In association with Euroforest Ireland & Forestry Services Ltd.
Field day to Fanningsbog woodlands, Co. Tipperary.
Due to the nature of the site and requirement for bus transport, pre-booking of attendance on the field day is requested. To attend the day, please email info@itga.ie for further details on the day and meeting point for bus.
Date: Friday 27th March 2020
Meeting Time: 10.15 am
Meeting Point: Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary.
Participants are advised to bring suitable clothing & footwear. If you have a Hi-Vis vest, we would ask that you take this along and wear for the field day.
Itinerary
Welcome to Fanningsbog woodlands, Co. Tipperary by Adrian Harper.
We will visit the Harper’s family woodlands at Fanningsbog, Co. Tipperary which consists of c. 24 acres of Ash planted in 2005 which has been infected with Ash dieback and is currently undergoing reconstitution, woodland improvement and thinning trials in separate sections of the woodlands. A range of Health & Safety and Biosecurity measures will be in place during the day, including foot baths and participants will be asked to use the foot baths on entering and exiting the site.
We will discuss the history and assessment of the Ash crop prior to the operations. We will then look at different woodland improvement and thinning treatments trialled on this site employing the revised DAFM consultation document on an approach to and supports for plantations impacted by Ash Dieback Disease.
The different reconstitution, woodland improvement and thinning treatments which are trialled and which we will view and discuss in the different sections, include:
- Reconstitution and replanting and associated operations
- Systematic thinning and replanting between retained lines
- Coupe felling and replanting
- Woodland Improvement/thinning systems trialled
Whole tree harvesting was trialed using two different systems in 2/, 3/ & 4/ above. We will look at these systems as employed and the on-site chipping and discuss issues encountered with the harvesting and replanting operations. We will also look at potential markets for this biomass and grower’s potential options on such Ash dieback sites.
1.30 pm Close of day.
ITGA would like to acknowledge and thank the Harper Family and Euroforest Ireland & Forestry Services Ltd. for organising and hosting this field day
