Make woodlands work for you

Most farmers will know the value of their land whether they are grazing stock or growing crops. But when it comes to woodland and forestry it can be harder to calculate potential profits.

But that’s where timber harvesting and forestry management specialist Agriforest can help. By taking on your woodland management projects the company claims it can help you reap huge rewards from your woodland.

“It’s not all about cutting down trees and selling timber,” says Agriforest managing director, Douglas Mathison. “Making sure that you apply the correct management for your of woodland is crucial. There are a lot of issues to consider when taking on this kind of project.”

Woodlands often lack a diversity of structure, and don’t provide the vital deadwood and open spaces that wildlife needs. Deer and other mammals can have a severe negative impact as can the presence of pests and invasive species such as rhododendron.

Additionally, the increasing change in our climate makes it difficult for trees to adapt to altering rainfall levels and temperature fluctuations. Severe weather events such as storms, droughts and wildfire, put additional pressure on woodlands.

But a well-planned approach to managing woodland allows you to identify the threats while considering what objectives to prioritise – such as timber production, supporting biodiversity or recreation. This allows you to develop a course of action that best supports your objectives and ensures your woodland continues to deliver important ecosystem services.

It was to offer customers the best solutions for managing their woodlands that Mathison set up Agriforest in 2016. Today, it is an independent company specialising in timber harvesting and forest management on farms and estates and offering a range of services to help customers get the best from their woodland resources.

“We can show you how thinning can help achieve a better final crop,” says Mathison, “or why clear felling is necessary when trees are at the end of their growing cycle. I believe we can offer the best solutions for all of your woodland needs.”

Agriforest boasts a team of experts with over 100 years of experience between them, a fleet of eight top-of-the-range harvesting machines and currently harvests over 50k tonnes of timber every year and plants more than 280k trees too.

But there are other benefits to managing your woodlands. “Most people are simply unaware of the true financial benefits that effective woodland management offers,” says Mathison. “We help by providing a management plan that creates a structured environmental and financial solution.”

FSC and PEFC certification means the company can sell timber to any market and get the best price for its customers – all based on a “no upfront fees” policy which, says Mathison, is unique within the market.