Andrew Coxhead -
Specialist in small scale forestry contracts & low impact projects.
Utilising small scale low Impact forestry machinery and skills to achieve cost effective results!
I work nationwide within the small scale low impact forestry sector, where specialist machinery and skills are required to protect ground structures and the woodlands natural aspects!
My approach and services are highly sought after in smaller scale Thinning & Clear Fell scenarios, Nature Creation & Restoration projects and CCF Continuous Cover Forestry.
A forestry contractor you can depend on!
My name is Andrew Coxhead, I came to Ireland from the UK in 1999. My original background was in fishery related practices, I also worked manually within the countryside management sector.
I founded my business as a Woodsman, Saw man & Forestry contractor based on the need to be working physically and my lifelong love of the outdoors, especially in woodlands and waterways.
"I specialise in small scale forestry and countryside works where a considered approach is required! This is my niche! Small scale forestry operations, broadleaf thinning and clear fell, CCF continuous cover forestry, ecological works, sensitive sites, regeneration, underplanting, pond and footpath creation,".
I employ methods and specialist machinery including my low impact forestry forwarder to achieve outstanding quality and cost effective results within the small scale forestry sector.
My Services
My services are not limited to the below list and my services are not limited to the West of Ireland, although this is where I reside, Kilfenora in Co. Clare! If you have a specific project or question, please do feel free to ask.
01.
Mulching & Brush Cutting
Using 2.7 ton excavator with a fixed tooth forestry mulcher, a quad drawn 25hp swinging hammer flail and a hand held professional grade HD brush cutter I am effective in controlling and removing dense brush, shrubs, rushes, briars, sapplings, hedges and small trees.
02.
Excavating
Ponds, ditches, footpaths, hard standings, stump turning, mounding and much more are made easy with a our modern low impact excavator.
03.
Forwarding
Using my small low impact forestry forwarder I can forward timber whilst preserving sensitive ground conditions. My 8 wheel drive fully hydraulic Logbullet mini forwarder is the perfect machine for small scale forestry applications.
04.
Chainsaw Work
Chainsaws are widely used in small scale and low impact forestry. The reason being that they are highly effective for felling, cleaning, snedding and bucking deciduous trees. They are infinitely more nimble than machinery and the fells can be very accurate when used by skilled operators. Chainsaws leave clean tidy cuts and stumps. I only use high grade bio degradable chain oils.
05.
Fencing
Fencing is a very important and underestimated part of forestry! Good fencing is essential for protecting specific areas from unwanted visitors including animals and humans alike. I can erect traditional fencing and the modern Clipex fencing by using muscle power and/or mechanical means.
06.
Ponds and Wetlands
Ponds and wetlands are pivotal to a well balanced ecosystem! Even a small damp area in a woodland enhances biodiversity exponentially. I spent my entire childhood and much of my later life in and around water courses. I know the value they hold and love their creation.
07.
Footpath & Track Creation
Creating footpaths and tracks is a real pleasure, enabling human access through woodlands and biodiverse areas is not only essential for human well being, they also create corridors of variable temperatures and vegetation for butterflies, insects, hedgehogs and more.
08.
Planting & Establishment
Preparing green field sites, reconstituting spent & clear felled forestry is where your forestry begins, I can work with you or your forester to start the planting process on the correct footing.
09.
CCF Works
CCF or Continuous Cover Forestry is really just a modern take on old school and obvious ways of managing forestry in a financially, socially and bio diverse manner! In my mind this form of forestry is essential to preserving our trees and woodlands for the future. CCF can have quite complex criteria, such as the marking process and the thinning and cropping of trees! The work should be undertaken by skilled practitioners as very long term thinking and understanding is required, also damage limitation is essential during intervention processes! Working within a CCF woodland is one of my greatest pleasures, my light footed low impact approach really shines through in smaller acreage CCF forestry plantations.
10.
Nature Restoration
So many woodlands fall into disrepair! Nature restoration is the process employed to repair and return the woodland back to it's natural state. The repairing of damaged woodland eco systems takes a deep understanding of how to restore the ecological processes and build long term resilience.
11.
Small Scale Clear Fell
Clear felling is part of the commercial forestry protocol, most forestry in Ireland is commercially based, it's a crop. When the time comes the trees need to be felled! However this brings a lot of consideration! Not least for the forestry owner! It can be notoriously hard for small scale forestry owners to find contractors to undertake the task! Big contractors find small scale forestry financially un-viable! More over, big contractors tend to have big machines that are not suited to smaller sites or even deciduous trees. Be aware you can loose all of the crop value by not cropping appropriately. Keep the farmer with his excavator well away.
12.
Maintenance
Forestry needs maintaining - From insuring young trees get the best start to shaping and opening trees for future growth is all part of the maintenance regime! High pruning, fence repair, undergrowth clearance, invasive species control, drainage, pond stream and river bank clearance and pretty much any tidying task you can think of are essential to any woodlands well being.
13.
Tending
Forestry should have 3 main interventions, tending and 2 rounds of thinning. Unfortunately tending is often omitted and undertaken at the first thinning stage to the detriment of the plantation. Tending should be the first process and at an early stage to get the best start for the young trees. Entire rows of trees are removed to form racks and any trees showing signs of weakness or excessive growth should either be removed or stunted. Where appropriate formative pruning and undergrowth control should also be undertaken during this primary intervention.
14.
Thinning
Thinning commercial crops is the process that removes weak, diseased and leader trees from the crop. By thinning we are creating space for the remaining trees to flourish. In the context of CCF or even restoration we thin to open areas for increased light, to release winner trees and also to remove competitors. Thinning in CCF plantations is a skilled task and should not be underestimated!
15.
Tree Marking
Tree marking is used to identify trees for specific reasons! On a basic level tree marking maybe used to identify racks and track routes, maybe to identify trees for cropping or removal for safety! On a more complex level tree marking uses marks that specify exactly the fate of a tree! - In CCF for example the best markers are highly skilled and will mark the trees with specific coded marks in accordance with the objectives set through consultation, the trees will be marked to achieve aims, such as maintaining volumes and balancing between bio-diversity, financially appropriate trees and social aspects. Trees are marked for both the short and long term in CCF situations, this allows the ongoing management of such plantations over generations.
An important aspect for any small scale forestry owner is the onward sale of thinned or clear felled lumber. Yes, a lorry load of lumber is worth money, but far far higher numbers can be achieved by adding value to the crop. Firewood is an assured way of adding this value. Landowners use my services for for cropping their lumber then processing to firewood either for personal consumption or onward sale.
16.
Firewood Processing
An important aspect for any small scale forestry owner is the onward sale of thinned or clear felled lumber. Yes, a lorry load of lumber is worth money, but far far higher numbers can be achieved by adding value to the crop. Firewood is an assured way of adding this value. Landowners use my services for for cropping their lumber then processing to firewood either for personal consumption or onward sale.
17.
Woodsman Services
Most property owners who can not manage their own gardens tend to hire gardeners or ground keepers. Your woodland, especially natural and native woodlands are essentially wooded gardens. Un-maintained woodlands soon fall into disrepair and will loose their ability to produce timber, satisfy abundant bio-diversity and new growth & regeneration will absolutely struggle, invasive species can very quickly take over a woodland, also footpaths can become in-accessible or even dangerous. Small regular interventions by a skilled woodsman will keep your forest in tip top condition.
For your peace of Mind.
Personalised Care
Every forestry or woodland project requires careful understanding, planning and implementation.
Together we can assess your current forestry management to achieve the required goals.
I can recommend more appropriate and in many instances more financially beneficial schemes & foresters!
By understanding your objectives I can implement reciprocal works accordingly! I will do everything possible to achieve your required results, I will always work in yours and your woodlands very best interests.
Every job brings new challenges and it's these challenges that teach me that you never stop learning, with each lesson I feel more empowered and qualified to serve my customers and their projects with the respect they deserve.
Contracts & Sub Contracts
To work under contract gives all parties understanding! Contracts remove the doubt!
Outside of very small jobs, I only work on a contracted basis!
The process is one of discussion & planning, then pre-contracts are produced for amendment & understanding, then a finalised contract is signed to initiate works. I make this a very clean and informal process.
As a bona fide contractor I am to be trusted and my reputation as such is highly regarded.
Insured & Certified
I am insured under a dedicated Forestry and Landscaping policy specifically designed for my operations as a bona fide contractor and sub-contractor.
A contractors pack will be supplied that contains all up to date insurance details, certification, statements, assessments and all relevant documents.
