Multipurpose farm-forestry in action in County Limerick

The Bresnan Family in Co. Limerick clearly understand the multipurpose potential of farm-forests and the importance of appropriate and timely management. Jonathan Spazzi, Teagasc Forestry Development Officer tells us more

A great strength of farm-forests is their potential to deliver many beneficial services, such as carbon sequestration, biodiversity and recreation, while at the same time providing essential products such as timber and energy.

In order to maximise forests multipurpose nature, careful management is key: the right trees in the right place but also the right management at the right time.

A farming family that clearly understands the multipurpose potential of farm-forests and the importance of appropriate and timely management is the Bresnan Family in Co. Limerick who have just completed second thinning operations in their forest.

Liam and Helen Bresnan own and manage a 22 ha mixed farm-forest comprising of Sitka spruce, Norway spruce and mixed broadleaf species.

Liam in one of the oak blocks planted throughout the Sitka spruce area

The forest complements 37 ha of grassland and was planted in 1999 as part of whole-farm restructuring as a way to improve overall farm efficiency. Since then Liam has developed a forest road and carried out first thinning, availing of Forest Road Grant and Woodland Improvement Grant. Early thinning is very important at it removes inferior quality trees and provides appropriate development for remaining trees. It also encourages trees rooting for long term wind-stability. This is a key factor as Liam manages his plantation under Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF) where trees are retained for longer periods and greater size when compared to conventional management.

Continuous Cover Forestry

CCF allows commercial timber harvesting while retaining forest cover in the long term. It is not an option for all forest sites as issues with elevation, exposure and soil quality may raise forest stability issues. It also requires greater management inputs than conventional forestry. A pilot scheme was launched in 2019 by the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine (DAFM) to fund transformation of existing plantations to CCF - more information here

Thirty forest owners, including Liam and Helen, were approved under the scheme for the period 2019/2020.

Hands-on management  

Liam is very hands-on in the management of his forest and over the years has hosted a number of open days for forest owners in association with the local Teagasc Forestry Advisor and the Limerick Tipperary Woodland Owners (LTWO) group. He and his family greatly value their forest resource and spend a good deal of time in the forest for recreation. Liam’s objectives include a balanced mix between timber production, personal satisfaction and legacy. For this reason, and given the forest suitability, he has chosen CCF as an appropriate management option.

Transformation thinning

Grant approval and felling licence for transformation thinning were secured in 2019.  A plan of action was then put in place for 2020 by Liam in consultation with forester Pádraig Ó’Tuama. Initial works took place early this spring  and were completed  by local forestry contractor Sean Ryan and by Liam and his family to include marking and pruning of quality “crop” trees, thinning, under-planting of trees and the completion of a forest survey to inform management.

Unlike conventional spruce thinning, where removal focuses on smaller, poorer quality trees, under CCF, thinning focuses on the removal of large, lower quality, trees. This helps with short term thinning economics while in the long run facilitating the development of high quality saw log by promoting the best quality trees. Read about the TranSSFor project 

CCF Selective thinning in progress with quality trees for long term retention marked in white

Monitor and review

Liam and Pádraig collaboratively carried out tree marking while Padraig facilitated the forest inventory.  As Pádraig puts it “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it. The success of the system relies on regular monitoring and review”. The work to date is progressing well and the forest is being thinned carefully. Pruning in the Norway spruce section was completed in recent weeks with the under planting of beech, sycamore and Douglas fir carried out during April. Liam concludes “I am happy with thinning returns and I can see the value of the forest increasing with every thinning while it also gets brighter and more diverse”. The next selective thinning will be needed in 3-4 years. The last job for this year will be for Liam to remove the brash from the footpath and cycle path for the family to continue to enjoy recreation in the forest.

Brighter, more open conditions following selective thinning in spruce will promote natural regeneration of ground flora and trees such as sycamore and oak.

More information here