[heyhay1984]

Have done a bit of googling but most of what comes up is for the big boys...

We have about 2 acres of woodland at school and this year's tree survey has identified some significant, expensive works to be done immediately. This isn't my problem officially or directly but as an interested party I wondered if anyone else has had success in finding sources of funding for this sort of thing? The trees are very old and very big and a key part of the grounds. The work will be done regardless but thought it worth a look while I've got time!

[Marches Farmer]

If there's a grant available I'd like to know about it too.  What type of trees, and do they need to be manicured or felled?  We had a centuries old small-leaved lime tree blown down in a storm and I contacted the wood carvers guild (it's the best sort for carving) and a local chap turned up with a gang of apprentices to cut up and remove it for free.  Paid me with one of his own carvings in return.

[heyhay1984]

That's an excellent idea!

I believe there's an oak that's got to go completely, a sycamore that needs some major manicuring, a couple more that I forget the details of but likely to be the same, and there's a couple in the line of beech and chestnut trees at the front that need some routine work as there are every year, that re-barks the chicken pens and paths quite nicely.

[Backinwellies]

Anyone who sells fire wood would probably cut for free

[pgkevet]

If it's school woodland they're going to want someone licenside and insured rather than a local chap who does firewood - it also depends on access and safety equipment especially if it's a take down from the top in bits. I have two large oaks on the drive that needed topping out for safety and no way was that a job for a local monkey - even he wouldn't touch it. It took a climber and 2 groundies and 2 days and chipping the brash....so not payable within the firewood value. I wanted to preserve the trees but even if we'ld taken the main sticks out for planking it would have needed heavy lifting gear and cost as much as the planks...

[verdifish]

Is it an LA school or private ?

[heyhay1984]

An academy, now, used a local tree surgeon before we left the LA but now beholden to the chain sponsors' preferred contractors though I wonder if I'll get my bark chips because of that, thinking about it. Might be a route where they do the work and local woodcarvers etc could be offered the branches once they've hit the ground safely, there's going to be some big fellas!

[Rupert the bear]

Wot , no wood working classes ?

[farmers wife]

We sell firewood but no way would we cut it for free and I wouldnt know any bonifide company that would do it for free - labour, machinery, trailer and insurance.


Worth contacting the woodland trust, Forest schools, LA have a eco guy, a conservation trust etc however any trees that need to be felled would be at your cost.