Greetings from Herefordshire

[davetb]

Hi everyone,

After 6 months looking / planning we finally own a wood.

We live in Cardiff and own a 39 acre wood in Herefordshire. ( 45 min drive ).

We were looking for 10 acres but this was so beautiful we bought it.

Had it less than a week and already managed to drive land rover into overgrown ditch and met a few friendly neighbours. One with a tractor pulled me out.

It has 9 acres Sitka spruce and 1 acre sweet chestnut and lots of neglected hazel coppice under oak / beech.

Lots of bramble / bracken about 6 foot high around egde.

Main plans are enhancing wildlife / amenity value.

I did chainsaw course 2 months ago and bought husky 357xp.

We have 6 and 4 year old, who hate brambles so need to clear a few paths before they regularly come.

First plan is to clear old rides to allow car in.

Need to fix some fencing ( barbed wire coming away but otherwise ok ).

Find provisional spot for clearing / seats / fire etc

The adventure begins.

Cheers, Dave

[tracy]

Hi Davtb

Brilliant, thats a big wood! You will be busy!

We are looking forward to hearing about how you get on and seeing some pictures- perhaps you could write an article on what you are up to for one of our newsletters? That goes for all of you out there btw- get writing ;-)

Tracy

[WickedWitch]

Great. We\'ve been there, done that. Our advice is- deal with the kids first. If they aren\'t contnted you\'ll not be able to get on with anything. You do need a clearing - plan a big one, and just carve out as much as you can for now. remember-

-the sun comes from the south; make it work for you

-clear in hazel, not conifer; safer for fires

-just keep slashing the clearing; very soon grass will take over, it did for us.

-import several tables, old stacking tables are ideal, just to put things on.

-use bricks to enclose your camp fire; keeps it from spreading, makes it clear for kids where the danger is, and you can balance pots on it.

Best of luck! Let\'s hear how you are getting on.