WITH timber prices on a high, now is a good time to thin tree crops.

This will be highlighted at a free workshop run by the Farm Advisory Service (FAS), which will also cover aspects such as felling licences, thinning logistics and biodiversity.

Delivered by specialists from SAC Consulting, part of Scotland’s Rural College, the event in Perthshire will feature a range of expert speakers, including Malcolm Young and Paul Chapman from SAC Consulting; Mike Strachan, development officer at the Forestry Commission; and Alastair Taylor, harvesting manager at global wood panel firm Egger.

Malcolm Young, senior forestry consultant at SAC Consulting, said: “Thinning is an essential management operation for growing a good-quality timber crop. With the high demand for biomass, the profitability of thinning has seldom been better, helping forest owners to make money from their crops well before clear-fell, while improving the volume and quality of the remaining crop.”

Hosted by the Stark family at Littleton Farm, Abernyte, 'Making Thinning Work For You' will take place on Thursday February 14 from 11am-3pm.

The event is free and lunch will be provided, but anyone interested in attending should book a place by emailing Karen.dover@sac.co.uk; calling 01786 450 964 or by visiting www.fas.scot.