more signs of spring...

Now things are really getting going.. The impressive annual display of colour that is Withycombe Wood's bluebells is as impressive as ever. They come out in carpets of purple, and are really worth seeing. You can access Withycombe Wood via Withycombe village, and walk up through the newly planted Myra's Wood, to be opened at the end of the month, and dedicated in memory of a resident of the village. The trees are also starting to flush, and I have seen hazel, rowan, horse chestnut and beech with bright green leaves starting to poke through. A great time of year for sure and Bob the dog is enjoying the sun too! Andy Player

Felling in the forest

More intrepid visitors to the forest may have noticed that we have been felling up on Croydon Hill recently. This has unfortunately been necessary due to the stand of Corsican Pine falling victim to red band needle blight ( http://www.forestry.gov.uk/fr/INFD-6ZCKAE), which basically stunted the trees' growth, and could have spread to other stands. One interesting feature of this is that it has opened up some amazing views of Conygar tower and the coast- that won't have been seen for 40+ years. This area will be restocked with conifers that are more resistant to the ever increasing sweet of tree diseases that we need to manage around nowadays. The views, however, will remain for a good few years yet, so do make your way up the hill to enjoy them, and the nightjars that may well inhabit this area now it has been cleared. Andy Player

More signs of spring

As well as having the tallest tree in England (a 60m tall douglas fir), we also have growing along side it the tallest magnolia (25m). One of the signs that spring is really getting going is that it flowers an impressive bright pink (if you like that sort of thing!), and it is currently in full flower. Its neighbour also flowers white, straight after the pink has begun to go over. Both are well worth a look, but hurry as the whole spectacle only lasts a couple of weeks- just in time for easter holidays! Andy Player

signs of spring

when out in our semi natural oak woodland, Withycombe Scruffets recently I stopped to watch wood ants building a nest. It was fascinating to watch, and surprisingly noisy as they went about their business of moving first the Queen and the grubs, and then the workers building the colony around them. It is just one of the first signs of spring that I will be reporting back on over the next few weeks, and thanks to the glorious weather that we have been fortunate enough to be enjoying- lets hope that this is not our summer! Andy Player, Countryside Manager

New office update

The new office is really starting to take shape- the shell is nearly complete and electrics all plumbed in (if I can use that term!). We should be abel to start the migration across in a couple of weeks so at long last we are nearly there! watch this space for more updates.

New Forest Office update

The ball is well and truly rolling with the new Dunster estate forest office! Wedgewood Buildings, our contractors have been on site for a couple of months now doing the ground works, but in the last week or so the buidling has started to shoot up. This photo was taken yesterday, and I suspect by the end of the week that the roof will be on and possibly even tiled- very rapid.

Forest Operations Feb 2012

We are currently thinning the woodland in the Longcombe area of the forest- see map. Thinning enables the remaining trees to grow bigger, and lets light into the forest floor. It also generates timber to go to UK timber mills for making a wide range of wooden produce. Please observe any signs or directions given on site, keep your dog under close control at all times when near a work site and do not get too close to working machinery.