wannabe_keeper Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 I have just taken on a small farm on which i am going to be setting up a small DIY shoot next year. We have 5 drives pretty much already made however 2 of the smaller woodland shaws are quite bare inside with very little or non-existant ground cover to hold birds. We are hoping to get a 10 metre strip of maize along the top of this shaw but were also wondering the best way to create some instant cover in the wood for next season. Will coppicing and letting light in cause anything to grow naturally for next year or is planting something another option? Ideas please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 coppice and lay the branches in rows, this gives protection to brambles etc and something for them to grow on, it also gives cover to an extent. Be careful how much light you let in or a couple of years down the line you may need a swipe to get through it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reece Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Normally, cover will grow naturally if there is enough light. I would look into thinning the woods out. See the FC website for details of whether you need a felling license (you shouldn't, but always good to check). I seem to remember that you can cut 5 cubic metres of wood in a calendar quarter, but you can only sell 2 or 3 cubic metres. A calendar quarter is 3 months. If you cut 5 cubic metres in march, you could cut another 5 in april, for example. Could be wrong on some of that, so, as I said, check the FC website. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wannabe_keeper Posted December 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Thanks guys i will look into the coppicing idea. If this is done first quarter of 2013 would you expect much cover to have developed come the 2013 shooting season? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
al4x Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 some will have but its more likely to be nettles than decent bramble that takes a while to get going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimbo86 Posted December 10, 2012 Report Share Posted December 10, 2012 Having done a lot of thinning recently, i would say it takes 3 years for the brambles to grow enough to make cover, in a nice big opening in a wood. Cutting a thinner ride a little longer. I would suggust, like al4x, to stack the cuttings to stop the deer, and thats been the biggest problem. Can do it over the top of the stumps you leave or any brambles you can find to protect the new growth or help the brambles grow up through. The other option is stack in rows on the prevailing wind side of the wood to add warmth. Even if nothing grows up you will still improve it for game, less wind, more sunshine. Or cutting out the flushing points on drives. An Electric company cleared a whole stretch in 1 wood under some wires 20 either side. Compensated us well, but will actually improve the wood in the long run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leeds chimp Posted December 14, 2012 Report Share Posted December 14, 2012 (edited) where abouts are you as dont mind giving you a hand as after some wood?? edit: ahhh see you are in west sussex Edited December 14, 2012 by leeds chimp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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