LOOKING TO LEAVE WOODLAND LEGACY

Quarry manager Mervyn Jones has struck a deal to create a countryside idyll from the past in his favourite Herefordshire woodland.

One of his first moves after taking charge at Leinthall Quarry was to set up negotiations with the Forestry Commission.

It was his predecessor at the Ennstone Johnstone Roadstone works who first took an interest in helping the foresters restore Croft Wood, in 2001.

But now Mr. Jones says it is his turn to take up the reins. Thanks to his contribution the Commission can now press on with work at the site, near Leominster, until 2008.

Beat forester Mark Crowley, said: “It was fantastic news when Mervyn gave us the go ahead with a three-year funding package.

“We will use the cash to restore the woodland to the way it would have been when King Henry VIII was alive. Then it would have been lush pasture with oaks scattered through it.

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The trees would have been cropped back, or ‘pollarded’, at about two metres above ground.

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This technique kept the branches out the reach of grazing livestock. It also produced valuable timber staves from the regrowth.”

Mr. Jones, from Kington, said: “Some of the oaks first pollarded in the old king’s reign still survive today.

“It is wonderful to think that my own grandchildren might one day come to see them in their restored wildflower-rich, woodland pasture.”

In the meantime he said he hoped his children, April (15) and Joseph (10) might have a chance for some school field studies on the site.

He added that Croft Wood was gradually developing into a living window on medieval agriculture.

Among the tasks at the heart of the woodland project is the re-pollarding of the ancient oaks.

The job takes a long time since the shock of cutting the branches back too quickly might kill the trees.

But if the process is done carefully over several years it could extend the oaks’ life spans by another hundred years.

Anyone wanting to find out more information about Croft Wood, should ring 01584 813826.

Details of other woodland restoration sites can be found on the

www.forestry.org.uk

website.

NOTES TO EDITORS

For further information please contact Mr. Mark Crowley, on 01584 813826.

e-mail: mark.crowley@forestry.gsi.gov.uk