Alder and what to do with it.

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Alder and what to do with it.

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VincentVega

Joined: 18 Dec 2006
Posts: 8
Location: Pontyberem, South Wales.

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 06 10:16 pm Post subject: Alder and what to do with it.

I have a small Alder wood, about half an acre at a guess growing on my land. Although it is lovely going for a walk albeit a short one, through it in summer it strikes me as a bit of a waste. The vast majority of the trees are about 6-8" or so in diameter and are all struggling to reach the light, consequently there is about 20-30 foot or more before you see any foliage which is of course concentrated at the canopy. I was just wondering what I could use it for, I know it's no good for fence posts which is a shame as I could do with some and they are about the right size. Does anyone have any ideas?

In case you're wondering why I want to do anything with it, it's simply because I would like to let some more sunlight through for one thing in an attempt to dry up some of the land beneath and being such a resilient and relatively quick growing tree I figured if there was a use for it I may as well have a go.

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Mon Dec 18, 06 10:43 pm Post subject:
In the old days in West Wales, Alder was the wood of choice for clog soles. Not a lot of call for that, these days, however!

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18409

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 06 12:31 am Post subject:
I thougt alder was one of those trees that thrive in wet ground ? Is that area boggy anyway ? But no, I can't think of a use for alder offhand. I have a few too, so would like to know.

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 06 8:51 am Post subject:
If its an alderwood then I would also guess its wet. Mushrooming in such locations is fun and soggy, and sometimes even productive. Worth a bash though (not so much in the back half of December). Is it worth looking in to thinning the alder out, allowing other things to grow or planting different trees?

Northern_Lad

Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 14210
Location: Somewhere

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 06 8:55 am Post subject:
Is Alder any good for copicing? If so, and the ground's still boggy and acidic, you might be able to underplant with blueberries - food and wood.

Tinks

Joined: 16 May 2005
Posts: 678
Location: Berkshire

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 06 8:57 am Post subject:
https://www.the-tree.org.uk/TreeCultivation&Uses/Uses/usesofwood.htm Hope this is helpful!!

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 06 10:07 am Post subject:

You may need to obtain a felling licence depending on your felling reason and the diameter at just over 4 foot from the ground. If you're thinning they need to be less than 4in or for coppice/underwood removal it's 6in although worth checking.

Uses, well they fix nitrogen when they grow. They make good charcoal and have often been used for underwater foundations, tool handles, clog soles and even workshop floorboards.

If you have quite a few and can't find a use for them it might be worth advertising them locally.

Other info can be found here: https://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Alnus+glutinosa

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45420
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Dec 19, 06 10:48 am Post subject:
You can chip it, innoculate with mushroom spores and bury in a trench

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