Making woodland paths

[Two Acres]

Hi all,

 

At the moment my woodland is pretty difficult to move around in - nettles everywhere. I've been for a walk in the village nature reserve today (lake surrounded by woods) and I'm noticing the paths are well established and clear, even though theres trees and undergrowth all around. Question is how do I get my wood to the same condition? I'm thinking brushcutter? spraying? Getting as many folks as possible to walkthe newly made paths? Any thoughts?

[Countryboy]

I have just purchased an extra 6 acres of woodland which is very overgrown with brambles, nettles eat. I have a small 1.5 ton digger and spent Thursday clearing and levelling a ride wide enough to be able to drive round one side of the woodland so far. I walked the rote to ensure that I could get through without damaging the trees

[spandit]

You could use something like a Billy Goat mower to open them up but regular footfall is what you really need to keep them open. Compacts the soil and crushes new growth

[Two Acres]

I have just purchased an extra 6 acres of woodland which is very overgrown with brambles, nettles eat. I have a small 1.5 ton digger and spent Thursday clearing and levelling a ride wide enough to be able to drive round one side of the woodland so far. I walked the rote to ensure that I could get through without damaging the trees

 

Thanks Countryboy - I hadn't thought of a digger. I don't have one but I guess I could hire one for a day or two. How many yards did you clear in a day?

[Goaty]

Regular traffic, you only have to look at how wildlife make tracks. You just need a bigger effect. A roller behind a rideone lawnmower would maintain it with less time and fuel. Once you have opened it out.

[Two Acres]

You could use something like a Billy Goat mower to open them up but regular footfall is what you really need to keep them open. Compacts the soil and crushes new growth

 

Thats what I thought Spandit - frustratingly my Dad said a friend of his wanted to take a walking party (30 folks) into the wood yesterday but they couldn't get in. I'm thinking if I could get some paths established then invite some walkers in that would really help.

[Two Acres]

Regular traffic, you only have to look at how wildlife make tracks. You just need a bigger effect. A roller behind a rideone lawnmower would maintain it with less time and fuel. Once you have opened it out.

 

I have access to a ride-on, so that would work well maybe, once I have it opened out. Its the opening out that may be the tricky bit.

[headgroundsman]

4X4 quad bike and have fun!

[Countryboy]

It depends how thick the scrub is as to how long it takes. I took 5 hours to clear and level a track wide enough to drive down one side of the wood. I still have to do the other side, hopefully next week. I cleared a track around my existing wood so that I can drive all the way around. Makes it so much easier to collect logs etc. I also use a DR scrub mower which clears nettles and brambles. Brambles that are very high get scraped out with the digger and then finished of with the DR machine

[Two Acres]

4X4 quad bike and have fun!