Successful Teagasc/Forest Service Broadleaf Forestry Walks

Friday 26 August 2005

A series of broadleaf management forestry walks held recently around the country have proved very successful. Organised by Teagasc in association with the Forest Service, a total of twenty three events in eighteen counties were attended by over three hundred and fifty farmers and other landowners.

Speaking at the conclusion of these walks the Head of Forestry Development in Teagasc, Dr. Nuala Ni Fhlatharta said, “The walks are part of an ongoing promotional campaign by Teagasc and the Forest Service to increase awareness of the importance of good management among the rapidly expanding broadleaf farm forestry sector. From a financial perspective the difference between a well managed crop destined for the furniture market and a poorly managed crop suitable only for firewood can be greater than €20,000 per hectare”.

With over 15,000 hectares of broadleaves being planted by farmers and other landowners in the last five years, the events were designed to be both a practical and informative introduction to the management of young broadleaves. Held on broadleaf farm forests ranging in age from four to ten years the topics covered included shaping, tending, thinning and the general management necessary to produce quality hardwood timber in an environmentally sustainable manner.

The objective of any forestry grower is to grow straight trees with clean boles as this produces better quality commercial timber. “Straight trees may not be in nature’s plan and so they need some encouragement through formative shaping”, says Noel Kennedy, Teagasc Forestry Development Officer. Formative shaping is a management operation carried out in the early years of growth to ensure straight stems with a single, straight leading shoot through the removal of competing shoots.

“At the broadleaf walks the farmers were able to see the differences in quality from one tree to the next, do some shaping themselves and see how shaping can make a huge difference to future timber quality and value” he continued.

As well as being important to the production of a quality hardwood timber crop, formative shaping is a fantastic training exercise for broadleaf growers and an invaluable early introduction to broadleaf woodland management. “I find that shaping is very popular with growers and many are extremely dedicated. It is also a very healthy form of exercise!” says Noel Kennedy.

As the broadleaves get older and their heights reach 6-7 metres planning should then begin for tending. Tending is a preliminary form of thinning in which the poorest trees and “wolves” are cut out. “Wolves” are the largest but coarsest trees in the woodland that are beginning to suppress better trees around them. By reducing the number of trees growing and removing the poorest the remaining trees have more room in which to grow and the quality of the woodland is improved.

At the walks farmers were shown examples of woodlands that had reached tending stage and how to approach the tending operation. They saw the type of trees to be removed and how to select very good trees which may be part of a final quality timber crop.

Apart from the potential value of timber growing in broadleaf woodlands there are also huge environmental benefits. Native broadleaf trees like Oak, Ash and Alder attract a huge range of insects, birds, mammals and other plants that depend on them for food, cover, nesting sites and somewhere to live! The interaction between these trees and existing tree and hedges also has enormous benefits for the local environment by improving biodiversity and enhancing the rural landscape. Good woodland management can further contribute to the enhancement of the environment.

“Growing broadleaves is a totally new experience for farmers and the broadleaf walks were a very effective and popular way to discuss issues on the ground. We look forward to organising more walks in the future” concluded Noel Kennedy.

Nuala Ni Fhlatharta said that Teagasc Forestry Development Officers are available to advise farmers on growing broadleaves and that landowners should contact their local Teagasc office for further information.

Ends

Issued on behalf of Teagasc by

Larry O’Loughlin, A/Head, Public Relations Department, Teagasc

Tel: 059 9183408; 087 2562434; Email: loloughlin@hq.teagasc.ie