There are many types of thinning, with the most common one being what is normally referred to as 1 in 7 plus selection. This means 1 in every 7 lines of trees is completely removed to facilitate access with inferior quality trees selected for removal in the intermittent lines. This is normally completed mechanically with motor manual (chainsaw operator) employed only on specific stands.
Mechanical thinning uses specialised harvesting heads, which are fitted to purpose built harvesters of standard excavators. The timber is then removed to the roadside by a forwarder, which is a specialised forest machine.

In the past chainsaw harvesting combined with horse extraction of timber was common. This is now only used in exceptional cases.

Windblow

If thinning is not completed on time or if it is completed on an unsuitable site then the remaining crops can be subject to falling over in periods of high wind. This is normally referred to as windblow. This

may occur even when thinning is completed on time in localized small wet areas of a plantation.