Will Anderson
@foresterwill.bsky.social
Chartered Forester operating in the north and east of Scotland.
Reposted by Will Anderson
The big challenge with planting grants being turned on/off at the whim of Ministers, is that tree nurseries & planting contractors can’t confidently invest in their businesses.
Nurseries have to plan 4-5 yrs ahead.
If trees aren’t planted they can’t easily be held over to the next year.
Nurseries have to plan 4-5 yrs ahead.
If trees aren’t planted they can’t easily be held over to the next year.
More detail on the planting stats - big issue is Scotland's dip following budget cuts.
Wales, NI & Eng have all increased but they are still well off target.
Graph is via @forestryjournal.bsky.social
Data is from @forestresearchuk.bsky.social & is in thousand's of Hectares
Wales, NI & Eng have all increased but they are still well off target.
Graph is via @forestryjournal.bsky.social
Data is from @forestresearchuk.bsky.social & is in thousand's of Hectares
June 27, 2025 at 6:37 AM
The big challenge with planting grants being turned on/off at the whim of Ministers, is that tree nurseries & planting contractors can’t confidently invest in their businesses.
Nurseries have to plan 4-5 yrs ahead.
If trees aren’t planted they can’t easily be held over to the next year.
Nurseries have to plan 4-5 yrs ahead.
If trees aren’t planted they can’t easily be held over to the next year.
Reposted by Will Anderson
I often get asked at this time of year why and how do you continue to fell trees when birds are nesting.
Why… because timber crops and habitats need managing. Some sites are only accessible when it’s dry. Timber processors need fresh supplies. Finance agreements and bills 1/3 🧵
Why… because timber crops and habitats need managing. Some sites are only accessible when it’s dry. Timber processors need fresh supplies. Finance agreements and bills 1/3 🧵
June 4, 2025 at 7:44 PM
I often get asked at this time of year why and how do you continue to fell trees when birds are nesting.
Why… because timber crops and habitats need managing. Some sites are only accessible when it’s dry. Timber processors need fresh supplies. Finance agreements and bills 1/3 🧵
Why… because timber crops and habitats need managing. Some sites are only accessible when it’s dry. Timber processors need fresh supplies. Finance agreements and bills 1/3 🧵
Reposted by Will Anderson
Fantastic hammer beam ceiling in the Great Hall of Stirling Castle. The reconstruction used 350 oaks felled in Perthshire, though archaeologists think the original used Scandinavian sourced material, common in the 16th century. Global timber trade as old as time!
May 25, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Fantastic hammer beam ceiling in the Great Hall of Stirling Castle. The reconstruction used 350 oaks felled in Perthshire, though archaeologists think the original used Scandinavian sourced material, common in the 16th century. Global timber trade as old as time!
Doesn’t quite have the same rhyme…….
May 19, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Doesn’t quite have the same rhyme…….
Some of the Beech looked as though they were on fire today.
May 10, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Some of the Beech looked as though they were on fire today.
I always look forward to seeing the Davidia out in May. Ideal light today to pick out the “handkerchiefs”.
May 10, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I always look forward to seeing the Davidia out in May. Ideal light today to pick out the “handkerchiefs”.
Reposted by Will Anderson
I’ve retired my faithful 63 plate, DC Toyota Hilux and replaced it with a younger model. So this one is up for sale. It’s been an excellent truck and I’m sure would still serve someone well. 240k miles, but always well serviced and maintained. MOT till Aug 25. £5000 + VAT.
May 5, 2025 at 5:34 PM
I’ve retired my faithful 63 plate, DC Toyota Hilux and replaced it with a younger model. So this one is up for sale. It’s been an excellent truck and I’m sure would still serve someone well. 240k miles, but always well serviced and maintained. MOT till Aug 25. £5000 + VAT.
Reposted by Will Anderson
A few decades ago some skilled people felled this area and restocked it with conifer, whilst allowing a bit of broadleaf to carry on around the edges and in odd pockets. Now we're reaping the benefit; timber, wildlife everything we want.
Just listen - 1st 30 secs before some berk starts talking 🙄
Just listen - 1st 30 secs before some berk starts talking 🙄
May 6, 2025 at 7:06 PM
A few decades ago some skilled people felled this area and restocked it with conifer, whilst allowing a bit of broadleaf to carry on around the edges and in odd pockets. Now we're reaping the benefit; timber, wildlife everything we want.
Just listen - 1st 30 secs before some berk starts talking 🙄
Just listen - 1st 30 secs before some berk starts talking 🙄
Reposted by Will Anderson
We need greater diversity in our UK forests - more diversity in age, species and in silviculture.
To do that we need to be planting more forests on better soils, lower down the hill.
Limiting commercial forestry to the poorest soils, limits what we can plant & how we manage it.
To do that we need to be planting more forests on better soils, lower down the hill.
Limiting commercial forestry to the poorest soils, limits what we can plant & how we manage it.
May 7, 2025 at 5:59 AM
We need greater diversity in our UK forests - more diversity in age, species and in silviculture.
To do that we need to be planting more forests on better soils, lower down the hill.
Limiting commercial forestry to the poorest soils, limits what we can plant & how we manage it.
To do that we need to be planting more forests on better soils, lower down the hill.
Limiting commercial forestry to the poorest soils, limits what we can plant & how we manage it.
Reposted by Will Anderson
Across Europe we need to be growing a wider variety of forestry crops on a wider variety of soils.
It’s not simply less Spruce, it’s more of everything else.
We also need to be having discussions about peatlands in a rapidly warming climate.
www.thejournal.ie/michael-heal...
It’s not simply less Spruce, it’s more of everything else.
We also need to be having discussions about peatlands in a rapidly warming climate.
www.thejournal.ie/michael-heal...
Healy-Rae's peatland forestry plan 'about the dumbest thing we can do', says climate scientist
Michael Healy-Rae, the Forestry Minister, said farmers should be allowed to plant peatlands.
www.thejournal.ie
May 8, 2025 at 5:59 AM
Across Europe we need to be growing a wider variety of forestry crops on a wider variety of soils.
It’s not simply less Spruce, it’s more of everything else.
We also need to be having discussions about peatlands in a rapidly warming climate.
www.thejournal.ie/michael-heal...
It’s not simply less Spruce, it’s more of everything else.
We also need to be having discussions about peatlands in a rapidly warming climate.
www.thejournal.ie/michael-heal...
Reposted by Will Anderson
Makes me feel a little old (!), but great to see a woodland I designed and planted 30 years ago really coming into its own. Wild pear, blackthorn and wild cherry in blossom. Small-leaved lime, whitebeam and field maple leafing. Hybrid larch towering. #forestry #woodland #trees #landscape
April 26, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Makes me feel a little old (!), but great to see a woodland I designed and planted 30 years ago really coming into its own. Wild pear, blackthorn and wild cherry in blossom. Small-leaved lime, whitebeam and field maple leafing. Hybrid larch towering. #forestry #woodland #trees #landscape
How many springs might they have seen......
April 26, 2025 at 6:43 PM
How many springs might they have seen......
Reposted by Will Anderson
Lots to unpick here and demonstrates how tree felling is regulated by both Local Govt planning & tree officers using TPO’s and FC using Felling Licences.
If we want better tree protection then we need better funding for more professionals in both organisations www.theguardian.com/environment/...
If we want better tree protection then we need better funding for more professionals in both organisations www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Forestry Commission investigates felling of ancient Enfield oak
Minister says incident ‘opened up a nerve in the country’ as new questions raised over ownership of land it stood on
www.theguardian.com
April 25, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Lots to unpick here and demonstrates how tree felling is regulated by both Local Govt planning & tree officers using TPO’s and FC using Felling Licences.
If we want better tree protection then we need better funding for more professionals in both organisations www.theguardian.com/environment/...
If we want better tree protection then we need better funding for more professionals in both organisations www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by Will Anderson
When we are looking at carbon and managed forests, we need to be carefully considering the whole forestry carbon cycle.
We need to considering carbon in forest products & also avoided emissions e.g. using timber instead of concrete.
More here www.forestresearch.gov.uk/publications...
We need to considering carbon in forest products & also avoided emissions e.g. using timber instead of concrete.
More here www.forestresearch.gov.uk/publications...
April 25, 2025 at 7:08 AM
When we are looking at carbon and managed forests, we need to be carefully considering the whole forestry carbon cycle.
We need to considering carbon in forest products & also avoided emissions e.g. using timber instead of concrete.
More here www.forestresearch.gov.uk/publications...
We need to considering carbon in forest products & also avoided emissions e.g. using timber instead of concrete.
More here www.forestresearch.gov.uk/publications...
Reposted by Will Anderson
Great to see this investment in lower carbon Home Grown Homes 🌲🏴
Positive impact on both housing and the Scottish rural economy.
www.ttjonline.com/news/scottis...
Positive impact on both housing and the Scottish rural economy.
www.ttjonline.com/news/scottis...
Scottish First Minister applauds “Scottish Timber for Scottish Homes” at £18m factory opening
First Minister of Scotland John Swinney embraced the Scottish Timber, Scottish Homes message as he opened an £18m advanced timber frame factory at Alexanders Timber Design.
www.ttjonline.com
April 25, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Great to see this investment in lower carbon Home Grown Homes 🌲🏴
Positive impact on both housing and the Scottish rural economy.
www.ttjonline.com/news/scottis...
Positive impact on both housing and the Scottish rural economy.
www.ttjonline.com/news/scottis...
Reposted by Will Anderson
A number of people were interested in the electric deer fencing we use for protecting against deer browsing on coppice compartments. A number of my coppice woodland clients use this method successfully on a number of different species. 🧵
April 25, 2025 at 8:01 PM
A number of people were interested in the electric deer fencing we use for protecting against deer browsing on coppice compartments. A number of my coppice woodland clients use this method successfully on a number of different species. 🧵
Reposted by Will Anderson
Not my usual articulate self but to be fair it was a bit spur of the moment and I was a bit pissed off.
Which is why I'm looking forward to starting this podcast. Seems to be the fashionable thing to do.
Which is why I'm looking forward to starting this podcast. Seems to be the fashionable thing to do.
April 7, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Not my usual articulate self but to be fair it was a bit spur of the moment and I was a bit pissed off.
Which is why I'm looking forward to starting this podcast. Seems to be the fashionable thing to do.
Which is why I'm looking forward to starting this podcast. Seems to be the fashionable thing to do.
Reposted by Will Anderson
A concise and clear explanation on this week’s SFI situation in England. Morale across our rural sectors is currently very low.
Ok so the argument that farmers are against nature has been blown out of the water this week.
In Jan’ there were already 295,000 hectares of land taken out of production for nature recovery, over 3million hectares where the farmers are actively looking at improving their soil and 32,000 agreements
In Jan’ there were already 295,000 hectares of land taken out of production for nature recovery, over 3million hectares where the farmers are actively looking at improving their soil and 32,000 agreements
March 15, 2025 at 7:03 AM
A concise and clear explanation on this week’s SFI situation in England. Morale across our rural sectors is currently very low.
Reposted by Will Anderson
Sharing again for #ForestFriday.
The cultural heritage significance of our native woodlands is sometimes overlooked yet is there to be found if we look a little closer. 🌳🌲🏴💚
The cultural heritage significance of our native woodlands is sometimes overlooked yet is there to be found if we look a little closer. 🌳🌲🏴💚
Granny pine with ‘fir candle’ scars at Abernethy National Nature Reserve, Cairngorms 🏴
Fir candles were resinous strips of pinewood used as lighting by folk too poor to buy candles. Collected by travelling folk and sold at local markets. Continued in use into the early 20thC.
#ThickTrunkTuesday
Fir candles were resinous strips of pinewood used as lighting by folk too poor to buy candles. Collected by travelling folk and sold at local markets. Continued in use into the early 20thC.
#ThickTrunkTuesday
February 21, 2025 at 9:18 AM
Sharing again for #ForestFriday.
The cultural heritage significance of our native woodlands is sometimes overlooked yet is there to be found if we look a little closer. 🌳🌲🏴💚
The cultural heritage significance of our native woodlands is sometimes overlooked yet is there to be found if we look a little closer. 🌳🌲🏴💚
Reposted by Will Anderson
Like this old sycamore, clinging to the rock.
February 22, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Like this old sycamore, clinging to the rock.
Reposted by Will Anderson
At this time of year you have to take the opportunity’s to extract timber when you can. I managed to quickly get out 80 tonnes of produce from the coppicing compartment on Friday, before 8mm of rain fell overnight to temporarily stop it again.
February 22, 2025 at 8:43 PM
At this time of year you have to take the opportunity’s to extract timber when you can. I managed to quickly get out 80 tonnes of produce from the coppicing compartment on Friday, before 8mm of rain fell overnight to temporarily stop it again.
Reposted by Will Anderson
The Dean Bridge was designed by Thomas Telford and took about 3 yrs to build 1829-1831.
Perhaps he should have been consulted when work started on repairing the North Bridge in 2018 …
Perhaps he should have been consulted when work started on repairing the North Bridge in 2018 …
The Dean Bridge, Edinburgh. A stunning piece of 19th-century engineering.
#Edinburgh #Scotland #DeanBridge #History #Architecture #HiddenScotland #TravelScotland 🪬🧿
#Edinburgh #Scotland #DeanBridge #History #Architecture #HiddenScotland #TravelScotland 🪬🧿
February 22, 2025 at 10:43 PM
The Dean Bridge was designed by Thomas Telford and took about 3 yrs to build 1829-1831.
Perhaps he should have been consulted when work started on repairing the North Bridge in 2018 …
Perhaps he should have been consulted when work started on repairing the North Bridge in 2018 …
Reposted by Will Anderson
Progress is being made with the current 2ha coppicing job in south Norfolk but it is relatively slow going due to the stool density and small diameter of the product. This is a woodland I’ve managed and worked in for over 17 years and it has a fantastic history.
A 🧵
A 🧵
February 19, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Progress is being made with the current 2ha coppicing job in south Norfolk but it is relatively slow going due to the stool density and small diameter of the product. This is a woodland I’ve managed and worked in for over 17 years and it has a fantastic history.
A 🧵
A 🧵
Reposted by Will Anderson
A very happy and richly deserved retirement to Neil Stewart of UHI and the Scottish School of Forestry.
Huge impact on 41 years of forestry students 🌲🌳🏴
www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk/news/longest...
Huge impact on 41 years of forestry students 🌲🌳🏴
www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk/news/longest...
Longest-serving UHI Inverness lecturer retires after four decades
THE longest-serving staff member at UHI Inverness has set down his campus chainsaw for the last time after dedicating more than four decades to educating generations of foresters.
www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk
January 31, 2025 at 1:15 PM
A very happy and richly deserved retirement to Neil Stewart of UHI and the Scottish School of Forestry.
Huge impact on 41 years of forestry students 🌲🌳🏴
www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk/news/longest...
Huge impact on 41 years of forestry students 🌲🌳🏴
www.inverness.uhi.ac.uk/news/longest...
Reposted by Will Anderson
Another misleading article about U.K. farming and landuse.
Some of the quotes and statements in this article have obviously just been made up AI and not checked by sub-editor - right ?
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
Some of the quotes and statements in this article have obviously just been made up AI and not checked by sub-editor - right ?
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
Tenth of farmland to be axed for net zero
Solar farms, tree planting and wildlife habitats to replace food production as Labour deals fresh blow to rural life
www.telegraph.co.uk
January 31, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Another misleading article about U.K. farming and landuse.
Some of the quotes and statements in this article have obviously just been made up AI and not checked by sub-editor - right ?
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...
Some of the quotes and statements in this article have obviously just been made up AI and not checked by sub-editor - right ?
www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/202...