Meet Jeff the gentle giant, who is showing visitors how traditional horsepower is the most eco-friendly way of harvesting wood from The Wrekin.
The huge Clydesdale will be the star turn at free logging demonstrations next weekend. People will be able to try their hands at leading Jeff, courtesy of Phil Wilson, of the Heavy Horse Experience at Hoo Farm visitor centre, Telford.
Pete Lambert, Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s Wrekin forest project officer, said: “For hundreds of years, working horses hauled wood until being replaced by machinery in the 1960s.
“Horses are ideal for sensitive sites like The Wrekin. Their low-impact technique causes no damage, even in places where delicate plants like orchids grow.
“When a horse pulls a piece of timber along, it scarifies the ground, giving seeds the opportunity to germinate and grow.
“There is no noise, no diesel spills, no noise, no fumes and no wheel ruts on the path.”
Mr Lambert is working closely with Andy Grundy, of the West Midlands based Heartwoods project, to show how traditional skills like coppicing can play a 21st century role without harming the environment.
The boom in popularity of log burners has created a potentially lucrative market for a local and sustainable fuel source.
* The logging demonstrations will run from 11am to 4pm on April 29 at Burnt Cottage Coppice, near to the rifle range. Visitors are asked to park at the Forest Glen site and to follow the signs on foot. There will be guided walks and refreshments.
3 Comments
I love shire horses, they are beautiful creatures. My brother in law Robert Vines is also pictured with Jeff. Its a great idea, I am all for cutting down on damage and pollution to our surroundings, and this is another step in the right direction. I feel education is the way forward in helping the environment .
Report abuse
Heavy Horses should never have been pushed out by machinery, look at the mess our planet is in now due to dirty technology.
There is nothing like the gentle sound of heavy hoof hitting soft ground the occasional whinney and the jingle of chains, so much more gentle on the ear than the Jarring sounds of engines and motors,
I am so delighted that heavies are being used in the way they are meant to be again, I hope that more people will see that they are the best way to go with peak oil not so far into the future, heavies are our future if we want to survive.
Report abuse
This is a great practice to see and phil gave me a lot of help with my shire horse in him pulling timber for the first time.
Report abuse