Nationwide series of forest walks commences

Managing young forests increases their value

Teagasc, in association with the Forest Service (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine), are organising a nationwide series of forest walks from today, 19 April to 8 May, focusing on the management of young forests. All walks start at 7pm.

At these events, forestry experts from Teagasc and the Forest Service will explain why it is essential to care for young forests. These forest walks will focus on the key actions required by forest owners. 

Speaking in advance of the first walk in County Clare this evening, Dr. Nuala Ni Fhlatharta, Head of the Teagasc Forestry Development Department said: “Management in the early years is essential to get the best returns from your forest, as new forests require several years of active management to become well established. If a forest is not well maintained, future timber revenue is likely to be compromised. It is therefore very important to ensure that the young forest will perform well and that budding forest owners know what needs to be done each year. This is also equally true if the management of the forest has been subcontracted out for the first four years. After all, it is the owner that will benefit financially from well looked after trees.”

Jonathan Spazzi, Forestry Advisor with Teagasc explained the topics to be discussed; “The focus in the first few years is on controlling the surrounding vegetation, ensuring that browsing animals won't damage the young trees, replanting of failed trees, assessing nutrient needs and satisfactory drainage, shaping of broadleaf trees, and reducing the risk of fires.”

He added: “The aim of these walks is twofold; first of all, to provide guidance to forest owners. Forest owners need to take an active role in the management of their forests to maximise future timber revenue. Secondly, it is also important to keep in mind that grant payments are subject to the forest successfully achieving certain standards.”

This nationwide series of forest walks is aimed at landowners who have established a new forest in the last few years. Landowners who are considering planting some land will also find these events very useful.

Further details are available from your local forestry advisor or from www.teagasc.ie/forestry

Please note: all walks start at 7pm.