Woodland Management Services in Scotland
Woodland and Tree Management Specialists throughout Scotland Smiths Gore is recognised as the UK’s leading firm of land agents, managing and consulting on some of the most diverse properties in the country. Trees and woodlands offer a wide range of valuable benefits and are therefore an important part of the mix on many properties. To ensure that we manage this resource effectively for our clients, our Forestry, Woodland & Arboriculture Department has maintained a strong presence within the industry over many years, particularly in Scotland where our client base covers all parts of the country.
Why Smiths Gore? There are many forestry firms operating in Scotland that offer broadly similar management services, so why entrust your trees and woodlands to Smiths Gore?
Experience and attitude Although woodland management operates within an increasingly complex regulatory and grant framework, the commercial climate for forestry is healthier than it has been for decades with a high demand for woodlands and wood products. Our skilled foresters have the experience and hands-on approach necessary to negotiate the red tape and identify the best opportunities currently available for woodland owners.
Quality and impartiality Smiths Gore deals with all aspects of woodland and tree management on a wide variety of properties across Scotland, from mixed lowland estates to upland conifer plantations. We have a proven track record for delivering a high-quality, cost-effective woodland management service to our clients. Our impartiality within the industry sets us apart and ensures that clients receive the best return for their timber and benefit from competitive rates for planting and other woodland operations.
Tr ansparency We are committed to delivering a quality service to our clients and to quoting competitive fees. All fees are discussed and agreed up front with no hidden costs.
Case Studies The following examples illustrate the variety of work undertaken by Smiths Gore and our ability to adapt to new trends and developments within the industry.
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At Mansfield Estates near Perth, we manage an extensive annual softwood harvesting and restocking program and have developed a twenty year forest plan that will deliver a range of outcomes, including quality timber production and enhanced biodiversity, sporting and amenity benefits.
At Penicuik Estate in Midlothian, our foresters organise the annual harvesting, drying and chipping of timber required to fuel a 200kW boiler and monitor the quality of woodchips to ensure efficient operation.
We are involved in the delivery of substantial woodland creation schemes in Tayside and the north east. These schemes are grant aided under the Scottish Rural Development Programme and will provide a healthy return for the clients involved. We manage all aspects of these schemes, from initial grant application through to implementation and after-care.
Smiths Gore’s Group Forest Certification Scheme is designed to allow woodland owners to benefit from the clear advantages of FSC certification as cost effectively as possible. In all there are currently 21 members of the scheme covering over 13,000 hectares. The quality of management in our members’ forests was recently commended by independent auditors SGS.
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Forest plans provide clients with a strategic overview of their woodlands and incorporate a 10 year felling licence. We have produced many such plans and recommend this to our clients as a flexible tool for setting clear management aims, obtaining forest certification and accessing forestry grants.
We also manage amenity and roadside trees on a number of properties, undertaking tree safety surveys and managing any remedial work necessary to comply with health and safety requirements. Additionally, we undertake BS5837:2012 tree surveys on development sites.
We advise on the management of native woodlands, including several SSSI’s in Speyside for which we have secured SRDP funding for extensive stock fencing, deer management and controlled cattle grazing. These schemes will encourage woodland regeneration and deliver a positive return to the owner.
We are developing a new firewood enterprise for a client in Tayside that will utilise previously under-managed broadleaved woodland, generating income in addition to providing biodiversity and sporting benefits.
Berwick-upon-Tweed t 01289 333030 8 Castlegate, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, TD15 1JS berwick@smithsgore.co.uk Fochabers
Dumfries t 01387 263066 28 Castle Street, Dumfries, DG1 1DG dumfries@smithsgore.co.uk Edinburgh t 0131 344 0888 22 Young Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4JB edinburgh@smithsgore.co.uk
Perth
Edinburgh
Haddington Berwick-upon-Tweed
Fochabers t 01343 823000 7 The Square, Fochabers, Moray, IV32 7DG fochabers@smithsgore.co.uk Haddington t 01620 828960 Haddington House, 28 Sidegate, Haddington, EH41 4BU haddington@smithsgore.co.uk Perth t 01738 479180 13 Marshall Place, Perth, PH2 8AH perth@smithsgore.co.uk
Dumfries
smithsgore.co.uk