Paul in the woods

I've used fresh alder so know it goes bright orange on the surface and a sand will bring it back to a light wood. I hadn't considered spalting but I've just cut up a small log that's been outside for a couple of years. It has spalted and although a lovely mix of plain wood, orange and grey the wood is fairly soft so I'll bear that in mind. The floorboards would be on show but runners/rugs used to reduce wear (we have an excitable dog...). Boron is on the list of preservatives to consider. One question though, why does everyone suggest wide boards? I understand that 6" wide boards would be less work and can take more nails but surely a 3" board would warp/cup less? The trees aren't large, 12" DBH, so I'm not going to be able to cut large boards or quarter saw them. I also don't have any for of mill yet, just the need for boards and a couple of acres of alder that needs thinning/coppicing. It'll go for firewood anyway, so if I make a mess of the boards I'll not lose much. Tempted to try to carve a pair of clogs though.

The durability issue is mainly with regard to outdoor use isn't it? You can buy alder floorboards and I know alder is used for various things as my OH has a spinning wheel made out of alder and I've carved a few pieces from it. I know its a very wet wood though, hence my concerns about it moving about while seasoning.

I was actually thinking of going down to 85mm or so so I could slice the boards off a beam on a bench saw. I don't mind gaps or time spent nailing to be honest, it's a replacement for a chip boarded modern floor so not drafty.

And with all the wildlife where we are we'd have a couple of woodpeckers in after the worm. Thanks for the warning, I did know alder is susceptible to worm and I'm looking at preservatives. Ideally I want something that's not too toxic as it's for a bedroom floor.

My understanding of using Kania traps is you must use a tunnel to reduce the risk of catching non-target species. See details here: https://www.fourteenacre.co.uk/shop/kania-2000-trap/ I've also not had much success with my Kania trap. I've had far more success with BMI bodygrip traps and the Fineren box (went on a trapping course with him). https://www.fourteenacre.co.uk/shop/fineren-bodygrip-box-for-squirrels/ It's possible squirrels are put off if they see a dead squirrel sticking out of a trap so using a solid cover on a Kania trap may increase success. Fourteenacre also do a bulk offer on Fenn traps.

I have plenty of small diameter alder trees to log and I need some floorboards so... Has anyone used alder for floorboards? I am aware that although a hardwood alder is soft but the boards would be for a bedroom so should be ok. I'm considering narrow boards, 100mm or less, as I think these will easier to mill, season and lay and be more tolerant to warping etc. Now, how best to cut the boards to reduce warping? I've found alder seasons quickly so would it be possible to leave the timber in the round for a year before milling? I had also considered cutting into thick planks/beams to season and then cutting planks of them later. I.e. cutting a 90mm beam and then slicing my 90mm wide planks off it.

I saw this and thought in might be useful: Massive bill for council after Bristol couple win case over tree roots that bought down conservatory | Bristol Post

With hundreds of different species of eucalyptus I bet it's just an unusal one. Looking at Wiki there's a group known as stringybark which fits the bill. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucalyptus#Bark possibly one of these: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stringybark

It looks like grey squirrel damage, yes. As to what they're after as far as I know no one knows for sure. Some say they're after the bark to eat whereas others suggest they strip bark as territory marking or simple boredom.

It's 5 provided you sell less than than 2. From the FC: "Up to 5 cubic metres in any calendar quarter (e.g., Jan to Mar, Apr to Jun, Jul to Sep and Oct to Dec), as long as no more than two cubic metres are sold." I know it doesn't apply to larch but I've wondered if you could pollard a tree first, then fell the trunk, as pollarding is exempt. Dean, I assume no other exemptions apply, such as the trees being in a garden? I'd also wonder if they could be felled under the disease exemption, any signs of Phytophthora ramorum?

No. You often hear people say ash will burn green but I would add only if you have to. IIRC, felled when it's dormant, it'll have a moisture content between 30 - 45%, less than many other woods but some stove manufactures state 20%, some higher, so it will need some seasoning. How much would depend on a number of factors.

My guess would be false caster oil plant, Fatsia japonica.

I own a young woodland, much is about 25 years old, and I could easily clear fell an acre or two a year and not replant without falling foul of the FC. In fact a large land owning organisation that neighbours my woodland has done just that, clear felled a couple of acres of older woodland to return it pasture.

Yes you can. A small and/or young wood could be clear felled under a felling exemption fairly easily. At a rough guess (based on my young woodland) it'll be 20 years or so before you'd exceed your exemption, longer if you start cutting while the trees are young. A simple legal covenant wouldn't cost much, although I don't know how binding they are or who would enforce it when donnk is no longer around. Photos and more info about the site would be good, I'd also try and talk to local owners of newly planted woods. For example, I'd love to plant more sycamore but down here the squirrels just hammer it so hard it'll not establish.

There are several good books about planning and planting a woodland, I like Ben Law's book although it is aimed at much more than producing firewood. My first thought would be tree protection, pointless planting loads for deer/rabbit fodder! Personally I'd go for a good quality deer fence and rabbit control so less need for tree guards. I would also worry more about the initial weed control rather than harvesting for the first few years. As for tree species I'd plant as good a mix as possible to minimise the risk of diseases wiping out half your woodland.

Goat or grey willow. Possibly a bit late in the year now but they do take very well from cuttings or basically bits of twig stuck in the ground if you like them. Deer can be a problem with young trees though, they do love willow.

Crane fly larvae will be a dull gray/brownish sort of maggot, creamy white larvae with brown heads will often be may bugs / cockchafers.

It's a leather jacket, i.e. a crane fly chrysalis. Very common and some people do treat for them but they're an excellent source of food for wild birds.

What woods do you have? There seems to be an almost endless list if you google but I think most woods can be used. I use sycamore for the heath and spindle successfully, many seem to suggest willow, alder and hazel and even ivy is used.

You should be able to cover all that in a covenant or two. I.e. the buyers must agree to look after the drainage and control vermin or you're able to. It may be worth looking at the ones the woodlotting people use and adding to it as necessary.

It depends on the woodland. Some will be very neglected before being sold off so the problems already exist and may get better with the new owners. I'm not a fan of woodlotting but I would say they over inflate prices, just provide what some people want.

Depending on what you're after don't just limit a search to woodland. We found our patch of several acres by noticing some paddocks that had a couple of acres of woodland attached. Often buyers only want the fields so we had the opportunity to buy the woodland separately as well as a few more acres to make a decent sized patch. The price was a small fraction of 10k/acre as well! I also wonder if it would be possible for people to woodlot their own larger piece of woodland. I've seen woodland sold by John Clegg etc get split up and sold for much higher prices by the woodlotting companies. I also wonder if it would be worth speaking to local land owners / farmers yourself. I think some would be interesting in selling a bit of woodland for £5k an acre or so if you sorted the legal fees.

If you look at this Forestry Commission page: Creating a Management Plan (England) It has a plan of operations spread sheet: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/Inventoryandplanofoperations.xls/$FILE/Inventoryandplanofoperations.xls Download that and it has a species list tab with common and latin names.

Is there no time limit though? If I had a tree fall across a neighbours drive I can see why it might be regarded as theft if they cut it up and kept it as soon as it fell, but if I left it there for several months would the courts really say it was theft if the neighbours got someone it to cut up and remove the tree?

The owner is not interested in the tree and has plenty of other firewood and trees down. They're a busy farmer and seemed appreciative of the phone call but I expect he'll be annoyed I don't take his word and insist on something written down - hence the question. I've taken loads of photos and I'll make some notes. If there was any claim for the firewood I could claim far more for the damage done and the expense of clearing it. The only slight worry I have is the tree is nice and straight and I'd be tempted to try milling a section.