I wonder how many of us have changed the perspective of our plans for the woods since we acquired them, I know I have. After my initial wandering about the wood in a slightly dazed condition, not believing that this lovely wood actually belonged to me, I started to make plans, in what might be considered practical and a slightly commercial manner, (somewhat due to reading up on forestry and arranging two meetings with a representative from the Forestry Commision) I started cutting out dead wood and slashing at Bracken like a woman demented. It would be true to say that the dead wood has proved very beneficial for keeping us warm and cooking our food, via the woodstove and ancient Rayburn.
At the back of my mind I was always wary of doing something I could not undue later, and abstained from cutting down all the smaller Birch trees that I was advised to do. They die off bit by bit anyway and give us brilliant fire wood. I'm sure I should be doing more to "organise the woodland", but it doesn't feel right to disturb the wildlife and insects that live there. I spend a lot of my time sitting and listening to the birds and trying to spot them, or wandering around with the camera looking for insects and butterflies.
I would love to know how other people have managed, whether you have stuck with your initial plans or have changed them altogether.
