Killing trees - in a good way!

In what may seem like wanton destruction, and the antithesis of outdoor environmental conservation work, here I am being photographed hacking at the trunk of a young tree with my axe, as sure fire way as any of killing it off. Why on earth, I hear you ask? Well, in terms of biodiversity, an area too full of trees it not necessarily good for the whole. No light beneath the canopy to the forest floor, trees growing tall and thin without much root structure, a race to the top and to the light. In addition trees at different stages of life - and of death - can be good for biodiversity in a woodland. Species, insects etc, will gravitate toward dying trees in the way they will not to healthy growing ones. The decaying process, ironically, opens up the forest to more life. Creating a variety of different stages and ages of standing dead wood is the goal, a habitat in short supply, plus allowing gradual change of ground flora rather than sudden shock. So, as part of the volunteer task pictured, we set about a certain number of barks to 'ring', ensuring their eventual death. Optimum word being eventual, because it would be easy enough to saw the tree straight down, hand or chainsaw, but what is aimed for is the slow gradual decline and death of such trees, again aiding biodiversity overall. With more space left by these no longer growing, the more mature trees in the area, the already fully grown and beautiful looking native Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris) will only get stronger.