19-07-2025
99-hectare Wicklow property granted clearfell and thinning forestry licence
The approved 10-year licence received by Euroforest Timber Ireland Ltd relates to a property in the townland of Ballyshane, 5km from Ballinaclash, which was planted in 1988, 1989, 1991 and 1997.
The licence covers the clear-felling and thinning of Japanese larch and Sitka spruce in a schedule of thinning in 2026 and clear-felling in 2025, 2027, 2030, 2033 and 2035, with the area to be clear-felled replanted with Sitka spruce.
There is an aquatic zone bounding the south of the site in the neighbouring forest, to which a 10m exclusion zone will be applied. The site is within the acid-sensitive and fishery-sensitive areas.
Harvesting operations carried out on site will include the selection of suitable machinery which will minimise ground disturbance and compaction, timing of operations to ensure the site will not be worked in adverse weather conditions, with broadleaf veteran trees to be retained where windfirm and safe to do so.
