In November 2009, the McCarney family were carrying out the first thinning of their forest in Minvaud Lower, 4km south of Hacketstown, Co Carlow. When I visited the site at the time, the forest was a hive of activity. Harvesting operators John Paul Doyle and Mick O’Toole were carrying out the thinning operation and John Wolohan was loading stakewood, which was transported to Woodfab sawmill in Aughrim, Co Wicklow.