Two Acres

Countryboy - thanks for the reply. Do you mind me asking what kind of cost was involved in putting together the management plan? Alec - thanks for taking the time to write that advice down, much appreciated. I've been taking another look this afternoon to weigh up what I've got. Its not all coppice. Theres 50 plus Leylandii in two rows, about ten inch diameter on average I guess. Then 40 plus poplar, the biggest of which me and my daughter can just touch fingertips when wrapping our arms around it from opposite sides (I'm 6 feet tall, shes 6 years old). Then theres two groups of ash, maybe 25 trees in total, around 12 inch diameter at a guess. A group of about ten beech, again maybe 12 inch diameter, perhaps bigger. Plenty of young oaks around 8 inch maybe. A good few Birch maybe 12 inch diameter. Some dead standing Elm, (one big one), Some wild cherry and also some very tall thin Sycamores that are trying to outcompete the Leylandi for light. Also some randoms, the odd field maple etc. I reckon there are maybe 25 coppiced hazel of various sizes. Lots of scrubby blackthorn plus some thick tree type ones. Ideally I'd make it a hobby that pays for itself and keeps my house warm for free into the bargain!

Yes, very lucky. My Grandad spent his retirement turning a couple of meadows into woodland. When I was a teenager I had no idea why he spent all his time in the woods. Now I'm a middle-aged grumpy git I'm sharpening my axe!

Will do. Thanks for the advice Stubby, much appreciated

Thats a shame! Would you coppice all in one go or in rotation?

Norfolk

Hi All, first post so go easy! I have access to a couple of acres of neglected woods, owned by my family, but only myself interested in it. Its not been touched in twenty years until I started working on it last summer. I've removed some lodged trees and cleared some paths but am cautious of doing much more without advice. The trees in the wood are pretty mixed - areas of Scots, Poplar, Leylandi, oak, ash, beech, coppiced hazel along with random silver birch and sycamore, plus a lot of blackthorn. The land is on the side of a valley, sandy at the top end in parts, boggy at the bottom. Question is what next? I'm thinking fell the Leylandi and coppice the hazel? The overall idea is to provide me with a constant supply of firewood, encourage wildlife and make the wood a place my three small kids can enjoy. What do you think? Cheers