Forestry & Woodland Management

Question 1

What is a deciduous tree?

Answer 1

A tree that drops its leaves

Question 2

What is a coniferous tree?

Answer 2

A cone bearing tree with pines as a pose to leaves.

Question 3

How would you identify an Oak tree?

Answer 3

The leaf would have 5 or 6 rounded lobes

ACORNS

Question 4

What tree species bears conkers?

Answer 4

Horse Chestnut

Question 5

Name some broadleaves native to the UK.

Answer 5

• Oak
• Birch
• Ash
• Hazel

Question 6

What are the main conifers planted in Scotland?

Answer 6

1. Sitka Spruce
2. Scots Pine

Question 7

Main uses of Scots Pine?

Answer 7

• Building
• Furniture
• Chipboard

it is one of the strongest softwoods available!!!!!!!

Question 8

What is the life cycle of an Oak?

Answer 8

900 - 1,000 years

300 growing
300 living
300 dying

Question 9

Generic life cycle of a tree?

Answer 9

• Preparation
• Planting
• Felling
• Thinning

Question 10

Lifecylce assessment of a Sitka Spruce.

Answer 10

Year 0 = site prep
Year 1 - 15 = site maintenance
Year 20 - 35 = first and subsequent thinning
Year 39 - 41 = Final clear-fell

Question 11

What is a retention tree?

Answer 11

Trees left to live in a clear-fell site, biodiversity being the main reason for leaving.

Question 12

You say you are familiar with the Scottish Governments tree planting goals. What are these?

Answer 12

From 2024/25 onward the SG want to plant 18,000ha/year

Question 13

Have they being beating their goals to date?

Answer 13

No

2023/24: 16,500ha (15,000ha actual)

2022/23: 15,000ha (8,190ha actual)

2021/22: 13,500ha (10,480ha actual)

Question 14

What is the Forestry Grant Scheme?

Answer 14

A scheme offering financial support for the creation of new woodland and the careful and sustainable management of existing woodland.

Question 15

Why do you think the SG has not been reaching their woodland creation goals?

Answer 15

• Over ambitious
• Lack of participation
• Not enough incentive through schemes such as FGS
• Budget cuts - Scottish Forestry’s budget has been cut by some £30m for 2024/25

Question 16

What was the application process for the native woodland creation at Floors?

Answer 16

1. Submit an application to FGS detailing the proposed planting scheme (native broadleaves in this case) and the suitability of the site.

Question 17

What payments do you receive for the site?

Answer 17

Two trances of payment:

1. Capital - covering cost of creation
2. Annual maintenance - payment made for the first 5-years of the scheme to help cover maintenance costs

Question 18

Can you tell me what the payment rates were?

Answer 18

Yes:

£1,840/ha: creation
£272/ha: maintenance

Question 19

What was the size of the site?

Answer 19

The size was split over 12 different compartments, in total they equated to 16.2ha.

Question 20

How do you receive the payments?

Answer 20

A capital claim is submitted for the capital items

The maintenance is paid with your SAF.

Question 21

Where might you receive a higher £/ha payment rate?

Answer 21

If the area to be planted sits within a ‘target zone’

Question 22

Give an example of a target zone?

Answer 22

A Riparian site, due to its ability to deliver multiple benefits, such as:

• water quality
• water temperature
• help flood management

Question 23

What were the suitable species you planted?

Answer 23

Predominantly a mix of Alder & Birch

Question 24

Why do you mound prior to planting?

Answer 24

• drier climate
• warmer root temperature
• Lower competition
• disease resistance

Question 25

What is the value of Sitka Spruce?

Question 26

How do you measure volumes of roadside timber?

Answer 26

Simply multiplying the height of a ‘stack’ by the width will give you your total m3.

Question 27

What is the value of Scots Pine?

Question 28

What is silviculture?

Answer 28

A term used to describe the care, cultivation and restocking of woodlands.

Question 29

You refer to a low impact silviculture system within the policies @ Floors. Explain.

Answer 29

A woodland system that requires little intervention. Natural regeneration is encouraged to promote and increase biodiversity.

Thinning is occasionally required, and removal of dead limbs or trees is necessary.

Question 30

What other siliviculture systems might you see across the Estate?

Answer 30

clear fell/clear cut

Question 31

How might you prepare a site for restocking?

Answer 31

• Spot spray for existing weeds/competition
• Cultivation
• If on a clear-fell site you will have to deal with existing residue (burn etc.)
• Plant

Question 32

What is the average planting density for commercial connifers?

Answer 32

Between 2,500 & 2,700 shrubs or seeds/ha

Question 33

What pests/species pose a threat to a newly planted site?

Answer 33

weevil
deer
goats
sheep
bracken

Question 34

How could you protect a newly planted site?

Answer 34

Tree guards
Deer fence

Question 35

How did you identify a deep problem at Swindon Hill?

Answer 35

• discussion with our forest manager
• damage to bark
• damage to heads of shrubs
• increased sightings

Question 36

Different methods of planting?

Answer 36

Direct seeding
Planting established shrubs

Question 37

What archaeological assessment would you carry out prior to planting?

Answer 37

• Canmore for archaeological sites

Question 38

What ecological studies might you conduct?

Answer 38

• You might consult the NatureScot website to see whether the sit lie within a ‘designated’ site

Question 39

What monument did the Calroust plantation lie within?

Answer 39

CROOK LAW Settlement - Calroust

Question 40

Could you have planted on the monument anyway?

Answer 40

We could have applied for consent through Historic Environment Scotland (HES) to plant around the monument.

We decided to relocate the site.