Wild Dog Valley Plantation
Case Studies-Wild Dog Valley Sawlog and Firewood
The property was bare of trees back in 2006 and we started to plant a sawlog plantation and shelter belts as well as some plantings along gully lines.
This gave the stock shelter and broke up the wind producing better welfare for stock and calving/lambing.
The sawlog plantation of 14ha was managed for a long rotation being planted in groups and at their final space distance between trees to allow for growth and les time spent thinning throughout the process if starting from more stems per ha at planting.
The result has been an easily managed plantation with little work required after around 7 years when the high lift pruning finished. The other areas contain a selection of sawlogs and firewood trees which will begin to be harvested in 2026.
Look at some of the images from the project below.
The journey to date
The first summer saw strong seedling growth.
The trusty utility was very useful
First year after planting shows the fast growth of E.Globulos trees.
The journey to date
Multiple trees per spot allowed the best to be kept at thinning.
Young cattle amongst the trees around 3 years old here.
2nd prune with loppers and backpack of food.
The journey to date
The Final thinning operation leaving one good tree per spot produced nice firewood.
18 year old sawlog trees.
Main sawlog plantation in green border with shelter belts and gully plantings elsewhere.
