OneOak timber is extracted

Sawmillers James and John Binning from Deep in Wood sawmill brought their forwarder and heavy lifting equipment to extract the OneOak timber today.

In contrast to the weather on the day of the felling, Blenheim’s woodland was bathed in glorious winter sunshine. They lifted the three main lengths of timber from the OneOak tree onto the trailer.  A large bent branch that we hope will become the brace for a timber-framed building was also taken away.  The branches that remain in the woodland will be used by craftspeople, who will come to select what they need to make dozens of small items.  A sculptor, a firewood merchant and a bioenergy company will also be selecting what they need from the remains of the tree’s crown.

The woodland looked so different than before, now that the OneOak tree is absent.  The eye was drawn to the space at its centre.  But nature was already visibly repairing itself.  The leaf tips of bluebells were emerging, and woodland birds were in full song. The sight of the laden forwarder disappearing down the rutted forest ride was very poignant.  The end of one chapter and the beginning of another.  Any thoughts of sadness at the loss of the tree will now turn to joy as we start to celebrate the creation and beauty of wood. Gabriel Hemery, Project Leader

The timber was transported to Deep in Wood sawmill, just 12 miles away from the woodland.  On the journey, the trailer was taken to a weighbridge where the massive logs were weighed – just over five and a half tonnes.  The weight of the main stem was the last piece in the jigsaw for scientists from Forest Research, who spent two days after the felling weighing every branch and twig, in a massive effort to calculate the total tree’s weight.

Milling is scheduled for next week.