No mystery about tree thinning
Selling small sized timber from first thinning is a new venture for many forest owners, but the process is straightforward, according to Teagasc.
Denis Purcell from Feakle is one of the few forest owners in Co Clare who has gone through the thinning process twice. In 1988, his father planted 18 hectares with Sitka spruce, which has proved to be a very successful decision.
Denis said, “Initially, I was more comfortable getting a forestry consultant to help organise the first thinning. I really saw a huge improvement in the plantation after thinning, it really started to look like a forest. Since then, I have taken a more active role and I decided to manage the second thinning myself. Over the past few years I attended Teagasc training days and I got as much information as possible to make sure I was making the right decision. I am very happy with the result. If I was to give other forest owners one word of advice, I would tell them to get at least a basic knowledge about thinning. A lot of forest owners fear they are going to be exploited. Once you understand things, the confidence grows.
“I made a few thousand euro from the first thinning, and I was very happy with the help I received from the forester. I was lucky to sell the second thinning when prices were very strong, that’s where the real money is, but you have to do the first thinning first.”
