Chalk grassland restoration on the north downs

[Gollum]

Thought I would post a few pictures from this winter's project.

reinstating natural chalk grassland on the north downs.

 

First two pics before and after,

 

 

 

 

[doobin]

Been doing exactly the same on the South Downs today

 

Small patch we've been meaning to do for ages.

 

What do you use to clear the twigs and stuff up after you've got rid of the big stuff?

[hedgesparrow]

what was the wood you cleared did you get any timber from it. and any hazel

[Chris Sheppard]

We've spent the last few weeks doing similar but on the Yorkshire Wolds. Fair bit of it too steep to drive anything on so had lots of thorn rolling to do.

 

Landowner came to help out on one site where it was less steep with their Loadall and was really surprised where it would travel but on the very last grabful of the day he did manage to pick a topside wheel up and looked fairly rattled once it came back down again

[Gollum]

Walk over pick up the worst by hand .

Then the first mowing is done with a flail.

 

cleared 1.5 hectares at the beginning of 2012 and this section is just under 6 hectares.

[Gollum]

what was the wood you cleared did you get any timber from it. and any hazel

 

Hazell, hawthorn, ash and field maple.

still got a bit of large Ash to fell. on one bit. just to wet to get on at the mo.

 

Are you after any hazell ?

[Gollum]

We've spent the last few weeks doing similar but on the Yorkshire Wolds. Fair bit of it too steep to drive anything on so had lots of thorn rolling to do.

 

Landowner came to help out on one site where it was less steep with their Loadall and was really surprised where it would travel but on the very last grabful of the day he did manage to pick a topside wheel up and looked fairly rattled once it came back down again

 

We had a few moments like that,

[Ben Ballard]

Nice one mark great work and pics we got some of that to do on our part of the downs at some point

[LGP Eddie]

Looking really tidy there and seems a very nice site to actually work with the open ground at the base of the slope giving decent access.

 

Are you removing all stumps?

 

I personally hate burning it just creates so many other issues, but very hard to price against a box of matches!

 

I'd have thought that site would have suited a bit of old style Track Loader work on the slopes putting the tractor and at least one 360 machine out of work, but you don't see them about now setup with a decent fork/grab and rear winch.

Finding a decent operator would be another issue entirely.

 

Eddie.

[Gollum]

Nice one mark great work and pics we got some of that to do on our part of the downs at some point

 

let me know how you get on.

How much have you got to do ?