The Black Craig harvesting site located near Innerleithen in the Scottish Borders is a great example of EGGER Forestry working with a Landowner and Stakeholders on a steep and challenging site to fell, extract and dispatch timber with minimal disruption to public access in a popular and well used public forest.
As part of the site planning process, EGGER Forestry undertook consultation with the local mountain bike trail association with the objective of minimising damage to trails within the sale area and disruption to the wider trail network during felling, extraction and timber haulage operations.
EGGER Forestry employed an experienced harvesting contractor with specialist equipment to undertake the felling and extraction. Due to the steep gradient of the site, traction assist systems were utilised to minimise the risk to operators along with reducing ground compaction and disturbance. This method resulted in the site being handed back to the Landowner in a condition ready for restocking with reduced ground preparation costs, and trails ready for future use.
EGGER Forestry’s prominent market position helped ensure maximum financial return to the Landowner by promptly dispatching a range of products including sawlogs, fencing bars and chipwood.
The felling was carried out under an approved Forest Plan. The Landowner will be restocking the site with a diverse mix of conifers and native broadleaves, improving species mix within the forest complex in line with the UKFS.
“Working with EGGER Forestry on this site has been a very enjoyable experience due to clear and regular communication with Alastair and the machine operators throughout the operation. Knowing that all involved were working to the highest standard and ensuring conditions such as bike track protection were achieved has made my role much easier as I knew the site would be progressing with no issues.”
Mark Knights - Works Supervisor for FLS Dumfries and Borders
Site Information
Operation:
Clearfell
Equipment used:
Komatsu 931 Harvester, John Deere 1510 forwarder and Timbermax T10 Traction assist system
Volume:
19,000 tonnes
Harvesting contractor:
Elliot Henderson Ltd.
Harvesting manager:
Alastair Taylor, EGGER Forestry Ltd.
Client/owner:
Forest and Land Scotland, Dumfries and Borders Region
Crop details:
Douglas Fir, Japanese Larch and Sitka Spruce.
Products:
Saw logs, Fencing bars and chipwood
Haulage:
D&W Agri
