For a long time in British forestry a poor practice of single or no thinning harvests has been sustained. This, in comparison to a scandinavian management model where up to 5 thinnings may be carried out has left UK conifer stands unproductive and prone to windblow.

For this reason the machine harvesting side of the business is aimed at first and second thinnings between the ages of 15 and 25 years. These thins directly lead to sustaining the annual yield class through increased light and decreased nutrient competition as well as opening the stand to wind movement promoting root growth.

'The long term' is an important concept in a managment plan of a crop that may take more than a century to reach full maturity.
As well as felling licences and grant applications we are working toward a full portfolio of woodlands under lease, ownership and long term management. This as well as providing continuity to the woodlands is allowing us to experiment with new ideas such as taxodium distichum as an alternative to phytophthora affected larch and a two stage coppice with standard system aimed at future mechanical coppice harvesting.