Hello

I was passing high wood yesterday and noticed the very large amount of trees being choped down at the moment. They have almost cut a path that is about 80metres wide and the length of the wood, In two places. Is this normal??
I know it could just be a case of us brits thinking it looks terrible when really its just normal. Maybe it has happened in the past and its just an anuual tree cut. Whatever the reasons it has made the wood look very un-attractive, and i presume they are ripping things out of the ground.

On my first reading I thought this could be a firebreak, but 80m sounds a little excessive doesn't it?

Nigel

Work on this started some months ago, and I did flag this up on the forum. Despite my best efforts, I cannot find out what is going on. To me, it looks like they are clearing land for house building.

Thats what i thought but wouldnt there be a sign up saying "a house here soon"? I dont know, but i would like to find out what is going on because it is really destroying the wood. Also i havent seen any newly planted trees if it is just an annual tree cut!

Was at high wood yesterday, to early to tell really what is going on, but an area has been cleared of trees although those nearest the road are still standing, we shall have to wait and see if the planting starts soon.

Saw it last week and was concerned but a local informed me it was a normal clear out! Glad they do not cut hair in same normal way!
Tony

There was also some traveller types at the rear of high wood with their transport hidden behind a large mound, and the dogs in the wood were giving tongue, so i guess someone was in there.

Hi Pals,

A picture I took into the wood in February this year when the work started.

Click to view attachment

Its not clear on image but the track to the right was quite wide (like an avenue) and appeared to go straight to the other side of the wood.

Ian.

The photograph is fascinating. I had always assumed (probably wrongly) that the various woods had not really been cleared after battle and that underneath the undergrowth and the trees would be unexploded ordinance and other artefacts. Obviously, I am wrong in that there must have been clearing of the ground from time to time, planting of trees, harvesting etc.

The question then is: when the digging, clearing, harvesting etc happens - are remnants of battle found? are bodies found? is there care as to the possibility thereof?

Kathie

I seem to remember form Terry Norman's "The Hell They Called High Wood" that the wood was never properly cleared....although I would have thought that there would have been efforts made to recover bodies if not ordanance and other battle detritus. I seem to remember that at least one of the tanks used on September 15th was left in the wood for quite some time, but it's a while since I read the book.....

Alan

[quote name='Alan_J' date='Apr 4 2007, 05:34 PM' post='658647']


high wood is thought to be the final resting place of upwards of 8000 lost souls.

Alan,

I am led to believe the tank was there past 1950 but not totally sure of the year, I am sure someone will have the year figured, And as a bonus if someone has a picture of it there I wouldn't mind seeing it.

Ian.

Sun over high wood "ghastly by day ghostly by night"

Having explored the wood last 15th September 2007 with Trevor Pigeon's party, I would say it was very clean and tidy.
No sign of anything to do with the Great War at all.

It is just a wood now like any other.
I think the mystique is that we are generally not allowed in, which fires the imagination as to why.
In fact it seems it is because of commercial shooting rights, which are sold, so woe betide you if you go in without paying. There were game bird feeders etc scattered around.

Guy

In response to Kathie...

Most of the clearance post war was done by local farmers - generally they chucked what they found into old trenches, shell holes etc. then filled them in an ploughed over. Every year thousands of pieces of ordinance and hundreds of bodies are found.

Check out the most popular thread on the board 'Todays Harvest With The Diggers At Boezinghe' in the Classic Threads section for some amazing examples of the work that De Diggers do in Belgium (in France, picking anything up can get you in trouble, let alone digging around).

For Willy

Hope you do not mind me butting in, With the water tower on the left of the picture. I would say that the sunset is over Delville Wood taken from the vicinity of Ginchy.

Terry

p.s. but it is still a beautiful picture

PPS

Please disregard this post as Willy has changed the picture to High Wood

[quote name='Terry Carter' date='Apr 5 2007, 05:38 PM' post='659269']



Getting to old for all this terry, my eyes are not what they used to be! you are correct ,however not working from tiny thumbnails this time i got the right pic.

willy

Terry,
I think you will find that its not a water tower but a high voltage transmission pylon as there is a line that runs at the back of High Wood. This pic taken July 2006 from Caterpillar Valley Cemetery. Note the line coming across from the Guedecourt direction on the right of the wood.


Peter

Hi Peter

Since I made the comment regarding the picture in post13, Willy has edited the post and changed the picture High Wood. His original posting the picture uploaded was Delville Wood.

regards

Terry

Terry,
well that makes sense, as I couldn't see you mixing the woods and explains the pylon water tower


Peter

Sorry for the confusion guys, but working from thumbnails, and without my glasses it was my mistake.
I will now go and sit in the corner with a pointed hat on!

is there one big enuff

Pals,

With the info on the start of this topic lets just hope there is soon a High Wood left to stand out on the horizon, The Somme without High Wood is unthinkable to me.

Ian.

I think/I hope, as someone has said, it is just seasonal thinning and forest management. There is similar sort of work going on in a lot of the woods round where I live. If anyone is building there should be a sign at the entrance to the development with the details of the construction and the reference number of the planning permission granted by the local mairie.

cheers Martin B

Also we must remember the steady demand for logs as wood fires are still very common on the Somme.Most of the woods are working woods generating income,the rate for logs last november when I bought some was 37 euros per stere (cubic metre).
Les

Get a grip chaps!

It is in a much finer shape now than how we left it in 1918!

Guy

Guy,

Very True mate, I think as most of the pals have stated it's only the normal workings of a farmed wood.

Ian.

Think I'll bring a truck up your way at the end of next year. We pay about three times that in the Ile de France

cheers Martin B

Is this clearing about 200-300 metres past the house on the south east corner on the Martinpuich Rd?
If it is, then the clearing was in progress in July last year when I visited the wood. There were no signs and it looked like small scale logging was taking place.

Peter

i always thought the same as kathie,i was under the impression that the wood was privately owned,and to dangerous to be ever cleared of all the ordenance that was fired into it,bernard

Bernard,
The wood is privately owned and I was able to get permission from the owners last year to do some exploring in the south-east section where my grandfather Bill Leyland was wounded on 14th July 1916.
They were very friendly due to some good work by Paul Reed and a letter I sent them from Oz explaining the reason for my visit. Also some very good Oz red wine helped as well
The undergrowth was very thick and the ground had a thick layer of leaves, etc but it was possible to see traces of an earlier upheaval. I was careful not to disturb much, having read much about the wood. The next time I visit, it will be winter when hopefully, the undergrowth won't be there.


Peter

Ps This view is looking out towards the south

Is this clearing about 200-300 metres past the house on the south east corner on the Martinpuich Rd?


Peter,

The clearing was almost opposite London Rd Cemetery if I remember correctly.

Ian.

The clearing in question, would appear to be nothing more than a logging operation, there is no for sale board, or planning notice and has been going on for a while now, the time of the year would also indicate, logging activities, and yes Kev it's the one you saw .