Agents

[Catbrook]

Hi, I have received a list of Woodland agents from Natural resources Wales but it is long and I am wondering if anyone has had experiences with agents either good or bad and could recommend an agent to contact or one to avoid.

Our wood is in Monmouthshire and is dominated by 40/50 year old Corsican Pine which I want to remove, but not all in one hit. I aim to return it to mixed woodland.

Over to you.

[oldclaypaws]

You might qualify for grants from the FC(subject to size of wood) and they will be happy to offer free advice, which might be a good starting point. What you can replant will depend largely on soil conditions and altitude. If its acidic and high, that will narrow the choice, but there will still be some attractive natives. Birch is the obvious one as a pioneer species, and if acidic don't rule out native firs such as Scots Pine and larch, which are attractive in the right hillside location.

[Catbrook]

I have a timber merchant who says he is interested in purchasing the trees. does anyone know what sort of price they will fetch, Standing timber, Corsican Pine about 50 years old with diameter of 12to 15 inches at a height of about 1 meter from the ground.

I would prefer them to cut about one third of the trees which is about 250 trees.

[SimonFisher]

I have a timber merchant who says he is interested in purchasing the trees. does anyone know what sort of price they will fetch, Standing timber, Corsican Pine about 50 years old with diameter of 12to 15 inches at a height of about 1 meter from the ground. I would prefer them to cut about one third of the trees which is about 250 trees.

I'd expect the ease or otherwise which with the trees can be extracted will affect the price. Also, you say a third of the trees. Whether they're in a single block or you're wanting them to take out specific trees may also be a factor? You should be able to get interested parties in to give you a price.

[Catbrook]

Thanks for that but can you offer a range of prices is it say £1 a tree to £10 a tree or what. The timber merchant has seen the wood and says he is interested but I do not have a clue what is a good price or a derisory price. I am an easy target for getting ripped off at the moment, and he may well realise that.

[Dexter's Shed]

so surely the way to go, is to ask him for a total amount ££££'s then get in touch with a few other timber merchants for second/third quotes, as its a bit hard to give prices on the internet,

[oldclaypaws]

There will be contractors in your area who will specialise in buying standing timber, doing all the work, removing it, and then writing a cheque. I've found a couple who would do it round here, both quoted the same amount they pay for cubic metres of oak, £108 per cu metre. I found one recommended by my consultant, who in turn was recommended by a tree surgeon. The other advertises in a directory kept by the local woodland association. You need to network locally, asking the FC, other woodland owners, tree surgeons, to find out who the reputable felling contractors in your area are then get them to come and have a look and give a price they'll pay.

The value of conifers is apparently pretty disappointingly low, I believe about 1/10th of the rate for deciduous hardwoods per metre and they tend to be thinner and smaller, so whereas a 30" wide oak tree might go for say £500+, a tall 12" fir may be a comparatively very modest amount, maybe at a guess £20. Douglas Fir has quite a good value for construction, but a lot of pine is just pulped and the price is kept low by the Scandinavians growing the stuff on a massive commercial scale.