Woodland Management Training: 29-05-2018

Management Training

This week saw 13 NCVs taking part in some management training. However - everyone was more than happy to do so as the focus of the day was NOT as shown below:

Instead it focused on WOODLAND management. 

Now that is something we are more used to and experienced in, although I suppose you could say that we went through the MBO cycle only last week, namely:

Step 1 - Tony and Ros planned the woodland management aims for the day

Step 2 - The Boss told everyone what to do

Step 3 - Everyone got busy whilst the Boss kept an eagle eye & took photos

Step 4 - Tony checked the completed jobs 

Step 5 - Alwin served up a tasty meal as a reward for the workers.

There you have it - The Five-Step WMBO process.

However - this week we were finding out, from trainer Phil Lythe, of the Yorkshire Farming Wildlife Partnership, all about:

• The value of woods
• Woodland planting & establishment
• New Woodland Design
• Woodland management
• Designing a woodland management plan
• Incorporating special features.
• Costs & getting the work done
• Grant aid and assistance

The day wasn't just about sitting in a classroom though. We had two site visits to see the theory in action - one at Fishpond Wood and the other at Millennium Green.

As we arrived we were given a quiz sheet to complete.

Each answer was the name of a tree.

Nick and Phil thought long and hard about the quiz questions.

At the end of the day Tony got the highest score and won the prize - 

a piece of Phil Lythe's home grown honeycomb.
Mmmmmm. Honey!!

After the first presentation it was off to Millennium Green .....

...to do some tree identification.

Phil brought his spade to show us the proper 
technique for planting a new tree.

Golden rule: ALWAYS clear the grass off the soil first.

First site visit over it was back to the council chambers 

for a bit more theory and our lunch.

We were spoilt for choice with goodies with 

Audrey's flapjack and Gwen Emsley's coffee biscuits and lemon curd cakes.
Thanks folks!!

Site visit number two required us to consider how best 

to manage a wood we know well, namely Fishpond Wood.
Lots of tree identification practice here.

Everyone gathered to look at the oaks below - 

all sessile ones (because their acorns are sessile - 
without a stalk - though their leaves are stalked).

Past the charcoal burner (just one of the many products 

that the woodland owner makes from his wood).

We weren't sure what this is going to be but it was very well made!

The beech trees shade out other species.

You may have to remove one in order to let light in for regeneration to occur.
Sounds drastic but these beauties will not last forever 
and you need to think ahead to replace them.

Management plan considered it was back to 

the council chamber to see if our ideas matched 
the actual plan for the wood.

Picture Quiz: (answers at the bottom of the page)

Question 1 - Egg from which bird?

Question 2 - What is this?

All in all it was a really interesting, informative and enjoyable day. Thanks for that Phil!!

Answers to the picture quiz:

1 - The egg is from a song thrush.

2 - Something you can wrap around the end of the top stem of a young tree, inside a tree guard, to stop deer nibbling the shoot. The long pieces of plastic stick up their noses. They don't like that!!