The winners of the annual Irish Forestry Awards, presented by Andrew Doyle TD in Castletown House last week, demonstrate the importance of continuous forest management.

This is the approach adopted by Ivor Clegg, Cloncourse, Mountrath, Co Laois, winner of the production forestry award for forests with an area over 15ha

“In this forest, nothing is left to chance – Ivor is thinking ahead all the time to ensure every tree is cared for and the potential of his woodland achieved,” said chair of the judging panel Dr Michael Carey.

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This point was taken up by Deputy Doyle, who is chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine and a forest owner.

“This year’s winners are true examples of best practice, which is what forest owners should strive for,” he said. “The RDS awards, supported by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, provide an excellent opportunity to showcase all that is good about Irish forestry.”

The awards are an important yardstick in private forestry, as they reveal a range of forest management options now available to timber growers.

Some owners leave the management to the experts, some do the work themselves, while a popular choice for a growing number is a mix of hands-on and specialist forestry advice when required.

Ivor Clegg is a hands-on owner but is commissioning a professional forester to develop a long-term management plan for the forest.

Ivor told the Irish Farmers Journal that he has been harvesting firewood from sycamore as early as 12 years after planting. However, the first major income in his forest will be from thinnings of Norway spruce next year.

“I established 100ha in 2001 and my brother Wayne has 50ha of mainly Norway spruce,” he said. The Norway spruce, which has a yield class of up to 24 (m3/ha/ annum) is being prepared for thinning in 2016.

The 2001 afforestation programme was followed up with further plantings in 2004 and 2012, guaranteeing continuous harvesting and income into the future.

The award for the production category under 15ha went to Pat Coffey, Druminisclin, Belturbet, Co Cavan, who planted all 10ha himself. The forest comprises mainly ash, oak, beech and sycamore, with small areas of Norway spruce and red oak.

All species are thriving, but the ash in particular impressed the judges Michael Cregan and Alistair Pfeifer.

“Heavy thinning and high pruning to 5m has produced a 20-year-old stand of ash which is one of the best the judges have seen in the past few years,” said Dr Carey.

Shane’s Castle Estate, Co Antrim, won the multipurpose award. Owned by Lord O’Neill, the estate comprises 315ha of broadleaf and coniferous species. There is a long continuity of forestry here and because of continuous planting over the last three centuries, the woodland consists of mixed age classes.

Learmount Forest, Park, Co Derry, was the outright winner of the community woodland award.

Managed by the Northern Ireland Forest Service, in partnership with Learmount Community Development Group (LCDG), the 118-ha forest “is an important amenity not only for the local residents, but can be enjoyed by tourists”, maintained Dr Carey.

“The judges were particularly impressed by the excellent relationship between the NI Forest Service and the LCDG,” he said.

Barnescourt Estate, Newtownstewart, Omagh, Co Tyrone, was the runner-up in the production forestry category for areas over 15ha.

The estate took a decision in 2001 to adopt a continuous cover forestry (CCF) system.

Already there is evidence of natural regeneration of tree seedlings, which is essential to ensure continuous tree cover.

The runner-up award for production forest in the 15ha and less category went to Martin Murphy, Kilmihil, Co Clare.

“Martin’s successive plantings utilise the marginal land on his farm to best advantage, ensuring a sustained timber supply,” said Dr Carey.

The awards provided some excellent examples of forest management, especially where the owners were faced with severe challenges.

This was the case for the Munster provincial category winners Jim and Bridie Kinsella.

Part of their Ballinulty forest near Thurles was flattened by Storm Darwin in February last year, so plans were quickly put in place to sell, harvest and extract the windblown material. Within months, the site was cleared and replanted.

“The methods used [to restore the forest] are a model of best forest practice in dealing with this situation,” said Dr Carey.

Other category winners were: Christian Ostoff, Glenealy, Co Wicklow (Leinster winner); Matthew Forde, Seaforde Estate, Co Down, (Ulster winner); and Balla community forest, Castlebar, Co Mayo (Connacht merit award).

Jonathan Sykes, Springfield Castle, Drumcollogher, Co Limerick, won the best new entrant award, while Bernard and Des Joyce from Ballyvarry, Castlebar, Co Mayo, were runners-up in the multipurpose forestry category.

The special judges award for his contribution to the Irish forestry and forest products sectors went to John Brady, CEO, Woodfab Timber Limited, Aughrim, Co Wicklow.