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Woodlander is a complete and comprehensive guide to managing a small woodland, incorporating nearly 30 years of knowledge and experience from woodsman Ben Law and his unique home in Prickly Nut Wood.
Woodlander contains everything you need to know if you are managing, or intend to manage, a small woodland. Ben’s inspiring, forest-dwelling life has allowed him to put together a complete package of detailed information and practical examples based on his personal experience, giving this beautiful book an entirely authentic voice. Every page is infused with a deep respect for the traditions of the past while also embracing new ideas, methods and creative thinking.
This is a holistic approach to woodland management, which looks at the entire place – the wildlife it supports, the natural cycles of growth and life, the precious products it creates and the communities that inhabit and surround it. All the while, understanding and emphasising that it is a balance of all these things that makes a healthy, biodiverse, resilient ecosystem.
Detailed sections cover different types of woodland, the rich history behind them, how to assess what you’ve got, practical maintenance, planning for the future, promoting wildlife and biodiversity, harvesting and extracting timber, the tools you will need, crafts, social forestry and an in-depth resources section. Dotted throughout are personal snippets, observations and insights from Ben’s life at Prickly Nut Wood.
Table of contents
Introduction
Chapter One: Types of woodland
Historical overview
Ancient woodland
Ancient semi-natural woodland
Broadleaf plantation
Coniferous plantation
Mixed plantation
Continuous-cover forestry
Coppice woodland
Coppice with standards
Short-rotation coppice
Parklands
Orchards
Chapter Two: Understanding your woodland
Woodland assessment
Observation
Surveying
Legal requirements/insurance/felling licences/chainsaw certification/tax/planning/European protected species
Management plans
Chapter Three: Establishing new woodlands
Long-term vision
Natural regeneration
Climate change
Native or non-native
Planting the woodland
Protection and maintenance
Chapter Four: Silvicultural management systems
Establishing new woodlands – climate change planning
Managing for timber
Extraction
Species choice/uses/measuring volumes
Managing for wildlife and biodiversity
Threats, pests and diseases
Chapter Five: Tools for woodland management
Cutting tools – high pruning
Timber-moving tools
Extraction Tools
Timber measuring and marking tools
Chapter Six: Seeing the wood from the trees
Tree to finished product
Woodland craft
Wood fuel
Mobile sawmilling
Non-timber woodland produce
Marketing
Chapter Seven: Community/social forestry
Community woodlands
Woodland weddings/funerals
Woodland co-operatives
The woodland volunteer
Forest schools
Shooting
The value of place -woodland retreats/courses/camping/bushcraft/foraging
Food growing
Chapter Eight: Woodland Ownership
Buying woodland
Woodlotting and group ownership
A final word – our responsibility
Resources:
Glossary
Further reading
Tool suppliers
Recommended tree nurseries
Woodland organisations
Woodland estate agents
Woodland insurance
Useful apps for woodland management