good replies already. Thanks

 

on 47 acres of softwood, you wont employ anyone, you wont buy any extraction equipment (unless your doing the work yourself), and you probably wont make any return on your investment (well not at that price per acre for softwood unless its close to final crop)

 

I would suggest very seriously if you considering this you seek specialist advice, as its too much ifs and guesswork without walking the site, predictions of timber yields, and knowing exactly what the terrain is like to work

 

the estimated value of the thinnings will depend on so many variables, what thinnings is it? first, second, what is the quality, if your getting sawlogs what grade are then? if its early thinnings then unless its very easy harvesting, it will be a cost operation.

you could be looking at a range from -£5/ton to +50/ton depending on the above.

 

You need to be realisitc about this, and seek some detail advice thats specific to the site for that level of investment

 

I don't think i explained that correctly as it is actually 47 acres of mixed woodland, mainly broad leaf, but with about a third given over to Douglas Firs.

 

The trees to be thinned are about 30 years old so they are substantial, however I do agree with your sentiments that the woodland seems too small for sustained profitability.

 

We run educational programs which provides the funds and resource to help maintain our 45 acres of ancient woods and SSSI called Holly Hayes Woods.

 

Also, have a look at Hill Holt, just google it and it will come up.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I've had a look at your website and Hill Holt. I had been wondering about monetising the woodland via other means such as education, however its location is a bit off the beaten track and so is not that easy to get school mini-buses etc to it.

 

I'll give it more thought though

[Nature]

Wow, so many good replies already. Thanks

 

on 47 acres of softwood, you wont employ anyone, you wont buy any extraction equipment (unless your doing the work yourself), and you probably wont make any return on your investment (well not at that price per acre for softwood unless its close to final crop)

 

I would suggest very seriously if you considering this you seek specialist advice, as its too much ifs and guesswork without walking the site, predictions of timber yields, and knowing exactly what the terrain is like to work

 

the estimated value of the thinnings will depend on so many variables, what thinnings is it? first, second, what is the quality, if your getting sawlogs what grade are then? if its early thinnings then unless its very easy harvesting, it will be a cost operation.

you could be looking at a range from -£5/ton to +50/ton depending on the above.

 

You need to be realisitc about this, and seek some detail advice thats specific to the site for that level of investment

 

I don't think i explained that correctly as it is actually 47 acres of mixed woodland, mainly broad leaf, but with about a third given over to Douglas Firs.

 

The trees to be thinned are about 30 years old so they are substantial, however I do agree with your sentiments that the woodland seems too small for sustained profitability.

 

We run educational programs which provides the funds and resource to help maintain our 45 acres of ancient woods and SSSI called Holly Hayes Woods.

 

Also, have a look at Hill Holt, just google it and it will come up.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I've had a look at your website and Hill Holt. I had been wondering about monetising the woodland via other means such as education, however its location is a bit off the beaten track and so is not that easy to get school mini-buses etc to it.

 

I'll give it more thought though