Kilmaha
@kilmaha.bsky.social
Forestry contractor. The good guys that plant trees 🌳 🌲 and a bunch of other great things for the planet.
Unfortunately it's not all good news. This coppice sweet chestnut just around the corner has been absolutely ruined by squirrels. Its not even worth firewood and is of limited ecological value.
Squirrels are a management problem on a national scale.
Squirrels are a management problem on a national scale.
November 5, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Unfortunately it's not all good news. This coppice sweet chestnut just around the corner has been absolutely ruined by squirrels. Its not even worth firewood and is of limited ecological value.
Squirrels are a management problem on a national scale.
Squirrels are a management problem on a national scale.
So a few days ago there was a little set to over what we define as a forest. Apparently a conifer plantation isn't, its just a dead zone.
So just to show forestry is nuanced, not black and white, here's three photos of commercial plantations all within about 200yds of each other
So just to show forestry is nuanced, not black and white, here's three photos of commercial plantations all within about 200yds of each other
November 5, 2025 at 7:28 PM
So a few days ago there was a little set to over what we define as a forest. Apparently a conifer plantation isn't, its just a dead zone.
So just to show forestry is nuanced, not black and white, here's three photos of commercial plantations all within about 200yds of each other
So just to show forestry is nuanced, not black and white, here's three photos of commercial plantations all within about 200yds of each other
#positiveforestry back with a bang this week!
Other than just being a stunning autumnal photo, its shows how commercial forestry can be indistinguishable from other woodlands. Its only when you really look closely at the photo you can see what's going...
Other than just being a stunning autumnal photo, its shows how commercial forestry can be indistinguishable from other woodlands. Its only when you really look closely at the photo you can see what's going...
November 5, 2025 at 6:57 PM
#positiveforestry back with a bang this week!
Other than just being a stunning autumnal photo, its shows how commercial forestry can be indistinguishable from other woodlands. Its only when you really look closely at the photo you can see what's going...
Other than just being a stunning autumnal photo, its shows how commercial forestry can be indistinguishable from other woodlands. Its only when you really look closely at the photo you can see what's going...
Or alternatively, this is a photo of another plantation. Looks like a forest doesn't it? Was planted in the 60's as 100% douglas fir and now its looks like this.
Forestry is a long game.
#positiveforestry
Forestry is a long game.
#positiveforestry
October 29, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Or alternatively, this is a photo of another plantation. Looks like a forest doesn't it? Was planted in the 60's as 100% douglas fir and now its looks like this.
Forestry is a long game.
#positiveforestry
Forestry is a long game.
#positiveforestry
🧵Continuing with #positiveforestry and a post from a couple of days ago, a bit more on plantation maintenance and why we do it and why we use the methods we use.
The photo is a site we planted last winter consisting of mixed broadleaves and conifers.
The photo is a site we planted last winter consisting of mixed broadleaves and conifers.
August 22, 2025 at 6:45 AM
🧵Continuing with #positiveforestry and a post from a couple of days ago, a bit more on plantation maintenance and why we do it and why we use the methods we use.
The photo is a site we planted last winter consisting of mixed broadleaves and conifers.
The photo is a site we planted last winter consisting of mixed broadleaves and conifers.
I'll be going for a pie and pint in brecon on the 19th September if anyone's up for it? Nice to have a chat.....no pressure though, up to you...
FCA will cover the cost of the ticket for any member who wants to go. Just email, I'll sort you out.
@royalforestrysoc.bsky.social
FCA will cover the cost of the ticket for any member who wants to go. Just email, I'll sort you out.
@royalforestrysoc.bsky.social
August 11, 2025 at 5:39 PM
I'll be going for a pie and pint in brecon on the 19th September if anyone's up for it? Nice to have a chat.....no pressure though, up to you...
FCA will cover the cost of the ticket for any member who wants to go. Just email, I'll sort you out.
@royalforestrysoc.bsky.social
FCA will cover the cost of the ticket for any member who wants to go. Just email, I'll sort you out.
@royalforestrysoc.bsky.social
Lovely day. Shame I'm bloody spraying.
Oh well, I'll be done by dinnertime then home!
Oh well, I'll be done by dinnertime then home!
June 18, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Lovely day. Shame I'm bloody spraying.
Oh well, I'll be done by dinnertime then home!
Oh well, I'll be done by dinnertime then home!
A lovely sunset mate.
I went for a late ish evening walk a couple of miles from my house the other night. ⬇️
For all the things we grizzle about there are some perks....
I went for a late ish evening walk a couple of miles from my house the other night. ⬇️
For all the things we grizzle about there are some perks....
May 10, 2025 at 6:09 AM
A lovely sunset mate.
I went for a late ish evening walk a couple of miles from my house the other night. ⬇️
For all the things we grizzle about there are some perks....
I went for a late ish evening walk a couple of miles from my house the other night. ⬇️
For all the things we grizzle about there are some perks....
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 🙄
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.
We planted an orchard a couple of weeks ago; mix of apple, pear, plum, damson and cherry.
Not something we do very often but really enjoyed it if anyone wants us to plant one....
Not something we do very often but really enjoyed it if anyone wants us to plant one....
March 4, 2025 at 5:50 AM
We planted an orchard a couple of weeks ago; mix of apple, pear, plum, damson and cherry.
Not something we do very often but really enjoyed it if anyone wants us to plant one....
Not something we do very often but really enjoyed it if anyone wants us to plant one....
To make you feel better Andy, here's the Woodland creation site we're currently working on, 120k trees. Not huge but not bad either.
Mostly being planted for timber though, conifer and oak, so probably doesn't count in the eyes of the guardian.
Mostly being planted for timber though, conifer and oak, so probably doesn't count in the eyes of the guardian.
January 30, 2025 at 8:55 AM
To make you feel better Andy, here's the Woodland creation site we're currently working on, 120k trees. Not huge but not bad either.
Mostly being planted for timber though, conifer and oak, so probably doesn't count in the eyes of the guardian.
Mostly being planted for timber though, conifer and oak, so probably doesn't count in the eyes of the guardian.
The next site, also in Shropshire (really racking up the miles this year!).
28ish hectare woodland creation with a mix of conifers and broadleaves, this particular field is 50% sitka and 50% oak, alder and aspen.
Second photo, love a straight line of trees 🌲
28ish hectare woodland creation with a mix of conifers and broadleaves, this particular field is 50% sitka and 50% oak, alder and aspen.
Second photo, love a straight line of trees 🌲
January 21, 2025 at 5:25 AM
The next site, also in Shropshire (really racking up the miles this year!).
28ish hectare woodland creation with a mix of conifers and broadleaves, this particular field is 50% sitka and 50% oak, alder and aspen.
Second photo, love a straight line of trees 🌲
28ish hectare woodland creation with a mix of conifers and broadleaves, this particular field is 50% sitka and 50% oak, alder and aspen.
Second photo, love a straight line of trees 🌲
Finished our latest woodland creation site, this one in south Shropshire. The usual mix of species and objectives; conifer and broadleaves for timber, soft shrubs borders etc.
Not easy to take an interesting photo of new planting, so enjoy this big old boy instead!
On to the next.....
Not easy to take an interesting photo of new planting, so enjoy this big old boy instead!
On to the next.....
January 17, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Finished our latest woodland creation site, this one in south Shropshire. The usual mix of species and objectives; conifer and broadleaves for timber, soft shrubs borders etc.
Not easy to take an interesting photo of new planting, so enjoy this big old boy instead!
On to the next.....
Not easy to take an interesting photo of new planting, so enjoy this big old boy instead!
On to the next.....
Sometimes it's best to get a toy in to do a job. Row of dead ash, solid but ropey branches, so we decided a harvadig with a shear was a better option than hand felling. Better to spend a bit more to be safe.
Thanks to my mates Ian Hempshall for the machine and Wes Brown for the shiny new chipper!
Thanks to my mates Ian Hempshall for the machine and Wes Brown for the shiny new chipper!
December 16, 2024 at 8:14 PM
Sometimes it's best to get a toy in to do a job. Row of dead ash, solid but ropey branches, so we decided a harvadig with a shear was a better option than hand felling. Better to spend a bit more to be safe.
Thanks to my mates Ian Hempshall for the machine and Wes Brown for the shiny new chipper!
Thanks to my mates Ian Hempshall for the machine and Wes Brown for the shiny new chipper!
We've now finished our first planting site of the 24-25 season 🙌
Predominantly red and English oak with some crab apple, black poplar and small leaf lime chucked in.
On to the next!
Predominantly red and English oak with some crab apple, black poplar and small leaf lime chucked in.
On to the next!
December 5, 2024 at 6:32 PM
We've now finished our first planting site of the 24-25 season 🙌
Predominantly red and English oak with some crab apple, black poplar and small leaf lime chucked in.
On to the next!
Predominantly red and English oak with some crab apple, black poplar and small leaf lime chucked in.
On to the next!
We've now finished our first planting site of the 24-25 season 🙌
Predominantly red and English oak with some crab apple, black poplar and small leaf lime chucked in.
On to the next!
Predominantly red and English oak with some crab apple, black poplar and small leaf lime chucked in.
On to the next!
December 5, 2024 at 6:30 PM
We've now finished our first planting site of the 24-25 season 🙌
Predominantly red and English oak with some crab apple, black poplar and small leaf lime chucked in.
On to the next!
Predominantly red and English oak with some crab apple, black poplar and small leaf lime chucked in.
On to the next!
The first trees are in the ground at last.
We're planting the riperian zones adjacent to the watercourse first with a mixture of alder, willow, and a smattering of black poplar and aspen.
Don't want to use glysophate too near the water so mulch mats are going here to suppress the worst of the grass
We're planting the riperian zones adjacent to the watercourse first with a mixture of alder, willow, and a smattering of black poplar and aspen.
Don't want to use glysophate too near the water so mulch mats are going here to suppress the worst of the grass
November 28, 2024 at 8:14 AM
The first trees are in the ground at last.
We're planting the riperian zones adjacent to the watercourse first with a mixture of alder, willow, and a smattering of black poplar and aspen.
Don't want to use glysophate too near the water so mulch mats are going here to suppress the worst of the grass
We're planting the riperian zones adjacent to the watercourse first with a mixture of alder, willow, and a smattering of black poplar and aspen.
Don't want to use glysophate too near the water so mulch mats are going here to suppress the worst of the grass
Update. The trees for our first two sites, the one above and another near Hereford, haven't arrived yet. For planting sites we generally regard this as a bit of a pickle. In the meantime the lads have been busy laying out the site, brushcutting and banging in 9.5k stakes!
November 22, 2024 at 4:27 PM
Update. The trees for our first two sites, the one above and another near Hereford, haven't arrived yet. For planting sites we generally regard this as a bit of a pickle. In the meantime the lads have been busy laying out the site, brushcutting and banging in 9.5k stakes!
And so it begins....
First up this season is a woodland creation site on Herefordshire/Shropshire border. 12ish hectres of mixed broadleaves and a bit of conifer, plus research plots.
First up this season is a woodland creation site on Herefordshire/Shropshire border. 12ish hectres of mixed broadleaves and a bit of conifer, plus research plots.
November 20, 2024 at 9:27 AM
And so it begins....
First up this season is a woodland creation site on Herefordshire/Shropshire border. 12ish hectres of mixed broadleaves and a bit of conifer, plus research plots.
First up this season is a woodland creation site on Herefordshire/Shropshire border. 12ish hectres of mixed broadleaves and a bit of conifer, plus research plots.