Its important to Manage Woodland
Management within woodlands (particularly in areas where the Ash trees have been ravaged by ‘Ash Dieback’) can look brutal and change the landscape, but our woods are resilient and bounce back. Most of our woods are Ash and Hazel and these need to be coppiced every 10 – 15 years to keep them looking their best. At Manor Farm we have about 25 acres of woodland including the steep sided hangers which are beautiful but difficult and dangerous to manage. Its a costly job and we can apply for grant aid which helps a bit. Most of the wood we fell is sold locally or used to fuel the stoves on our Feather Down tents.
We are careful to fell trees selectively. Managing the trees including rotational coppicing and pollarding will let light through the woodland canopy and encourage revival of the naturally rich ground flora, including bluebells, yellow archangel and wood sorrel. These plants in turn will attract woodland butterflies and other priority species.
You can read more about the woodland work we and our neighbouring farmers do within The Selborne Land Partnership:
https://www.selbornelandscapepartnership.org.uk/current-projects
