Forestry & British Timber articles from February 2006

Forestry & British Timber archives from February 2006

Let's be objective about objectives.
February 6, 2006... The latest forest statistics show us that twelve thousand hectares of new woodland were created in the UK in 2004-2005. This impressive statistic brings the UK's total forest area to 2.8m hectares, some 1.2m of which is certified. A remarkable...

Woodland unit first for Glasgow.
February 6, 2006... Glasgow has become the first city in Scotland to have 'a comprehensive and strategic plan that will improve the quality of life for its citizens' - following the launch late last year of its Sustainable Woodland Management Unit by Rhona...

New role at TRADA.
February 6, 2006... Jacquie Shanahan has joined TRADA Technology Ltd to take up the new post of publishing manager where she will report to head of information Jeremy Vibert. The role has been created, said Mr Vibert, `to reinforce TRADA Technology's position as...

Insurance covered by CRK.
February 6, 2006... CRK Commercial Insurance Services, a liability specialist, now has access to a 'closed scheme' for arboriculture and forestry contracts. 'This scheme is underwritten by Lloyds of London and offers some of the highest levels of cover and widest...

Forestry fund extended.
February 6, 2006... `This is an excellent time to invest. Timber prices like all commodities are on the increase, but are still substantially below the level they reached ten years ago'. Colin Lees-Millais, a director of FIM Service Ltd* was commenting on an...

Double boost for BSW output.
February 6, 2006... `The market for sawn timber is changing. Customers, especially from the construction industry, are now seeking a smoother and easier-to-handle product...'. Paul Barham, BSW Timber chief executive, was commenting on the news that the company...

Wales on the right (cycle) track.(International Mountain Bicycling Association )(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Mountain bikers can now enjoy their sport to international standards at Coed Llandegla Forest in North East Wales. The tree-rich mountain is the UK's first to receive approval from the International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA-UK) due,...

Making the grade at TRADA.(Trada Technology)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... High Wycombe, Bucks-based TRADA Technology Ltd will be repeating its popular timber grading courses throughout 2006. They will cover visual strength grading of both softwoods and temperate hardwoods and grading of scaffold boards, the practical...

Welsh woods - Euro-style.(Robinwood project to be realized through EU-funded initiatives)
February 6, 2006... The `Robinwood' project, which aims to show how `best forestry practices can help provide jobs and new income across rural Europe', is set to commission a team of specialists* to help realise this ambition through a series of cross-border,...

Bleeding cankers strike conkers.(horse chestnut trees stricken with as yet unidentified disease)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... In the first few days of 2006 and, completely out of the blue, the National Press announced that one of the country's favourite trees was already well on the way to `Armageddon', stricken with an as yet unidentified disease, writes Dr Terry...

A Cinderella no longer.(clearance project to transform Cinder Hill Community Woodland in Matfield, Kent )(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... There were smiles all round from experts and novices when they stopped for a break during a day-long clearance project to transform Cinder Hill Community Woodland in Matfield, Kent late last year, reports Anna McNicoll. The team of 100...

Forestry's other harvest.
February 6, 2006... Beauly, by Inverness will be the setting for a seminar on non-timber forest products (NTFP) to be held on May 10-11. Organised by a range of interested bodies*, it will bring together land managers, collectors, buyers, processors, researchers,...

Ian takes top job in Wales.(Ian Forshaw appointed directory of Forestry Commission Wales)
February 6, 2006... Twenty-seven years after joining the Forestry Commission as a trainee forester, Ian Forshaw, 50, has been appointed Director of FC Wales. Ian, whose early days were spent planting 2000 trees a day in northern Scotland, will be in charge of an...

`Forests can reduce poverty'.
February 6, 2006... The removal of coastal forests in Sri Lanka contributed to the destructive power of the Boxing Day, 2004 tsunami, Mahinda Rajapakse - then, Prime Minister, now President of the country - told delegates to the 17th Commonwealth Forestry...

Orange plants in Notts.(Orange Plant appointed Timberwolf distributor)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... Following a successful 10-year stint serving the requirements of Timberwolf owners throughout Tyneside, Durham Cumbria and Yorkshire Orange Plant has been appointed as `The Wolf's' distributor in Nottinghamshire, Leicester, Derbyshire,...

Black grouse stays in the red.
February 6, 2006... `The black grouse has been hit very hard because the open woodlands and grassy and heathery hills where it lives have been planted with too many exotic conifer trees or nibbled at by too many sheep and deer'. They were the reasons given by Dr...

Tilhill appointment.
February 6, 2006... Darryl Stubbs, 31, has been appointed UPM Tilhill's contracts manager for the Midlands district. Mr Stubbs will be responsible for forestry contracts, landscaping and new business development in Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire,...

UKWAS update.(UK Woodland Assurance Standard )(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... `I am delighted that the steering group has finished its work on preparing a draft revised edition of the UKWAS standard'. UKWAS executive chairman Peter Wilson was speaking late last year after the revised text of the UK Woodland Assurance...

Garnering Galloway's gems.(publishers of "Heritage Trees of Scotland" ask the public to nominate trees for inclusion)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... People living in Galloway and south-west Scotland are being invited by Forestry Commission Scotland to nominate trees for inclusion in the second, enlarged edition of `Heritage Trees of Scotland' (HTS) to be published this autumn. When the...

Timber helps healthy diet.
February 6, 2006... `It is not every day that you would link a timber company with a healthy eating initiative but this innovative project really caught our imagination'. Bryan Crennell, timber marketing manager of BSW Timber, was speaking about the company's...

On the up and up.(Leanne Shipley appointed recreation and community ranger with the Forestry Commission)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... There aren't many people who can say they've climbed up to a 15000-foot- high Himalayan glacier, where the air is as thin as the views are spectacular. However, 24-year-old Leanne Shipley can - and now she's about to scale new heights as a...

In the Capel manner.
February 6, 2006... Capel Manor's annual Celebration of Trees event in now in its fourth year and well-established in the show calendar. This year's two-day extravaganza (Fri/Sat, 5-6 May) with free entry for the trade, will include all the popular events,...

Scotland overtops Wales.(Scotland is home to the tallest tree in Britain)(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... `I'm delighted to hear that Dughall Mor, which means "big dark stranger" in Gaelic, remains the tallest tree in Britain, if not in Europe'. Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) Inverness forest district manager David Jardine was speaking after...

Thumbs up for UK's WRC.(students from Imperial College London research durability of Western Red Cedar)
February 6, 2006... Students from the MSc forest protection and conservation course at Imperial College London (Silwood Park Campus) are playing a key role in research to assess the durability and environmental profile of UK-grown Western red cedar (WRC) - Thuja...

WoodWISE: The view from the sharp end.(woodcutting mishap)(Column)
February 6, 2006... In which our monthly contracting contributor Nick Hilton of Woodwise Forestry* gets more than than he bargained for when rustling up some kindling to keep the home fire burning + It's a bit late now I suppose, but Happy New Year to all of...

LETTER: Not again!(Letter to the Editor)
February 6, 2006... From Dara Mullin 'Sir, The Forestry Commission's influence is far from benign; as both regulator and leading commercial operator their actions are increasingly at odds with private woodland owners interests. The thrust of their new grant...

LETTER: Land of the lost.(Letter to the Editor)
February 6, 2006... From Barrie Gamble 'Sir, Your leader, "Too much taken for granted" (January 2006, p2) is a good example of how the Forestry Commission is continuing to lead the private sector into a land of lost opportunity. Private sector woodland...

'Stirling' work as UPM win Queen's award.
February 6, 2006... Forestry exports are earning Britain more that #8 million a year thanks to one company's diligent research into ways to counter the reduced home market. The exports, some 400 000 tonnes per year from Scottish- based UPM Tilhill and its key...

Bringing back the birch.
February 6, 2006... Quality always sells, but the initial hurdle of sourcing improved broadleaved planting stock trips up the grower. However, the availability of improved birch seed is moving a step closer. Jason Hubert and Rick Worrell* outline a joint Forest...

ANNUAL HERBICIDE & INSECTICIDE REVIEW.
February 6, 2006... Colin Palmer reviews changes and developments in the agrochemical supply industry. 2005 was a year in which foresters and forestry contractors enjoyed a brief respite from the continuing regulatory and supply pressure on crop protection...

2006 WEED CONTROL: UPLAND & REPLANT FORESTRY.
February 6, 2006... Colin Palmer reviews herbicides for use in forestry, farm forestry, amenity, total and aquatic sectors. THIS REVIEW IS FOR GUIDANCE ONLY. ALWAYS REFER TO THE PRODUCT LABEL BEFORE USE. 1.Grass Control Atrazine (Alpha Atrazine 50EC,...

2006 weed control: farm woodlands.
February 6, 2006... All the 'Upland' and 'Replant' herbicides may be used in farm woodlands, together with the following specific Farm Woodland products. 1.Grass and Annual Broadleaved Weed Control Fluazifop - P - Butyl (Fusilade Max). Translocated foliar...

2006 weed control: amenity trees* woody shrubs.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... 1. Grass and Annual Weeds Carbetamide + Diflufenican + Oxadiazon (Helmsman). Granule applied February to April before weed emergence. Control of grasses, annual weeds, docks, RB willowherb, dandelion and thistle. Being...

2006 weed control: amenity grassland.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... 1. Control of perennial broadleaved weeds in verges and unmanaged grass. Clopyralid + Triclopyr (Blaster). Control of docks, nettle, thistle, bramble, broom and gorse. Apply to scrub June to August, and April to June on other perennial...

2006 WEED CONTROL: TOTAL WEEK CONTROL - INDUSTRIAL & NON-CROP AREAS.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... 1. Residual Herbicides Amitrol 2,4-D + Diuron (Trik). Broad spectrum herbicide. Controls most annual and perennial grass and broadleaved weeds. Dichlobenil (Casoron G). Granular herbicide used at high rates - expensive. ...

2006 WEED CONTROL: AQUATIC WEED CONTROL.(Brief Article)
February 6, 2006... 1. Floating and Submerged Weeds Authorisation required by the Environment Agency before use, except in still water in ponds and lakes with no outfall. Dichlobenil (Midstream GSR, Casoron G) Granule which controls most aquatic...

INSECTICIDES USED IN FORESTRY.
February 6, 2006... 1.Hylobius Pine Weevil. Alpha-cypermethrin (Alphaguard). Applied as a 'top up' spray to the foliage/stem using a spot gun applicator. Two applications per year permitted. Product will be withdrawn August 2006 Carbosulfuran...

Bracken control without flies!
February 6, 2006... Bracken control - is there an easier way? Over to Colin Palmer. Conventional wisdom has it that the best way to control bracken is to apply asulam or glyphosate when the fronds are fully expanded, but before any signs of autumn yellowing....

Is FSC overstepping the mark?(Forest Stewardship Council)
February 6, 2006... The environmental pressure group Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is so disenchanted with national and international pesticide regulatory systems, writes Colin Palmer, that it intends to allow only 'non- hazardous' pesticides to be used in...

With a knapsack on your back.
February 6, 2006... A look at knapsack sprayers 'inside out', courtesy of Dr Terry Mabbett. Broadly speaking the term 'knapsack' covers all portable sprayers that can be carried and operated in the shoulder-mounted mode. However, in the forestry and amenity...

PISTON OR DIAPHRAGM PUMP.
February 6, 2006... Piston pump knapsacks are more versatile. They can be operated at pressures up to 5-6 bar and are therefore suitable for application of insecticides/fungicides in fine sprays as well as herbicides in coarse sprays. Diaphragm pump knapsacks...

INSIDE THE SPRAYER.
February 6, 2006... The basic 'working' of the hydraulic knapsack sprayer has changed little since its first use in Victorian times, but progressive development in design, materials technology and manufacturing, means today's models are in keeping with the 21st...

HEALTH CHECK FOR KNAPSACKS.
February 6, 2006... Good knapsack sprayers are simple to operate but require regular cleaning, health checks and maintenance to ensure consistently high safety, accuracy and efficiency. The knapsack sprayer plays a crucially important part in pesticide application...

Handy solution to weeding chore.
February 6, 2006... The need to keep young trees free of weed growth for the first few years after planting is proving the first and foremost application for the new Micron Sprayers Ltd* `Handydome' sprayer. Dr Terry Mabbett reports... The portable and...

New hope for brownfield sites.
February 6, 2006... A strategy offering the `most cost-effective and least environmentally disruptive way of bringing erstwhile redundant land back into biomass production', reports Dr Terry Mabbett, has emerged from research work carried out by a postgraduate...

New Lamberhurst agency.
February 6, 2006... Lamberhurst Engineering Limited*, the UK distributor of Ferrari Tractors, Pellenc electric pruners, Seppi and Berti mulchers have been appointed UK agents for Caroni Spa. Caroni's roots go back more than 50 years: from being a small business...