Two new helpers were chomping at the bit to help out earlier this month when Taynish National Nature Reserve (NNR) needed an important job done.
Four-legged workers Duke and Queenie from Strathearn Horse Logging were recruited to fell and move trees at Taynish in order to make the area safe for visitors.
Reserve manager Heather Goodwin explained why the horses were employed for this particular task.
“We needed a way to get the large timber logs moved and the best and least impactful way of doing this is with the traditional technique of horse logging," she said.
“There are some standing deadwood trees along the trackside that pose a risk of falling so we wanted to get them down and moved off the track. We also did a bit of oak-thinning along the path edge with trees that were decaying and posing a risk of falling.”
Heather explained that usually when they are felling trees they would leave them in situ for deadwood, as long as they were moved off the track.
“We are currently needing wood for our new timber-framed visitor shelter at Taynish so have decided to source some oaks from Taynish for the main supporting structure.
“This meant using some timber from the reserve is achieving our ethos of keeping the build as carbon neutral as possible by limiting our transportation costs whilst also keeping paths safe and carrying out some light thinning to improve light conditions for lichens, ground flora and other regenerating trees.
"So, it’s a win-win and we’ve very much enjoyed working with the horses and seeing them in such a beautiful setting.”
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