Forestry & Woodland Services South West
Woodland and Tree Management Specialists Smiths Gore is recognised as the UK’s leading firm of rural property managers, 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 an important part of the portfolio on many properties. To ensure that we manage this resource effectively for our clients, we have a strong presence within the forestry industry, and have recently expanded with a new forest manager based at our Taunton office, covering the south west.
Why Smiths Gore? We offer a comprehensive full management service. The diversity of our clients’ interest give us unrivalled insights into trends, new developments and best practice within the industry which we apply across the whole of our client base. Why else entrust your woodlands to Smiths Gore? Experience and attitude Woodland management operates within an increasingly complex regulatory and grant framework, the future for forestry is brighter than it has been for decades with a high demand for woodlands and wood products. Our experienced forest managers have the skills necessary to negotiate the regulatory system and identify suitable opportunities available for woodland owners. Quality, Impartiality and Transparency Smiths Gore deals with all aspects of woodland and tree management on a wide variety of properties across the south west, from mixed lowland estates to conifer plantations. We have a proven track record for delivering a high-quality, cost-effective woodland management service to our clients. Our impartial and transparent approach 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. We are committed to delivering a quality service to our clients and to quoting competitive fees.
Case Studies The following examples illustrate the variety of work undertaken by Smiths Gore in the south west and our ability to adapt to new trends and developments within the industry
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We have produced a management plan for 95 hectares of woodland on an estate in North Devon. This has provided the client with a strategic overview of their woodlands. The plan incorporates 10 years felling permissions. The management plan gives the Estate an opportunity to become certified and receive grants through the English Woodland Grant Scheme.
Smiths Gore’s Group Forest Certification Scheme is designed to allow woodland owners to benefit from the advantages of FSCŽ certification as cost effectively as possible. There are currently 27 members of the scheme covering over 14,000 hectares. The quality of management in our members’ forests was recently commended by our independent auditors SGS.
We planned and supervised the implementation of an extensive planting scheme to meet planning conditions at a farm in Somerset. The scheme covered 4ha and involved planting 13,000 trees. We applied for grant aid under the English Woodland Grant Scheme. We managed all aspects of this scheme, from the initial grant application through to implementation and after-care.
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We manage amenity and roadside trees for a government agency. This involves undertaking tree safety surveys with bespoke software on our handheld GPS units and working closely with our digital mapping department. We then manage any remedial work necessary to comply with health and safety requirements.
We have managed the removal of Phythophthora Ramourum infected larch trees subject to a Statutory Plant Health Notice on a Somerset estate. We are authorised agents for dealing with these notices. Having organised and implemented the removal of the trees we prepared the site for restocking and planned a robust planting design for the future. We also secured grant support under the Woodland Regeneration Grant including an extra contribution from the Phytophthora fund.
Fochabers
Agency Perth
We work closely with our rural property agents to provide a bespoke service in the sale, acquisition and valuation of all woodland types from small amenity woodland blocks to larger commercial plantations.
Edinburgh
Haddington Berwick-upon-Tweed Wooler
Biomass and Woodfuel Dumfries
We have extensive experience in feasibility of supply chains and assessing whether the clients’ woodlands can supply on site biomass boilers. We work closely with our Sustainability, Renewables and Energy department in this respect.
Corbridge Carlisle Darlington
Str ategic Reviews of Woodlands, Current Woodland Management and In-house Forestry Departments
Clitheroe
York
We can deliver detailed strategic reviews of estate woodlands and forestry departments, allowing clients to make an informed decision regarding how to progress their woodland management in future.
Lincoln
Stamford Peterborough
Lichfield
Smiths Gore - Taunton
Newmarket
York House Blackbrook Business Park Taunton Somerset TA1 2PX
Worcester Abergavenny
Marlborough
Oxford London Reading
Andover Taunton
t 01823 445030 • f 01823 445031 • m 07808 642574 e peter.topham@smithsgore.co.uk
Exeter Truro
smithsgore.co.uk
Stow-on-the-Wold
Cirencester
Winchester
Petworth
Maidstone