Just a review of 2015 and to wish you all a happy new year and thanks for bothering to read my woodland ramblings. I sincerely hope this will be a happy new year. It’s been a tough one for me and my family and for the world in general in many ways and we are overdue for some good times. This is my second year as a woodland owner so I’ve seen the full spectrum of seasons, which are probably not typical. The recent mild and very wet winter here has robbed me of the pleasures of seeing the woodland in it’s winter coat. I’d love to see it covered in snow. It’s also prevented me from visiting as much as I’d like and I’m raring to get back in there and do some work.

First a little review of 2015 and the more positive achievements in my wood. I managed to plant around 40 new trees of native mixed species and as far as I can see, haven’t had any casualties yet, though some have done far better than others. I think the slowest growth is in the two whitebeam saplings which haven’t gained much height at all. The wild cherry and birch are probably the winners so far. The coppiced hazel is doing OK though the new growth on some of it is not very straight and I’m wondering why. I think it made rapid growth and it’s own weight but little strength in the stems pulled it down sideways.

I managed two overnight camping trips which were a new experience for me. I’ve done plenty of camping in my life but only camped on organised sites before. This is a completely different scenario. I’ve made several new friends who are neighbouring woodlanders and that’s a bonus. It’s really good to be able to talk to others who totally get what you’re at and the reassurance of their presence. I’ve had several visitors, two great guys I met earlier in the year at a bushcraft course I attended. I think there will be some more meet-ups with them this year both in and out of the woods.

I started using my chainsaw to fell and cut some trees that need thinning out – a somewhat scary experience at first but one I’m reasonably confident with now. There will always be a healthy dose of fear when using it though, which is good to have. I haven’t counted the number of trees felled but a rough guess is around 20-30. I have a fairly healthy log-pile for my woodstove now but much of it still needs cutting smaller and chopping. I was given a fantastic book for Christmas entitled Norwegian Wood: Chopping, Stacking and Drying Wood the Scandinavian Way by Lars Mytting. If you’re a woodsman and wood stove owner I thoroughly recommend it. I realise now that I should have cut and split my fresh wood as soon as possible after felling it. The reason is to encourage drying and seasoning as quickly as possible otherwise moulds set in and slow it down and degrade the quality of your firewood. So I shall have to get busy with that task as soon as possible and take it on board in future.

I was pleased with the take-up of several of my bird nest boxes, over half of them were occupied, mainly by various members of the tit family – coal tits, great tits and blue tits. I’ve made and fixed up a nest box for Little Owls and am really hoping a pair will find and use it. So far I haven’t seen any animals in the woods other than squirrels and birds and the odd toad, though there is plenty of evidence of small mammals like mice, moles and voles, also holes dug by badgers foraging and the odd deer tracks. I guess it’s because they are mainly nocturnal.

The best part of woodland ownership is the sheer pleasure of being part of that natural world and losing yourself in it. I have said it numerous times to people, when I am there I am almost totally focussed and absorbed in the present and the natural surroundings which has a definite healing effect on your nervous system – and boy have I needed that this year. The woodland has been my haven and I can’t get enough of it. If you want to feel grounded and alive, just take a slow walk through a woodland or forest on your own. Take some binoculars, open your eyes and turn up your senses. Just sit somewhere quietly for a while, listen and watch carefully to see what moves or makes a sound. Look closely at some of the plants, fungi etc that are growing around you. It’s an amazing place packed with life and don’t forget – you are part of nature too. This is your natural heritage, try to reconnect with it for a short while before heading back to your cosy house, tv and computer.

So what about 2016 then? My plans are to expand the area of hazel re-coppice. That’s a job I need to do ASAP as the new catkins are already on them and the sap is rising early. Do some more tree felling in the N.E. corner where I started in Autumn and plant up the oak saplings I have been nurturing at home. Build a permanent lean-to shelter for those showery moments and for when I’m camping. Try out my in-car sleeping board for a quick overnight sleep-over set-up. Cut, chop and stack my firewood properly this time for next winter’s fuel. Make a few new areas as places of rest with a bench here and there to just sit with a mug of coffee and take in the beauty of the place. Can’t wait, hope it all comes off as planned. Stay tuned in to see if it does. Thanks again for visiting this blog.