7 replies to this topic

[Matthew (MPJ/Admin)]

I have received the following details by email. Does anyone know more or has anyone seen the work?

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A number of fine old beech trees are to be felled to create ‘clearings’ in this beautiful ancient wood. According to the Woodland Trust, the reason for the felling is so that new trees of different types can grow there.

A number of beautiful beeches have been cut down already and, as expected, have just been left where they fell – the wood is a mess.

More trees are to be felled, which will turn this lovely spot into a wasteland.

Just thought you’d like to know.

Stanley Wood is located to the south side of the Stanley Hill cemetery.

[mvjt]

Yes, we walked there the other week. Some beautiful large beech trees have been felled and the trunks were still there. There are other trees nearby with markings similar to the felled ones, so I assume they are also to go.
It is such a shame as this is a beautiful small beech wood. I can see no reason to change it.

[PeterC]

Our local beech woods are commercial plantations intended to supply the, now closed, furniture factories. Beech is a short lived tree and if the wood is to remain an "amenity" in the long term it needs to become an area of mixed ages and species. Of course any woodland management looks unsightly in the short term which always gets the NIMBYs complaining.

[David P]

I think it safe to assume that the Woodland Trust knows what it is doing. As PeterC says, any woodland management looks unsightly to start with, but it soon grows back and is for long term benefit. Leaving at least some of the cut wood in situ creates habitat for insects and small animals.

[147]

Our local beech woods are commercial plantations intended to supply the, now closed, furniture factories. Beech is a short lived tree and if the wood is to remain an "amenity" in the long term it needs to become an area of mixed ages and species. Of course any woodland management looks unsightly in the short term which always gets the NIMBYs complaining.

At last someone who knows what they are talking about. wood is a crop that is harvested as Peter says. It might look unsightly now, however it would look even worse if the woods were not managed and left to their own devices.

[mvjt]

Our local beech woods are commercial plantations intended to supply the, now closed, furniture factories.

I hadnt realised that. I thought they were natural Chiltern woodlands, of which this was a remnant.
In that case I understand that management is necessary.

[147]

Before the Furniture Industry sprung up in High Wycombe in the 19th century, the woodland was used as fuel for London. The Furniture Industry grew in Wycombe purely because of the abundance of woodland in the Chilterns.

[Fran]

The point about woodland management and harvesting are well-made. However, this sentence did make me smile:

it would look even worse if the woods were not managed and left to their own devices.

I think many woodlands around the world manage to look quite lovely, even when they are left to their own devices.