Stourhead Western Estate

Currently the Stourhead (Western) Estate produces about 3000 cubic metres of conifer timber a year, and 600 of broadleaved. We primarily operate a system of Continuous Cover forestry, where individual trees or small groups are selectively felled, and the majority of restocking is by natural regeneration. This forestry system concentrates on achievi... ng the best quality timber, but in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. The woods are certified under the Forest Stewardship Council scheme (ref. SGS-FM/COC-0429/G076) as being run to the highest environmental and social standards. The forest is managed by Christopher Guest and David Pengelly of Canopy Land Use, experts in Continuous Cover management. For more details on this style of management, see the Continuous Cover Forestry Group (CCFG) website. Our woods are seen as examplars for this sympathetic form of management, and are visited by many groups such as the CCFG, the Wessex Silvicultural Group and the Royal Forestry Society. In 2001 we completed a 20 year Forest Plan for the woodlands, in consultation with the Forestry Commission, English Nature, county Wildlife Trusts and other interested parties. This outlined the further conversion to irregular forestry and the enhancement of important wildlife and landscape areas that we intend. We reviewed the plan thoroughly in 2011. In general, we did not feel the need to make major changes. One change forced on us was to reduce the emphasis on keeping a strong component of larch within the conifer areas, as larch is now threatened by the serious disease Phytopthera ramorum. Our conifer species include Douglas fir, spruce, larch, western red cedar and western hemlock. When "respacing" (cutting down naturally regenerated saplings we do not need) we favour Douglas fir and cedar, then spruce, while actively trying to eliminate western hemlock. Our broadleaves are particularly oak and ash, with beech, sweet chestnut and sycamore also. Alder is coppiced in the wetter areas. Careful control of growing ...Read More