Its funny how things turn around, a few years ago I was busy planting trees and putting protective collars around others that were self sown… However there are now so many self sown Silver Birch all growing up and competing with one another that removal is the order of the day. Also there is lots of Gorse and whilst I welcome some of it, I do not want the entire site covered with Gorse. Finally there is the Rhododendron and Laurel, which was always there but has obviously benefited from the removal of the Corsican Pines and they are not welcome at all.
So in these next few weeks whilst the weather is improving but the trees have not burst into leaf, I am busy cutting down these three species. The little silver Birches and the Gorse succumb to a sharp pair of secateurs but the slightly bigger Silver Birch need the attention of a sharp pruning saw. The Rhododendrons will largely fall victim to the secateurs but some thicker stems need the saw.
I select one dominant Silver Birch to remain but all the others within about a 3 meter radius get the chop. Any Beech, Oak and Hazel are preserved and anything growing close by gets cut back. All the Rhododendron gets cut back, I had a big battle with some quite big bushes today. See Above.
I am also trying to clear channels or sight lines through the wood and leave other areas quite overgrown. There is also a central area in which virtually everything is getting the chop and just the field layer composed mostly of Heather and Bilberry are being preserved.( my Heathland zone) Its all about maintaining a good mix. Diversity of habitat should equal diversity of species.
Ninewells Wood 