Forestry operations at Rowberrow Warren
Rowberrow Warren is a working woodland producing sustainable timber. We are working here from winter 2024 until spring 2025. This page provides more information about the work we're doing.
What is happening?
During winter 2024 until spring 2025, we are thinning the trees across a wide area of Rowberrow Warren. This means removing selected trees for timber products. This gives the remaining trees more space and light to grow to their full potential. Thinning also lets more light onto the forest floor, which improves the habitat for ground flora and the wildlife it supports.
Throughout this work, we will be taking steps to protect the forest’s valuable and irreplaceable soils. We are working with our contractor to minimise machine access to green rides, keep heavy machinery out of the root protection zones of veteran trees, lay brash mats to protect the ground where machinery must travel, only part-load the forwarder which moves timber around the work site, and fell trees by hand where necessary.
The timber from Rowberrow Warren is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council® (FSC®) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) as being sustainably produced.
Can I still visit Rowberrow Warren?
Safety is our highest priority. Rowberrow Warren is open to visitors throughout the forestry work. We will work hard to keep disruption to a minimum but there will be times when we will need to close access around the forest so we can work safely nearby. It is essential for the safety of our visitors, staff, contractors, and volunteers that everyone follows all signs, diversions, and closures at all times, whether or not you can see or hear us working. Forestry work is very hazardous. A falling tree can weigh several tonnes and hit the ground at nearly 60mph. If a harvesting machine chainsaw snaps, it can fly through the forest like a bullet.
What about the wildlife?
Harvesting trees is an important part of sustainable forest management and well managed forests support more wildlife. Before we start any forestry work, we carry out thorough ecological surveys to check for species such as birds, mammals, rodents, invertebrates, flora, and fungi. This enables us to identify ecological constraints such as the presence of European Protected Species and Schedule 1 protected birds, which affect the time of year when certain operations can be carried out.
We consider our findings against complex factors including tree health, how the ground slopes, soil condition, and likely rainfall when planning forestry work. While working, we continue to check for wildlife and adapt, pause, or suspend work if necessary.
The soils in Rowberrow Warren store more carbon than all the forest’s trees combined. Without the soils, the forest and its rich biodiversity could not thrive. We work closely with our contractors to plan the most appropriate way of working that protects this irreplaceable resource. This includes preventing machine access on green rides, keeping heavy machinery out of the root protection zones of veteran trees, laying brash mats to protect the ground where machinery must travel, only part-loading the forwarder which moves timber around the work site, and felling trees by hand where necessary.
Where can I find out more?
If you have any questions about our work in the Forest, please email us.