Forestry & British Timber articles from December 2002

Forestry & British Timber archives from December 2002

Much Chipping on the map.
December 3, 2002... Two important issues head today's UK forestry agenda: certification and renewable energy. It's a far cry from Rio de Janeiro - where a decade ago the Earth Summit led to the introduction of the former in a bid to combat deforestation - to the...

Route map for conserving biodiversity.
December 3, 2002... `Forestry is one of the best examples of sustainable development, and woodland biodiversity plays an important role in enhancing the quality of life of local communities, and in promoting sustainable development in both rural and urban areas....

Eco-friendly harvest.
December 3, 2002... In an effort to streamline its timber production in the Lake District, the Forestry Commission took delivery, in October, of a new #140,000 harvester to operate in Grizedale Forest Park. The Daewoo 220 excavator base with a Waratah HTH470 head,...

SFGS mis-calculation.
December 3, 2002... In October (p24-27) we published a detailed look at the changes for planting and restocking under the new Scottish Forestry Grant Scheme. Douglas Wright - operations support officer at the Forestry Commission's National Office for Scotland -...

Fined for felling.
December 3, 2002... A business has been fined #120,000 for chopping down six mature trees on a conservation site. Simon Kennedy Investments Ltd was convicted by Manchester magistrates after a member of the public tipped off council officials. The six trees...

Sustaining the impetus.
December 3, 2002... Claimed as a `world first', a wide range of UK organisations have banded together to promote sustainable forestry development at home and abroad. Announcing it, the Forestry Commission said that the partnership embraced forest and forest...

Light shines on e.sales.
December 3, 2002... Almost 1m m3 of timber - to be sold standing and roadside - are involved in a three-year contract which Forest Enterprise has awarded to Edinburgh-based Beacon Forestry (BF) to operate electronic auctions. Part of the government's overall...

Architects take to timber frame.
December 3, 2002... Timber frame buildings are a key focus of a major new exhibition at the Royal Institute of British Architects looking at ways the UK can meet massive housing demand over the next quarter of a century. The RIBA `Coming Homes' show is...

Tackling urban urges.
December 3, 2002... Vandalism, anti-social behaviour and burnt-out vehicles are a few of the problems encountered by woodland managers working in urban environments. To provide a helping hand, the Woodland Trust (WT) has produced four guides on how to deal with...

Irish hardwood hopes raised.
December 3, 2002... Hopes of a surge in Ireland's broadleaved afforestation were expressed at a recent Carrick-on-Shannon conference which also attracted delegates from the UK and the USA. According to the government-backed National Council for Forest Research and...

Costs - and woods - regen.
December 3, 2002... Costs of financial, IT and marketing development by SW England's Silvanus Trust (ST) will benefit from a Baring Foundation annual #25000 grant over three years. Such funding is only available to charities who apply with a programme of work; in...

Gucci coup.
December 3, 2002... Timber rail and beadings specialist Haldane UK has won an order to supply a spiral stair hand railing to a prestige Gucci outlet in London. The new Botega Veneta store selected American black walnut and Haldane had to make the rail at its...

Three-way split.
December 3, 2002... `To improve the efficiency and performance of the sales team', in the words of B-Trac Equipment Ltd, MD Martin Wright its operation has been divided and reorganised within three regions - Scotland and N England, Wales and central England and...

Don't be deaf to advice.
December 3, 2002... New this autumn in the Health and Safety Executive's unremitting battle against hearing loss are two publications, one for employers and another for employees. `Exposure to excessive noise at work is still damaging people's hearing', said its...

Pavilioned in splendour.
December 3, 2002... `This outstanding pavilion, in its magnificent North American setting, is sure to become an icon for Scottish forestry'. Speaking at a reception to mark the completion of the David Douglas pavilion within the new Scottish plant collectors'...

Exmoor excellence.
December 3, 2002... `I'm delighted that we've been able to develop a certification scheme which dramatically reduces the costs for small woodland owners'. Graeme McVittie, National Park Authority woodlands officer and group manager of the `Exmoor Woodcert'...

Praise for National Forest and tender winners.
December 3, 2002... `One of the best exemplars of modern forestry in Britain today. It is the shape of forests in the future'. This was how Lord Clarke of Windermere, chairman of the Forestry Commission described the National Forest. He was speaking at the annual...

Profits boost.
December 3, 2002... One of the UK's most timber-frame oriented builders Westbury reported a 25% hike in profits for the first six months of the year. And the company said that it's timber frame division, called Space4, should be in the black in 2003. The...

Tree Council sheds weight.
December 3, 2002... From a 25-strong membership committee - plus others covering finance and general purposes along with many individuals - the Tree Council (TC) has slimmed down its large management board to the mere figure of nine trustees. Meeting Charity...

A good sign guaranteed.
December 3, 2002... A small business based at the Coed y Brenin Centre near Dolgellau hopes to cash in on the growing market in `certified green' products now that it has been awarded membership of the `Independent Forestry Group Chain of Custody Scheme' under the...

Extra happy birthday!
December 3, 2002... `This gift is truly magnificent. We are determined to use this opportunity to show what woodland creation can do for wildlife and people'. Woodland Trust (WT) CE Mike Townsend was welcoming the anonymous gift of 200 hectares of farmland at...

Fastrac to clearing up.
December 3, 2002... What is it with people these days who think nothing of driving into the middle of a wooded area in the middle of the night to dump some old mattress or fridge when they could just have easily gone to the nearest tip and disposed of same in a...

Trusting in forestry.
December 3, 2002... More than #1.3m has been provided by the Scottish Forestry Trust supporting British forestry since it was established in 1983; #382 719 of this in the last four years alone. The SFT is the leading charitable trust providing funds for research,...

Ercol splashes out.
December 3, 2002... One of the UK's biggest names in timber furniture Ercol has invested #20m on a brand new factory. The plant, which was opened by Princes Anne, is set in 23 acres of woodland and includes a design centre, showroom and offices as well as...

Caper count positive.
December 3, 2002... At a time when caperciallie numbers in Scotland have dwindled to around 1000, signs are encouraging for the future of this rare giant of the woodland and the equally endangered black grouse, thanks to the efforts of the Forestry Commission and...

Contesting NE England.
December 3, 2002... March 1 2003 is the entries deadline for the new Yorkshire and Northumbria woodlands competition. Organised by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (YAS) it is aimed at woodland owners from across the north of England and will feature 12...

Wardens on parade.
December 3, 2002... Volunteer tree champions committed `an impressive' 1.5m hours in one year to their communities' trees and planted over half-a-million new ones', reports the Tree Council (TC). These, and other findings of an activities survey, are given in the...

On line to world.
December 3, 2002... Detailing forestry publications dating back to 1939, the new ForestScience.info website launched by CABI Publishing covers the world's scientific literature on the subject. The Wallingford, Oxon- based company is well known as the producer of...

PB web update.
December 3, 2002... Alastair Beddall emailed to let us know that the Practicality Brown website has been updated and `now includes more photos and stock lists'. Pages he highlights are: `Instant Hedge' with photos of each variety and approximate lengths...

En route to CE marking.
December 3, 2002... BM TRADA Certification (BMTC) has been awarded full `notified body' (NB) status for the CE marking of wood-based panel products and lightweight timber joists. The High Wycombe, Bucks-based research body achieved European technical approval...

Early Christmas for Belfast and Scotland.
December 3, 2002... Scottish foresters are celebrating having scooped the honour of providing Northern Ireland's best-known Christmas tree for the first time ever. A magnificent 50 foot Sitka spruce, sourced from the Forestry Commission's Clatteringshaws...

Letter: `Woodland Trust and deconiferisation'.
December 3, 2002... From Richard T Coke `Sir, In support of Donald Macdonald's letter (FBT Aug, p30-32), can anyone take the Woodland Trust seriously? Whilst it is right to retain a certain amount of the so-called "ancient and semi-natural woodlands" to...

Letter: `Deconiferisation'.
December 3, 2002... From Peter Goodwin `Sir, Please excuse the use of this appalling word - "deconiferisation", which I hope will never reach the Oxford English Dictionary! I totally agree with the sentiments of Donald Macdonald who is offended by the...

Letter: Improved trees - why bother?
December 3, 2002... From Niel Nicholson `Sir, Over the years many nurseries have been trying to improve the planting stock they provide and BIHIP (British and Irish Hardwood Improvement Programme) has been carrying out research to help. Wildstar cherries...

Taking it to the Max.
December 3, 2002... A Cumbrian forestry student has won a prize for showing how timber can be harvested from woodlands without threatening important wildlife. Max McLaughlan, 34, of the Cumbria Campus at Newton Rigg, drew up such an impressive management policy...

Latham appointment.
December 3, 2002... Importer and wood based panels distributor James Latham Plc has appointed Susan Simmonds as sales administrator of the Ossett, West Yorkshire branch of its Advanced Technical Panels (ATP) arm. ATP, established in 1984, offers bespoke services...

US hardwood battle in Europe.
December 3, 2002... US hardwood suppliers are facing ever stiffer competition in the European market from rivals in Eastern Europe. Delegates at the American Hardwood Export Convention in Lisbon, who included representatives of key US hardwood mills and their...

Timber for energy.
December 3, 2002... Scotland could satisfy a large part of its energy needs burning forest products according to a new research document. `Renewable energy from wood - An opportunity for Scotland' has been compiled by Raymond Henderson, of property consultant...

Hardwood mill invests.
December 3, 2002... Hardwood specialist mill Whitemore's is investing `several million pounds' developing its Claybrooke, Leicestershire processing facility. The company, which specialises in English and European species, says the developments at its 25 acre...

Safety seminar cash.
December 3, 2002... The UK Woodworking Machinery Suppliers Association has secured Euros 46000 from the EU to fund health and safety seminars through 2003. The cash is from the EU's Occupational Safety and Health Administration Funding body and the seminars...

Boss sells Palgrave share.
December 3, 2002... The managing director of fast-growing timber products and trussed rafter specialist Palgrave Brown has sold his stake in the business. Richard Fawcett led an mbo of the company four years ago. Since then turnover has more than doubled to...

Developments at Egger.
December 3, 2002... The Austrian-based panel products giant Egger is upgrading UK distribution as part of a major overhaul and `revamp' of the business. At a presentation to key distributors in Austria, the company said it plans to offer a wider product range...

Hard act to follow.
December 3, 2002... The distributor of densified New Zealand Radiata pine in the UK has secured major new investment and launched a rebranding programme The Watford business and the product, which is densified by cellulose impregnation, were previously known...

Canadians target UK.
December 3, 2002... The Canadian timber frame and timber building products sector undertook a major trade mission in October to develop their business in the UK. The initiative was organised by the Canadian High Commission and Canada Mortgage & Housing...

MCI nets Italian ply.
December 3, 2002... Hertfordshire plywood specialist MCI has been signed a contract to represent Italian producer Compesati Toto SpA. An MCI spokesperson said the Italian firm would enhance its ability to service demand for specialist and bespoke products. ...

Scots joist pointed at England.
December 3, 2002... The Ultra-joist, a `super-dried' timber joist produced by Glenalmond Timber, is to be targeted at the English market next year. To date Glenalmond has focused on developing sales in Scotland, but with business developing rapidly, it feels...

WOODWISE: The view from the sharp end.
December 3, 2002... In which our monthly contracting contributor Nick Hilton of Woodwise Forestry* has more tractor trouble but fortunes are revived by some timely milling and a bit of a seasonal blow. What a crazy month I've had. Talk about `in like a lamb,...

APF/IFF 2002: And the winners were.
December 3, 2002... There are shows and there's APF (see November p16 to 42) and by the same token, there are forestry games events and then there's the International Forest Fest - a four-day spectacular of forest skills and thrills that wowed professionals and...

ROUND OF APFLAUSE.
December 3, 2002... APF 2002 was certainly an experience not to be missed though it's a relief not having to pound the two and a half mile demo beat one more time - apart from in dreams. Going to bed late and getting up early is also out for a while as is having...

Filling walnut's black hole.
December 3, 2002... Black walnut is the first species to benefit from new research funding granted for a tree-improvement programme for farm woodlands. Dr Gabriel Hemery and Karen Russell explain how they will start the ball rolling but also ask for FBT readers'...

Who's who in FOREST TREE NURSERIES.
December 3, 2002... The Horticultural Trades' Association's Forestry Trade Group Members ENGLAND Nick Cooke, CASTLE HOWARD FOREST NURSERY, Castle Howard, York YO6 7DA (tel: 01635 648444, fax: 648462). Email: CHTrees@hotmail.com Harry Frew,...

A growing business.
December 3, 2002... `Greenwood Trees'* success and growth are based on the fact that we consistently offer excellent stock at competitive rates'. Speaker is Richard McConchie, who owns and directs the business. He has over 30 years' experience in forestry, which...

Non-chemical establishment.
December 3, 2002... When David Holloway left ADAS in 1999, his ambition was to develop a system which would enable seeds to be sown directly into the ground so that establishment could take place without the use of a herbicide. After three years of what David...

Taking a sideways look.
December 3, 2002... `Side-air-pruning is a new concept in growing nursery stock, combining the strength and sturdiness of transplants with the flexibility of container-grown-stock. It gives quality root systems that professional planters require. `This', adds...

`The straight road to success'.
December 3, 2002... Fifteen years ago, Peter Church of Ronaash Ltd* spotted the potential for Rootrainers in commercial growing in the UK. The individual cell seed trays went on to revolutionise growing for commercial nurseries. Now, to complement the...

Hedging his bets.
December 3, 2002... Murray Maclean is a man of parts: not only does he specialise in raising hedging trees and shrubs on his own account at his Frilford Heath, Abingdon, Oxfordshire operation - and on behalf of a neighbouring nursery - but he is also the author of...

SPLITTING HEADACHES SOLVED - TURF LUCK!
December 3, 2002... More and more people are turning to that most readily available of raw materials - timber - to keep the home fires burning and the potential log market is greater than ever. So where do you go for that back- saving logsplitter or time- and...

Ludlow lights the fire.
December 3, 2002... Firewood processing is a Technorton Ltd* manufacturing speciality. This is well illustrated by the wide range it offers - Compact 300 and 6 machines, the TR270-6 Combi mobile, larger variants for bigger timber and a log elevator. The 300...

Large choice.
December 3, 2002... Best-selling model in the Hakki Pilke firewood processing range is the 1X-37, according to UK and Ireland distributors M. Large Tree Services Ltd*. Machines are made by Maaselan Kone OY in Finland. In operation the log is placed on the 2.2m...

Gordon goes it alone.
December 3, 2002... After spending some time looking for a reliable, hard-working `yet reasonably-priced' hydraulic machine for his busy tree surgery and firewood business, Gordon Osborne decided to set up Affordable Log Splitters (ALS)*. After buying a 13-tonne...

Splitting, kindling and netting.
December 3, 2002... Offering one of the most comprehensive ranges of firewood machinery - including their own make - is Fuelwood*. From the Japa stable comes the 100 logging bench for safe crosscutting of timber up to 10in diameter and the 700 firewood...

Healthy appetite.
December 3, 2002... Joining the established range of Arbor Eater Brushwood Chippers Ltd* logsplitters and sawbenches is the brand-new ST6 EC 230 combined version. Powered by a 230V 2.2kW or 400V 3kW electric motor, it boasts a 6t thrust. Circular saw-blade...

Puts the screws on cost.
December 3, 2002... `Although our Hy-crack pto-driven, screw-type, tractor-mounted logsplitter has been marketed now for 22 years - with sales close to 5000 units - it would appear that the concept is still "new" to many'. With this message, Hydrocut Ltd's* David...

Austrian range makes its mark.
December 3, 2002... Hartfield, East Sussex-based Marshall Agricultural Engineering* are now agents for the Binderberger range of machines. Binderberger, formed in 1930 specialised from the start in the manufacture of agricultural machinery and since 1980 has...