Baronscourt Estate welcomed Pro Silva Ireland’s Forest Open day on, Friday 3rd Oct 2014, with guest forester Phil Morgan. It was a very well attended day with over 70 people from all over Ireland, despite the threat of serious rainfall (it started to rain just as everyone left).

Representatives from Coillte and the Northern Ireland Forest Service attended, as well as two German foresters together with many forest owners and contractors made up the audience. The focus of the day was primarily in conifer woodland where a range of different treatments have been carried out.

There was very lively discussion and discourse throughout the day.  With a number of topics being covered:

• Graduated Density thinning in 1st and 2nd thinning in Sitka Spruce (SS)
• Crown and Target diameter thinning in subsequent thinning in SS
• Tending in Birch natural regeneration.
• Area restocking with Oak with planned CCF management in the future
• AFI Inventory, how the Inventory is taken

Baronscourt Estate has a very long association with forestry that goes back at least to the late 1800’s.  The forestry operation at Baronscourt covers approximately 1,150 ha of commercial woodland.  The majority of the conifers grown are:  Sitka Spruce, Norway Spruce, Western Hemlock, Douglas Fir, European, Hybrid &  Japanese  Larch, Scots, Lodgepole & Monterey Pine, Western Red Cedar, Lawson Cypress, Atlas & Deodar Cedar, Chilean Pine (monkey puzzle) and Giant Sequoia.

In September 2001 Baronscourt Estate started a management conversion of its forest to “Continuous Cover Forestry” (CCF)

The aim of this conversion is to enhance the stability within the forest structure from wind, soil erosion, and climate mitigation. Also that a multi-age (uneven) and multi-specie forest structure has significant economic, environmental, and social benefits in comparison to standard plantation forestry.

The Estate would like to thank Phil Morgan, Chairperson Padraig O’Tuama, Donal O’Hare, Robert Scott and Jim Simpson for organizing the day.