Types of forestry operations

Forestry operations usually fall into two main categories:

• establishment of a new woodland

  Why plant trees?

• harvesting or felling of trees to be used as timber products or energy production

  Why do we fell trees?

Within these categories, different types of operations may be undertaken. These help to aid the successful establishment or management of the woodland. 

This is the physical preparation of the ground to allow for trees to be planted.

It could be:

• basic hand planting with a spade
• the commonly used process of mechanical mounding

Use of machinery in preparing the ground

Works might involve a self-propelled machine, such as an excavator or a towed device. These positions are often called mounds, as they are often raised.

Mechanical mounding uses a machine to create a clear planting position to ensure that when the tree is growing, weed competition is reduced.

An excavator is usually used on restock sites (where trees are being replanted after harvesting). 

As well as making mounds, they might rake brash (waste material, such as branches). This helps make the site easier to access for planting and if made into rows, protects trees from the wind. This waste material breaks down over time, fertilising the trees as they grow.

Sites might also be adapted to create wetter or drier habitats for different trees. This is usually achieved through the variation of drainage.

Construction of fences around a planted site are a common operation.

This isn't to keep people out - the site should remain accessible via gates or stiles.

Instead it is there to protect the trees from browsing mammals eating the trees.

The fence will either be:

• low to keep farm animals out
• high to protect trees from deer

Additional netting might be added to stop rabbits or hares getting to the trees.

This is the physical planting of trees on a site. 

Trees of different species are grown at a forestry nursery and taken to a site to plant. They might be of different sizes, depending on what the site needs.

For example:

• tall trees might be appropriate if there are weeds
• short trees might be a better choice for sites prone to strong winds.

Stock either comes as:

• bare-root trees
• cell grown - trees that come with soil (like you might get in a garden centre)

Trees are planted at different densities, depending on their purpose:

• productive trees are usually grown closer together so they grow tall and straight
• native trees are planted further apart to allow for greater biodiversity

Native trees have to be produced from seeds that are sourced locally. Broadleaf trees may be planted in tubes, these are to stop deer or voles damaging trees as the grow.

The use of machines to plant trees is becoming more common, but most planting is manual.

Trees may need additional help to successfully establish. We always check that any proposal to plant trees in a particular place matches the soils and climate found on site.

Methods might take the form of adding fertiliser to the ground. Cell grown trees might come with fertiliser pellets added, or granular or liquid form might be added when trees are planted.

Competition from weeds can also affect tree growth. Most planting techniques clear an area of ground around the newly planted tree to reduce competition. But over time weeds will encroach on a tree, competing against it for light and nutrients.

To help a tree establish, weeding techniques are used to reduce this competition. This might use manual methods (weeding with tools or machines) or the accurate application of chemicals.

Different techniques are used to control pests on woodland sites. This includes:

• the construction of fences or addition of tree tubes to control mammal damage
• deer and other wildlife management, carried out using trained professionals to control numbers

Control for deer may include developing a deer management plan. This would aid in reducing environmental and economic damage.

The plan would have to be applied at a landscape scale. Neighbouring landowners and stakeholders need to be engaged to agree on controls.

Managing deer

Trees can also be damaged by insects. Different products can be applied before and after planting to control this.

How tree health is protected in Scotland

Many of Scotland's forests are commercial.

These are stands of trees that are planted and managed to be harvested as a commercial crop. You can use the website to find out more about what to expect with:

• tree felling and forestry business and industry

  What to expect with felling

• forestry business and industry

  Economic contribution of forestry

The UKFS expects harvesting to be undertaken in a way that minimises adverse effects to the environment and the safety of forest users.

There are different legal requirements around the use of machines and buffer zones apply. These must be applied around any features that require protection. These include:

• historic sites

  Scotland's historic environment

• areas containing wildlife

  Wildlife and forest operations

• habitats or watercourses

  Managing water