A pioneering Moray company of professional foresters has developed a new approach to limiting the damage wind can cause to conifer forests.

The storms which lashed Scotland in January felled tens of thousands of trees, causing lasting damage to the environment and to commercial foresting operations  

Forres-based WindFirm Ltd is confident its novel tree-topping concept could drastically reduce the number of trees blown over in such storms and lesser winds.

The height of trees is crucial to their ability to withstand the wind. Tree-topping involves cutting the tops off the crowns of living trees before they reach the critical height at which they become highly vulnerable to windlblow.

The method has until now only been used on single trees or small groups. But, after two years of intensive research and development, conducted with assistance from Moray Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise (MBSE) and in collaboration with the Forestry Commission's Research Agency WindFirm has devised equipment and techniques which can, for the first time, be used on commercial-scale forests.

According to the company, the benefits of the approach for forest owners include:
* Immediate improvements in plantation stability
* Extended crop rotations, giving enhanced timber yields and economic returns
* Improved scope for forest design planning for landscape and other environmental purposes
* Enhanced sporting and recreation value of forests, where long term retention of  woodland cover may be paramount

Chris Piper, one of WindFirm's four directors, said: "By simultaneously improving crop stability and adding monetary and environmental value across whole forests, we believe that tree-topping offers forest managers one of the most exciting strategic and practical advances for many years.

He explained the prototype tree-topping equipment had been developed using a converted forest harvesting machine, crane parts and shears they had designed themselves.

He added: "The prototype is now capable of topping trees up to a height of about 15 metres and at productivities of over 500 trees per day. By topping as little as five per cent of the most windblow prone plantations in the country we could, within a relatively short period, be utilising 20 machines."

MBSE provided £21,250 to support the research and development project, with a further £21,250 coming from the European Regional Development Fund.

Douglas Yule, chief executive of MBSE, said: "We were happy to assist this highly innovative project and are delighted for the company that they have now reached the stage of having a real and valuable service to offer customers.

"Forestry is a highly important industry throughout most of the Highlands and Islands and we believe this technique could have a very significant role to play in that sector. We wish Windfirm every success with this venture."