How long will this take to recover?

[agrumpycow]

Last weekend we went for a walk in some woods a few miles from our home which usually has a lovely display of snowdrops.
However, all we found was the woods looking like this, tyre tracks 2ft+ deep, felled trees left where they fell and now under mud, no sign of birds (except dead pigeons in the puddles) or snowdrops.
There was a sign saying Forestry Commission work during the snow/rain meant the machinery had created problems and there would be 'footpath regeneration' work soon.
It just all looked so sad and I find it hard to see how it will recover anytime soon? Surely they should have realised the effects of the machinery during bad weather?

[snowdrop]

Only man destroys beauty.......what a disheartening picture.

[Dogghound]

Disturbance like this will actually benifit wildlife. The opening up will allow more sunlight onto the forest floor. You will get more plant diversity and an increase in insects. The deep depressions on the track will fill with water and provide potential palmate newt breeding areas and if dry have unique microclimates that provide good insect habitat. The felled trees again if left provide exellent wildlife habitat for amphibians and saproxylic invertebrates. These rides are also good for butterflies.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by snowdrop

Only man destroys beauty.......what a disheartening picture.

Completely untrue - many natural phenomena destroy what we think of as beauty. And as DH says, though it may look a mess now, in a couple of years (or less) it will look wonderful

henrya

[agrumpycow]

Thanks guys, I feel a little better about it now.
But, I still don't get why they carried out the work during the snow/rain when the machinery would cause this much damage only to now have to repair with their 'footpath regeneration'?
Surely that's financially a bit counterproductive? Or am I completely missing the point (and it wouldn't be for the first time )

[The Woodman]

The felling would have taken quite a long time to plan and get all the various considerations tied up. Done out of the bird nesting season for example prevents disturbance / distruction of nests. Quality of timber is enhanced due to low sap content and reduced kiln time depending on the crop and final product.

I'm sure the FC will have considered sediment and surface runoff from the ruts which will look ugly at the moment but restorative work have the wood looking good as others have said.

There should be a local contact number on the woodland signs. If there is, give them a ring and have a chat about the situation. I'm sure your concerns will be answered.

[tom00_uk]

if they had hung around the weather could have turned into spring and then breeding bird season etc shuts down work on such habitats

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

........But, I still don't get why they carried out the work during the snow/rain when the machinery would cause this much damage only to now have to repair with their 'footpath regeneration'?
.....

If they had planned felling over the winter then they wouldn't have found a dry period to do it in? This looks rather like plantation so would be in need of thinning as DH noted and the ground surface alterations will be interesting! Often such compressed tracks have a very interesting ground fauna very different from the wider wood .....

[agrumpycow]

Thanks for the replies, it seems I was too quick to judge . It just looked so different from what we were expecting to see. I walk there regularly so will be sure to watch how it develops.

[SAHop]

Are you sure the felling was planned and not a desperate attempt to remove infected trees before they are spotted. Where I live hundreds of trees have died and fallen since last summer and everywhere is covered in a bright yellow lichen. I don't know if the two facts are connected. Recently fields of crops are beginning to grow, many of which are bright yellow. And all the connifers in villages around this area are yellowing or already dead through. I have been trying to persuade somone to look into the problem in case it is pytophthora or another notifiable and potentially devastating disease but my cries fall on deaf ears. Some say it is the harsh winter (although I had already spotted the problem last August) and others tell me the trees are just wintering. What should I do?