Forestry Now

Today I speak with John Sherlock. As well as managing a 49 acre forest, John and his wife Evelyn own Sherlogs Firewood and Craft Timber based outside Navan in Co Meath. The business supplies firewood in the midlands and also mills timber for resale as well as offering a bespoke timber manufacturing service. If that wasn't enough John is very active in the North East Forestry Group and in a new initiative to bring small scale sawmillers across Ireland together.
So there's a lot to talk about which is why I've split the interview in two parts. In this episode we talk about what's happening in his forest right now (he had windblow in January 25 and ash dieback prior to that). Then we take a deep dive into the activities of the North East Forestry Group where John's a former Chair and current secretary. John explains how their members are thriving through participation and peer to peer learning - their activities all prove the point that a small amount of targeted Government funding can accelerate the growth and cohesion of the industry.
In the second episode (scheduled for release in two weeks) we'll discuss Johns firewood, his sawmilling business and the custom timber products he offers including post and beam from Douglas Fir. Then we move on to talk about the growing number of small scale sawmills across Ireland which can only be good news for forest owners who want to maximize revenue from broadleaf timber and diverse conifers. 

Topics in this Episode:
Johns forest, ash dieback and replanting to suit the land, windblow devastation and CCF going forward.
Growth of the North East Forestry Group, especially since Storm Eowyn.
Group Forest Certification (including the 12 Apostles) and expanding the number of forests certified. Learning from Certification.
The Schools Project to bring kids into the forests.
Supporting Future Forest Owners with bespoke learning initiatives.
Knowledge Transfer Groups and the strength of forest owners groups - with examples including an application to fund a group owned forwarding machine.

Links
John Sherlock on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-sherlock-6a0a14236/
RDS Forestry Award 2020: https://www.forestry.ie/images/MiscDocs/2021YearbookArticles/2021YB-RDSForestryAwards.pdf
North East Forestry Group: https://northeastforestrygroup.ie/
Sherlogs Firewood: https://sherlogscrafttimber.ie/
Sherlogs Craft Timber: https://sherlogs.ie/
Guide to Small Scale Sawmilling: https://irishforestowners.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/IFO-Sawmilling-Handbook-2025.pdf
https://forestrynow.eu/

In this interview I speak with Alan McCabe who is the Manager at Glaslough Tyholland Group Water Scheme in North Co Monaghan. We briefly discuss how Alan manages his own forest and his role as Co Monaghan representative on the IFA Forestry Committee including challenges surrounding ESB corridors in existing forests. Then we discuss the River Blackwater Catchment Trust who have a project to remove self seeded conifers off the heather boglands of Sliabh Beagh (which is in Monaghan, Tyrone and Fermanagh): we explore how they do this and why it matters.
Alan McCabe on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/alan-mccabe-0485b7162/
The Blackwater River Catchment Trust: https://blackwatercatchmenttrust.org/
Glaslough Tyholland Group Water Scheme: https://gtgws.ie/
The IFA Forestry Committee: https://www.ifa.ie/sector-committees/forestry-committee/
National Park and Wildlife Service (NPWS) https://www.npws.ie/peatlands-and-turf-cutting/protected-raised-bog-restoration-incentive-scheme-prbris

forestrynow.eu

[0:00:01] Introduction & Alan McCabe’s Forest Management
[0:07:25] Joining the IFA Forestry Committee: Roles and Activities
[0:10:54] Committee Advocacy: Wind Blow, Timber Prices, and Owner Support
[0:14:00] ESB Access and Powerline Corridor Management
[0:19:25] Licensing Objections and Ministry Liaison
[0:20:49] River Blackwater Catchment Trust: Overview and Goals
[0:27:06] Peatland Site Description: Species, Geography, Significance
[0:29:50] Invasive Self-Seeded Conifers: Project and Impact
[0:34:06] Other Invasives and Habitat Challenges
[0:35:13] Physical Removal, Drone Use, and Safety Considerations
[0:37:30] Native Species Self-Seeding: Habitat Change Drivers
[0:39:27] Peat Extraction History and Bog Restoration Plans
[0:40:18] Advice and Priorities for Forest Owners

In this podcast I speak to Seán Ó Conláin about planting a 15 acre broadleaf forest in 2004, buying an adjoining mature high yield class conifer plantation (planted 1987) and the risks he took converting this block to continuous cover forestry. Seán explains his background and inspiration, management techniques, thinning interventions, underplanting, windblow of standing timber, observations around nature and enhancing nature on his holding and much more. Seán is a Chair of the Teagasc Forestry Stakeholder Group as well as a committee member at Pro Silva Ireland.
Field day report from Seáns forest https://prosilvaireland.com/autumn-field-day-2023/
Pro Silva Ireland at https://prosilvaireland.com/ or on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ProSilvaIreland/
Department of Agriculture Food and Marine Forestry Information https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/forestry-grants-and-schemes/
Sean on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/se%C3%A1n-c-1b24109/
Forestry Now
https://forestrynow.eu/

CHAPTERS
[0:00:04] – Introduction & Guest Background
[0:05:37] – Forest Structure & Oak’s Significance
Discussion about planting patterns, mixing species, the cultural meaning of oak in Ireland, site layout, and adapting to the local landscape’s needs.
[0:09:13] – Interventions & Spruce Management
Sean explains interventions since his trees established, including halo thinning, tending around oak, neighbor assistance, and applying for the Woodland Improvement Scheme.
[0:12:23] – Spruce Block Purchase & CCF Transition
Sean recounts the decision to buy an older spruce block, shifting from clearfell to continuous cover forestry, weighing risks, and starting the transformation process.
[0:18:56] – Machinery, Soil, & Harvesting Challenges
Challenges of using heavy equipment on peaty soil, timing interventions to minimize damage, and balancing harvesting with conservation values.
[0:19:37] – Deer, Wildlife, & Managing Browsing Pressure
Sean shares the rising impact of deer on regeneration and underplanting, failed attempts at fencing, and the need for collaborative local management of wildlife.
[0:29:04] – Social Value, Community, & Future Initiatives
Exploration of the social benefits of the forest, potential for community social farming, application to integrate habitats, and ambitions for wider involvement.
[0:36:06] – Advice to New Foresters & Learning Resources
Sean’s advice on planning access and roads from the start, sources like Teagasc and Pro Silva, learning from big estates, and insights on forest knowledge transfer.
[0:39:43] – Cultural Reflections, Succession, & Closing Thoughts
Discussion of Irish people’s deep cultural connections to trees, succession challenges for new owners, and Sean’s poetic closing remarks on the legacy of woodlands.

The fall out from Storm Darragh and Eowyn has been monumental for the Irish Forestry Industry. To get an overview of this I speak with Victor Barber - Victor's a qualified forester who began his career with Western Forestry Co Op and is now their Harvesting Manager based out of Sligo. He also farms and is a regular contributor to the Farmers Journal on all things forestry. We speak about Storm Éoywn, we try to make sense of why some sites blew down and some sites didn't, we discuss the challenge harvesting windblown sites and the arrival of international harvesting crews. Finally we talk through the export of timber in containers and how prices are holding up for the owners of recently harvested forests.

Western Forestry Coop: https://westernforestrycoop.ie/
Victor Barber's Profile: https://westernforestrycoop.ie/our-staff/victor-barber/
Victor in the Farmers Journal https://www.farmersjournal.ie/focus/forestry/planning-windblow-from-harvesting-and-sale-to-replanting-885052
DAFM Guidance on using free satellite technology to assess windblown forests: youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=Hqqy5sP8PzY
IFA Timber Price Survey: https://www.ifa.ie/market-reports/timber-price-surveys/
ITGA: Wood Price Quarterly: https://itga.ie/services/information/wpq
Forestry Now
https://forestrynow.eu/
Chapters
[0:00:01] – Introduction & Guest Background
Dermot McNally introduces the podcast, outlines the episode, and welcomes Victor Barber, the harvesting manager at Western Forestry Co-Op, discussing his experience and the episode’s topics.
[0:01:13] – Harvesting Methods & Services at Western Forestry Co-Op
Victor explains the evolution of harvesting and sales at Western Forestry Co-Op, including the control of harvests, contracting, and maximizing returns for timber owners.
[0:03:39] – Impact of Storms Dara & Eamon; Harvesting Crews
Discussion of crew numbers before and after storms, the increase to 11 crews during peak, and the significant industry disruption caused by extreme weather.
[0:06:07] – International Harvesting Crews
Victor describes bringing in Romanian harvesting crews managed by Dutch supervisors, their skill, adaptation to the Irish climate, and overcoming initial language barriers.
[0:08:05] – Wind-Blown Sites: Patterns of Damage
Explores which sites suffered wind blow, the lack of clear patterns, why broadleaf plantations mostly escaped damage, and how storm severity overrode usual forestry precautions.
[0:12:18] – Harvesting Process on Wind-Blown vs. Normal Sites
Victor outlines the added complexity and reduced speed of harvesting wind-blown sites, describing tangled trees (“bowl of spaghetti”) and the challenge for operators.
[0:13:51] – Forwarder Machines and Site Maintenance
Discussion on how, despite slow harvesting, forwarders remain engaged in site maintenance, especially laying down brash to protect soil in adverse weather.
[0:15:27] – Timber Recovery & Brash Management
The impact of wind blow on saleable timber recovery, the need for skilled harvester drivers, and the generally good outcomes despite damage and logistical hurdles with brash.
[0:18:10] – Timber Certification & Export to Europe/China
Post-storm oversupply leads to container exports to China/Europe; Victor notes certification wasn’t a deciding factor in sales this year.
[0:21:28] – Logistics of Exporting Timber
How exporting works: from forests to yards to ships, the roles of international buyers, and adapting logistics for safety and efficiency after the storm.
[0:24:55] – Timber Measurement & Pricing
Shift from weight-based to volume-based pricing; the challenges for timber owners, summer weather effects, and industry-wide learning on measurement methods.
[0:31:20] – Financial Returns for Forest Owners
Examples of net earnings per acre from wind-blown sites, with older plantations faring better and younger ones hit hardest by increased harvesting costs and price drop.
[0:35:32] – Future Outlook & 2026 Expectations
Expectations for the coming year: industry hopes for a reconstitution grant, continued challenges with pulp prices, and the need for support to restart planting cycles.

In this interview I speak with Olive Leavy a forest owner from Co Westmeath who currently works with Pro Silva ireland. Olive has chosen to manage her forest using the continuous cover forestry method and in this interview we cover all aspects of this including windblow, ash dieback, challenges with harvesting, getting to know your forest, a firewood business, how forestry has enabled her to remain in rural ireland, advice for forest owners and much more.
Olive Leavy on Linkedin
Pro Silva Ireland at https://prosilvaireland.com/
Forestry advice available at Teagasc Forestry at https://teagasc.ie/crops/forestry/
DAFM Forestry Information including the Woodland Improvement Scheme including CCF - https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-agriculture-food-and-the-marine/publications/forestry-grants-and-schemes/
Olive on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forestgirl_ire/
Forestry Now:
https://forestrynow.eu/
CHAPTERS
[0:00:01] – Introduction & Guest Background
Dermot introduces the podcast and guest, Olive Leavy, who shares how she became involved in managing her family’s forest.
[0:03:10] – Forest Composition & Features
A detailed account of the tree species planted, veteran trees, hedgerow management, and unique characteristics of the site.
[0:07:01] – Decision to Move to Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF)
Olive describes the emergence of ash dieback, peer influence, and the gradual decision to adopt CCF for resilience.
[0:09:39] – First & Second Thinnings: Techniques & Adaptations
Explanation of thinning strategy, adjustments due to site conditions, hazards, and evolving the CCF approach.
[0:14:27] – Ash Dieback Impact & Firewood Business
Discussion of losing ash to disease, the process of removal, honey fungus, utilization as firewood, and replanting with native woodland.
[0:17:47] – Wildlife, Deer Management and Family Involvement
Olive outlines wildlife presence, deer monitoring, impact assessments, and fortunate avoidance of invasive species.
[0:21:14] – Woodland Regeneration, Storm Windblow & Forest Stability
Weed control methods, labor required, wind damage, adapting management plans, and planting for structural resilience.
[0:28:29] – Deadwood Creation, Water Protection & Biodiversity
Techniques for enhancing biodiversity, practical water protection measures, machinery setbacks.
[0:34:49] – Government CCF Scheme & Management Support
Participation in the Woodland Improvement Scheme (WIS), available supports, and practical uses for funding.
[0:37:15] – Future Plans & Underplanting
Plans for underplanting, species diversification, tree marking, high pruning, and continuous CCF improvements.
[0:43:29] – Natural Regeneration Under Conifer
Observations of beech, oak, birch, and sycamore natural regeneration, and active management of unwanted species.
[0:46:29] – Firewood Business Insights and Advice for New Forest Owners
Olive’s experience running a firewood business and the importance of hands-on knowledge for management success.
[0:50:09] – Mná na Coille Initiative and Closing Remarks
Initiative introduction, aims to empower women in forestry, survey results, and next steps for increased industry inclusion.