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Friday 19 November 2010

An educational day

Today I was driven around Mr H's forest district and I learned....

That areas of broadleaves (birch, rowan, alder) are being planted in the Galloway Forest Park, as well as conifers.

That some trees can grow under water.



That the drainage off the land has to be just right, not to fast and not too slow.

That they can tell what will grow well by the size of the stumps of the previous crop that was there.

That after harvesting an area is left for around 5 years before planting to avoid spraying for weevil, as it is supposed to have been and gone in that time; but then they have to spray for the weeds that have grown up.

That sticks of trees are left on the site when harvesting, for the birds of prey to sit on.



That they can tell what will grow well in a particular place by the natural 'weeds' that have grown there.

That Lodgepole Pine is planted along with the Sitka Spruce because it changes the characteristics of the nitrogen in the soil so that it is better for the Sitka. 


That Lodgepole Pine isn't a very good wood, but will be harvested for things like paper or pallets.

That Larch branches are useful when you get stuck in the mud.

That Larches in this clean air can get so covered in lichen it looks like snow.





7 comments:

  1. very interesting information for all of us too, and beautiful photos going along especially the last one much like the moss in Georgia, and very inspiring that they leave some of it out for birds to sit or nest perhaps. Nice bits on your visit around Mr. H's work/life!

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  2. sounds interesting, love the pictures

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  3. This is intresting and the photos are lovely. Is the harvested wood mainly for paper making or is it used for other things as well.

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  4. Chibi, the answer from The Man: "Mainly packaging materials (the UK is self-sufficient) - pallets, boxes etc.; and the small dimension construction industry"

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  5. Oh, take your wife to work day! :-)

    Sounds like it was all a good time.
    And wow--what a gorgeous work environment!
    Lucky you!

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  6. thank you so much for this great information !! good work

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  7. breathing in the words here

    i think ( after living right against forestry ) that larch are my almost-favourite trees ever. the soft green cones, the harder brown autumn ones, the lichen...oh good grief the lichen!

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