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Clearing forest overgrowth for a beginner

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    #32
    guitarhappy
    Registered Users Posts: 229 ✭✭guitarhappy


    ford2600 wrote: »

    From reading OP I would think he/she is not very experienced in such matters and I would be very reluctant for them to cut trees for different reasons; in a wood especially where they can get tied up in each other it can be really dangerous work even with all the appropriate work equipment, training and experience.

    This.


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    #33
    Accidentally
    Registered Users Posts: 259 ✭✭Accidentally


    I'd contact the NPWS and ask for details for your local ranger. Some are a bit hit and miss, but some are also excellent. If you get a good one they can give you excellent advice and contacts.

    Felling, pollarding or coppicing can all come with an element of danger, but try and do what you can after a bit of advice. Chainsaws need training and respect, but you can also achieve a lot with a bow saw, a bit of respect, and a bit more time.

    Beware the local genius with a chainsaw. They rarely have the local flora and fauna, or your interests at heart.


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    #34
    recedite
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,992 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    Chainsaws can be lethal alright, on the other hand its hard to maintain a piece of woodland without one. As somebody said, best advice is probably to mark any trees that need to be thinned out, and get a contractor in to cut them.


    I think at the end of the day, OP wants this wood as an eco-facility and a leisure resource. So another suggestion is purchase one of the excellent Silky saws and a secateurs, and attach them both onto holsters on a belt. Then whenever taking a stroll out there, wear the belt. There will always be something to prune. If you do it in small doses like so, it will be a leisure activity as opposed to a chore. OP can watch wildlife and observe the seasonal changes of nature while out there. If there is any major work needed to be done, get a contractor in.


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    #35
    Lumen
    Registered Users Posts: 31,072 ✭✭✭✭Lumen


    What's the point in owning a small forest if you don't get to play with chainsaws?

    Get some training, know your limits, don't leave ground level.


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    #36
    adocholiday
    Registered Users Posts: 1,890 ✭✭✭adocholiday


    Hi everyone, apologies for the radio silence, I didn't really have anything to post until now, but I finally made the best of the good weather yesterday to get some pics.

    I have uploaded two albums, 1 showing the garden https://imgur.com/a/xkL8CJg and 1 showing the forest https://imgur.com/a/kDzhOBD.

    The garden is actually pretty clear of trees. It's a multi-level garden and the highest level is visible from the house. There is a hill, then a flat overgrown area, with another hill, and another overgrown flat area. There are some trees in the garden and looks to be a mix of different ones. The trees in the garden are all to the right of the first pic.

    In the forest then you can see that it's basically all pine, with lots of overgrowth and fallen trees etc.

    Any questions I'll do my best. Hopefully this helps you all visualize it better.

    And to address the latest conversation, I think if any chopping of trees is required I'll be getting the pros in for sure!


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    #37
    New Home
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators Posts: 76,829 Mod ✭✭✭✭New Home


    Here are the links without the final parenthesis. :)

    https://imgur.com/a/xkL8CJg
    https://imgur.com/a/kDzhOBD

    (Looks heavenly, Op. :))


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    #38
    adocholiday
    Registered Users Posts: 1,890 ✭✭✭adocholiday


    New Home wrote: »
    Here are the links without the final parenthesis. :)

    https://imgur.com/a/xkL8CJg
    https://imgur.com/a/kDzhOBD

    (Looks heavenly, Op. :))

    Thanks! I've updated the post too thanks for the heads up


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    #39
    looksee
    Registered Users Posts: 28,435 ✭✭✭✭looksee


    I think I am probably ahead of you on brambles! My place looks much the same though - though I have almost no conifers. Yes, tree chopping is for experts (and a felling license).


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    #40
    recedite
    Closed Accounts Posts: 13,992 ✭✭✭✭recedite


    Pretty much as I thought, the brambles are growing where there is light (outside the canopy) Inside the wood the main problem is small branches at eye level which I would take out to leave "clean trunks" on the trees. These are grand for wildlife and small birds, but they will really interfere with your ability to walk around the wood and enjoy it.

    Some nice ferns in there too, and in spring you'll see what bulbs might come up.
    There's a lot of ivy on the trees. I'd cut that at the base and leave it to die off, but no doubt somebody else will say "leave that, its a native species".
    Either way the ivy will still be mooching around at ground level, looking for something else to climb on.


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