Our woodland management systems are certified as part of the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme (Membership Number : SGS-FM/COC-000260-244) and enrolled in Government approved Long Term Forestry Plan.
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Forestry has long been carried out at Houston. The First Statistical Account of 1791 says “there is a large natural wood at Houston, consisting of oak, alder, birch, willow and some ash, besides a great quantity of old planted timber about the mansion house, consisting of elms, planes, ash, limes and some oaks, many of which have been lately cut down and sold for a good price.”
In 1995 Elderslie Estates were instrumental in setting up the East Renfrewshire Community Woodland on estate land to the south of Neilston; 306 acres of new planting for informal woodland access and recreation, the largest of its type then. In the twenty years since planting a stunning landscape has evolved... please see the film opposite. |
Houston Wood, referred to above, now part of Houston House policies, was originally a native oak woodland, parts of which remain. This was incorporated into the policy designed woodlands of the Victorian era. Maintained by an army of outdoor staff its manicured gravel paths must have been a wonder to perceive.
Across the estate as a whole in the 18th century, woodland cover was quite limited, but during the latter part of the 19th century there was a move to take marginal land out of agriculture and plant woodland instead. Most of the current major blocks of estate woodland date from this period. The stone dykes that were the 17th and 18th century field boundaries can still be found inside the woods and their preservation is an important part of our current management plan.
Forestry dynamics change with technology, plant development, climate, pests and diseases and what seems to be a stable long term process is seldom that in practice. When the bottom fell out of the market for wooden battleships the economics of growing oak for timber disappeared. Its place was taken by the "Gentleman’s Mixture" of Scots pine, larch, beech oak and ash.
After the First World War this was superseded by the wonder crop of its day, Sitka Spruce. At Elderslie we can grow a rotation of good quality spruce in thirty years. However, swings and roundabouts being what they are, the very high growth rates brought windblow into the picture, exacerbated by global warming with its regular extreme weather conditions. Gales in 1968 and 1991 wreaked havoc across the estate. In 1968 the anemometer at Glasgow airport reputedly blew off in a gust of 108 mph.
Across the estate as a whole in the 18th century, woodland cover was quite limited, but during the latter part of the 19th century there was a move to take marginal land out of agriculture and plant woodland instead. Most of the current major blocks of estate woodland date from this period. The stone dykes that were the 17th and 18th century field boundaries can still be found inside the woods and their preservation is an important part of our current management plan.
Forestry dynamics change with technology, plant development, climate, pests and diseases and what seems to be a stable long term process is seldom that in practice. When the bottom fell out of the market for wooden battleships the economics of growing oak for timber disappeared. Its place was taken by the "Gentleman’s Mixture" of Scots pine, larch, beech oak and ash.
After the First World War this was superseded by the wonder crop of its day, Sitka Spruce. At Elderslie we can grow a rotation of good quality spruce in thirty years. However, swings and roundabouts being what they are, the very high growth rates brought windblow into the picture, exacerbated by global warming with its regular extreme weather conditions. Gales in 1968 and 1991 wreaked havoc across the estate. In 1968 the anemometer at Glasgow airport reputedly blew off in a gust of 108 mph.
Monoculture of spruce for three rotations has led to a buildup of conifer butt rot, so the search is on for a replacement for Sitka and Norway spruce. Pests and diseases are a pressing problem. Ash dieback means we cannot plant ash any more, and it is likely that our existing ash trees will not be long lived. Pine is very difficult to establish and our larch crops are threatened by Phytophthora ramorum.
The search for alternatives goes on. Back in the 1970s we experimented with Chilean beech, Nothofagus spp, with some success, but we found that the fast growth rates led to windblow as well as physiological drought deaths in very cold weather.... so back to the drawing board again. The focus now is on Eucalyptus, which promises excellent growth rates while being unpalatable to deer and rabbits. 2017 will see some trial plots of different Eucalyptus species in a range of locations.
The production of biomass for the renewable energy market is playing an increasingly important role in the management and operations of the estate woodlands. The increase in demand for biomass has enabled the estate to undertake first thinning of almost all the appropriately aged commercial Sitka Spruce plantations and, excitingly, is enabling an on-going renovation of the Victorian Policies surrounding the parkland of Houston House.
Woodlands have functions other than simply growing trees for profit. Traditionally estate Woodlands were there to show sporting birds and from 1880 through to 1980 this was true of Elderslie. The emphasis has now changed to conservation, particularly of ground nesting birds and for the last eight years we have been undertaking habitat improvement works to encourage resident and migratory woodcock.
The search for alternatives goes on. Back in the 1970s we experimented with Chilean beech, Nothofagus spp, with some success, but we found that the fast growth rates led to windblow as well as physiological drought deaths in very cold weather.... so back to the drawing board again. The focus now is on Eucalyptus, which promises excellent growth rates while being unpalatable to deer and rabbits. 2017 will see some trial plots of different Eucalyptus species in a range of locations.
The production of biomass for the renewable energy market is playing an increasingly important role in the management and operations of the estate woodlands. The increase in demand for biomass has enabled the estate to undertake first thinning of almost all the appropriately aged commercial Sitka Spruce plantations and, excitingly, is enabling an on-going renovation of the Victorian Policies surrounding the parkland of Houston House.
Woodlands have functions other than simply growing trees for profit. Traditionally estate Woodlands were there to show sporting birds and from 1880 through to 1980 this was true of Elderslie. The emphasis has now changed to conservation, particularly of ground nesting birds and for the last eight years we have been undertaking habitat improvement works to encourage resident and migratory woodcock.