Tending and Thinning of Oak Woodlands

Cappamurragh Farm House, Cappamurragh, Ballagh, Dundrum, Co. Tipperary

Jointly organised by Teagasc, the Forest Service and COFORD, this National Demonstration will be of great interest to landowners whose broadleaf woodlands are at, or near, the first tending / thinning stage. The event will provide a valuable insight into the management of young oak woodlands to produce quality stems and optimising the value of the future crop.

There are many young woodlands planted in the mid nineties that are now ready for tending / thinning. It is vital that owners have the knowledge and are ready to commence this operation at the right time. This operation can provide a good source of revenue while also increasing the productivity of the broadleaf crop.

The event will demonstrate to participants the optimum time to commence tending and first thinning of Oak. Other important topics include felling licences, harvesting grants, road access, firewood and charcoal production and non-timber products such as fungi.

Participants will be shown the process of marking the trees for tending with identification of potential final crop trees and subsequent marking of stems to be removed including competitors, wolves and diseased stems. The demonstration will also include a visit to a plot that has recently been tended.

Tending and thinning broadleaves are essential operations to ensure the production of valuable hardwood timber optimising returns from your broadleaf forest. This is the first oak thinning event to be held nationwide. It is therefore a great opportunity for oak growers to see and experience best practice for tending and thinning of oak crops.

Venue details:

Wednesday 26 October 2011, Cappamurragh Farm House, Dundrum, Co Tipperary. Arrive any time between 11am and 12.30 pm. Please note that guided tours will leave every twenty minutes between 11am and 12.30pm and the demonstration will take approximately 2.5 hours.

This is an outdoor event so please bring appropriate footwear and raingear. All are welcome. Event is free.

For further information contact Michael Somers

Directions:

• Cappamurragh Farm House, Cappamurragh, Dundrum, Co. Tipperary.
• Garmin Loc8 code: RZ5-81-ZD7.
• Event will be signposted from the Thurles-Tipperary Town road and the Cashel-Dundrum road.