Project: Harvesting, and baling of harvest residue for biofuel
Client: National Trust
Value: £20,000

Formby is an area of beach, sand dunes, and pine woods near Liverpool which is a popular National Trust attraction.

The project entailed the harvesting and thinning of 12 hectares of mature pine woodlands, with the specific objective of removing all felling residue from site. Thorough clearance was necessitated by the high risk of arson within Lancashire’s only red squirrel reserve.

Harvesting was undertaken mechanically, with all saleable timber being extracted from site. Any remaining residue was baled using a specialist baling machine introduced to the UK from Finland by UPM Tilhill. The marketing of these bales for biofuel provided a considerable cost reduction for The National Trust.

Important factors:

• First commercial use of the baler in the UK.
• Mechanised harvesting avoided crown damage to remaining trees.
• Health and Safety planning was paramount due to high visitor levels.
• Time was key – the project was carried out to a strict timetable and completed on schedule.