clearing 200x300 lot in town for walking trail

[roermo]

I have a task at hand just for pure enjoyment and fun at the same time trying to utilize the ground that is not good enough for any thing but a park like setting.

What I want to accomplish is a walking trail for or family and 2 labs and the grandchildren. It is right smack in the middle of town across from my house. Not large by any means (200x 300) all woods. Very steep on 3 sides.

The pictures are a mix of shoots showing how thick the woods are and what I have done so far in making a trail. I want to clear the under brush (weeds small sapling thorny brush)

My questions are as follows.
1. Will this run off the wild life (birds, squirrels, few rabbits)
2. what would make a good ground cover after removing all the under-growth.
3. How does one know what trees if any to remove.
4. I thought of planting a grass that would grow in heavy shade?
5. Or plant some native cover, but what.

Any ideas out there?
Thanks in advance.
I have a JD 4110 with bucket, rear rake and blade, good chain saw and weed-eater and a machete for cutting vines.

 

[roermo]

pic 2

 

[roermo]

pic 3

 

[roermo]

pic 4

 

[roermo]

pic 5

 

[roermo]

pic 6 I think

 

[roermo]

last one in the middle of property

 

[beenthere]

We need a break on that picture size /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Can you heist em up bigger please? Size them first and then save them as 100k or smaller.

 

[roermo]

your right, need to look close on the small pics. I have a nikon d100 I tried to download a 6 meg pic but the site told me I have to be under 100 k. I downsize it to 190 and this is how it comes out. Any one know what I am doing wrong. ? any way hope to get some good info.

thanks and sorry for the small pics.

Roger

 

[EddieWalker]

Roger,

I looked at your profile and webpage and saw that you have a mmm, but not a brush hog. Are you considering buying a shreder for your tractor? This would be ideal for clearing the heavy brush to get things started.

My thinking is that if you can run over it, you can cut it down. It's also a good rule of thumb that if you can drive your tractor over the area safely, than it's good for hiking trails too.

I'd remove all the saplings in the area you want the trail. This will thin things out allowing the mature trees more water and soil for growth. This will also let more sun in for grass to grow.

Wildlife prefers edge habitat and opening up areas will improve the numbers and variety of birds you see, along with other animals.

Grass makes a great ground cover and with your setup, your already set to maintain some great trails.

Good Luck,
Eddie