Forestry & British Timber articles from July 2002

Forestry & British Timber archives from July 2002

Surplus to requirements?(surplus of lumber, Scotland)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 3, 2002... `While the United Kingdom as a whole still has to import more than 80% of its wood requirements, Scotland will soon produce more wood than it needs'. That is according to Scottish Forestry Minister Alan Wilson when he spoke at the launch of...

FCA makes `shock `#110 000 + loss.(Forestry Contracting Association )(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... For the first time in nine years, the Forestry Contracting Association has recorded a major loss on its activities: around #110 000 on a reduced turnover of #1.1m. The scene for the revelation of the `shock' deficit was Llysfasi College in...

Completing the jigsaw.(England plans to tree plantings as part of forestry program)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Now under way is round two of the Forestry Commission's `Jigsaw'* scheme which aims to `join up' woodlands at 41 selected sites across England through `well over' 200 hectares of new planting. Announcing this latest phase of the #5m...

Trouble at the palace.(Greenpeace protest at Buckingham Palace, England)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... The newly re-opened Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace was the focus of a Greenpeace protest about use of timber from endangered rainforests the week of the Golden Jubilee celebrations. Doors and other joinery inside the #20m gallery,...

SOS - spruce pest alert.(great spruce bark beetle infestation)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... The great spruce bark beetle has raised its ugly head again in this country. Initially established in Wales and the adjoining English counties 30 years ago, Dentroictonus micans activity has now been spotted in the Lake District during a...

An hour's work - #144 230.(pole climbing competition)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... `Not bad for 70 years old and still working in the woods five days a week'. That was champion poleclimber Jeremy Barrell's comment when `the sport's oldest competitor', Jim Crawford scaled 80ft in a `personal best' of 42.77 seconds. His...

NW's nine million.(north-west England Mersey and Red Rose community forests )(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 3, 2002... Woodland cover in the twin north-west England Mersey and Red Rose community forests has soared in the last decade by 50%. This compares with a figure of 10% for the region as a whole. The good news was unveiled at a ten-year celebration...

Bird's eye view.(forestry aerial images)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 3, 2002... To help cut surveying costs, the Forestry Commission has asked Coalville, Leics-based Getmapping to supply aerial photography covering 300 000 hectares of its forest estate in Britain. The digitial imagery will be used as an important...

Bureaucracy beater.(quarry laws)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Forest manager and engineers are reminded by the Forestry Commission that a change to exemptions from the aggregates levy, announced in the 2002 Budget, could lead to less paperwork. As from April 1 last, they were extended to cover the use of...

Jeremy does it again.(Jeremy Barrell)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 3, 2002... Jeremy Barrell of Fordingbridge, Hampshire successfully defended his English poleclimbing title at the 2002 Royal Bath and West Show. Despite a strong French presence, the home climbers dominated at the three-day contest. Jeremy climbed the...

Chipper chute alert.(improved standards for power-fed woodchippers, Health and Safety Executive, United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... December 5 2002 is the deadline by which power-fed woodchippers must have improved standards of operator protection, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announces. If its inspectors come across machines not meeting the latest standards...

Don't take the bluebell line.(plant specification and verification schemes from Horticultural Trades Association, United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... The `bluebell crisis' faced by a Worcestershire parish council has been used by the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA) to highlight the merits of its national plant specification (NPS) and verification schemes for nurseries and contractors....

Fallow foiled.(rangers at Dartmoor national park add deer fencing to protect young trees)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Dartmoor national park (DNP) rangers thought that it was the sheep that were attacking the tops of the 5000 young trees planted on a special new three-hectare site. However, they discovered that it was fallow deer - rather than our woolly...

Matchmakers.(National Energy Foundation database)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Building on its existing wood-fuel suppliers' database, the National Energy Foundation (NEF)* has launched a free matching service for sellers and buyers of logs, chips, pellets and charcoal via a dedicated website or freephone helpline. ...

Heart-warming story.(Welsh village improvement association plans to upgrade woodland)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Llan Ffestiniog, North Wales village improvement association is celebrating its century by upgrading the Coed Brain woodland which lies at its heart. With a #9000 grant from Cydcoed - Woods for All (run by Tir Coed and EU- and FC-funded) it...

Of paling and hazelnuts.(funding from European Union for Scottish woodland management)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 3, 2002... Over 880 hectares of woodland have been brought into management in north-east Scotland in the last five years through the work of Scottish Native Woods (SNW). The smallest is 2.4ha of hazel wood in Moray (where direct-seeding is being tried...

Keep it simple - and cheap.(research encourages use of indigenous wood products, United Kingdom)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 3, 2002... British timber for British weather: this is the prescription being studied by a team of researchers. It poses the question why some professionals over-specify timber structures and components and forms the subject of a new project under way at...

Bedgebury beckons.(forest reserve)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 3, 2002... The year after next - its 80th anniversary - is the 120-hectare Bedgebury pinetum's target date for opening its ambitious new visitor and education centre. Although set firmly on the path, thanks to a #1m pledge from the Heritage Lottery Fund,...

Timber frame on the Clyde.(housing)
July 3, 2002... A #30m residential waterfront development on the Clyde coast will be 60% timber frame. Housebuilder Manor Kingdom Ltd, which recently built Scotland's first #1m timber frame new home, is building 195 homes in its Kip Villge development around...

`Much work to be done'.(Forestry and Timber Association)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... `The Forestry and Timber Association (FTA) has strong, well-integrated management and regional teams committed to serving its varied members. They are united by their commitment to forestry'. The message came from chairman Robert Scott at the...

Scottish assurance.(Scottish Woodlands Ltd. upgrades quality control standards)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... `The switch to ISO 9000:2000 keeps us at the forefront of UK forestry', said Scottish Woodlands Ltd's (SW) Rob Shaw when the company received the quality and environmental standards credentials from SGS Yarsley's Jim Burkinshaw at its recent...

Wilberfoss roles widened.(Endfield of Wilberfoss promotes Steven Green to general manager)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... As part of a general restructuring, Endfield of Wilberfoss, York - the forestry nursery division of the Johnsons of Whixley Group - has extended the role of nursery manager Steven Green to that of general manager; Chris Swan has become sales...

Chirk's new chapter.(Kronospan reorganizes)
July 3, 2002... News of a major restructuring of its sales operation comes from the Chirk, North Wales headquarters of wood-based panel manufacturers Kronospan. The move has been spearheaded by newly-appointed sales director Tony Meehan, `continuing our drive...

Dollar director.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Continuing his `speedy progress' through the ranks of woodland design and management consultancy Eamonn Wall & Co (EWC) Roy Barlow has been promoted to the role of associate director. Roy, 37 joined the firm four years ago having completed...

Timber in for a building boost.(Building Research Establishment teams with Finnish lumber sector for UK marketing push)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... The Building Research Establishment (BRE) is launching an initiative in association with the Finnish timber sector to increase use of wood in UK construction. `Timber in Construction 2010' has kicked off with a study commissioned by the...

Getting rid of wood waste legally.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Legal advice on dealing with wood waste is now available free on the Timber Recycling Information Centre web site (www.recycle-it.org). The site, operated by TRADA Technology's Business Solutions Group, is offering advice from Clarks...

Timber Federation checks out Cameroon.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Timber Trade Federation head of environmental affairs Dr Penny Bienz has been on a fact-finding trip to Cameroon to check out the forestry management situation. The visit followed protests by Greenpeace activists over Cameroonian timber...

Travis keeps growing.(will build new branch in Canvey Island)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Travis Perkins has acquired the site for a new branch of its builders' merchants chain in Canvey Island. The company says the depot will have a `strong timber bias'. Copyright: CMP Information Ltd.

Willamette becomes Weyerhaeuser.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Following the acquisition of Willamette by fellow American forestry and forest products giant Weyerhaeuser, the latter has re-launched the Willamette Europe operation. The business is now named Weyerhaeuser Europe Ltd and has a new...

Green fingers at Chelsea.(Chelsea Flower Show)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Environmental accreditation body the Forest Stewardship Council exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show. Their stand featured timber products which used material from FSC-certified forestry operations. The organisation's UK press officer Gill...

Finnforest plugs in to Wolseley.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Finnish timber products giant Finnforest has strengthened its ties with builders' merchant chain Wolseley by signing up to an electronic invoicing system. The company is now linked direct to Wolseley's builder centers and timber Centers...

Disability rules benefit supplier.(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Timber and panel products importer and distributor James Latham expects to benefit from new disability regulations which aim to cut discrimination and improve building access to the disabled and involve around #70 million of capital spending on...

Cutting over-spec.(over-specification of timber and timber products)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Research group TRADA Technology has launched a government-sponsored project to try and reduce over-specification and excessive treatment of timber and timber products used in construction. The initiative has a budget of #140 000, of which...

Improving the image.
July 3, 2002... The Waste and Resources Action Plan (WRAP) aimed to raise perceptions of recycled wood with a special stand at the Institute of Waste Management's annual exhibition in June. The WRAP stand at the Paignton event featured products made in...

Jewson strengthens in London.(acquires Merton Timber Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Jewson has beefed up its presence in London with the acquisition of the independent timber merchants Merton Timber Ltd. Merton operates six branches in the capital and has a turnover, predominantly in timber, of #15m. Merton boss David...

Brits in NI.(British Woodworking Federation; Northern Ireland)
July 3, 2002... The British Woodworking Federation has held its first meeting in Northern Ireland as part of its efforts to boost membership in the province in its Timber Window Accreditation quality assurance scheme. The event in Cookstown was...

APF 2002 Diary.(forestry conference/competition)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 3, 2002... The UK's greatest forestry event is just around the corner meanwhile says APF exhibition secretary Ian Millward* don't forget the Royal or CLA Gamefair. June 10, only 15 weeks to E-Day. By the time you read this in early July England will...

Lockerbie looks to Longleat!(forestry company Longleat chosen for quality trees for poleclimbing contest in Lockerbie, Scotland)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 3, 2002... Rodney Garton, Longleat head forester and world champion poleclimber Jeremy Barrell select one of the two quality Douglas fir poles from the estate's woodlands to be erected for the climbing `extravaganza' at APF, Lockerbie. Lord Bath's...

Under-valued, under-utilised, under pressure.(UK timber markets)(Statistical Data Included)
July 3, 2002... `Time is a great teacher,' said the French composer Hector Berlioz, `but unfortunately it kills all its pupils.' For the timber industry, writes Martin Pearce, the lessons of time have been painful and there have been many casualties. ...

WOODWISE: The view from the sharp end.
July 3, 2002... In which our monthly contracting contributor Nick Hilton of Woodwise Forestry* gets all patriotic over the Jubilee bank holiday but still finds time to get his hands dirty. Cor, a four-day bank holiday to look forward to - just what the...

Season's greetings.(growing holly)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 3, 2002... `We can never have enough holly'. Surprisingly, although he raises Christmas trees on his seven-acre nursery at Cote, near Witney, Oxon, Stuart Ranson says that it is the festive season's decorative sprig that provides the greater cheer and,...

What does climate change mean for British forestry?(Statistical Data Included)
July 3, 2002... Continuing the theme of environmental awareness in forestry, Mark Broadmeadow of Environmental Research Branch at Forest Research discusses the implications of climate change for British forestry. Once again, climate change has been in the...

`Even better for us than Elmia'.(British foresters visit exhibition hosted by Partek Forest, Sweden)(Statistical Data Included)(Product Announcement)
July 3, 2002... First on the list for most contractor visitors to the April Partek international forest machinery week in Sweden was the company's `801 Combi' which many Scandinavian operators regard as the future for harvesting. However, star of the show for...

Going down the `used' road.(forest product trucking, companies make use of used trucks)
July 3, 2002... While newer haulage vehicles may offer greater reliability, the lower procurement costs of older units is making them more appealing for many operators as Eoghan Daly reports. Timber haulage is becoming increasingly competitive. This is...

Busy in Wales.(Welsh trucking company happy with Epsilon E90.82L truck)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... Tony Hughes, based at Abermule, between Welshpool and Newtown, has recently added an ERF eight-wheeler and drawbar trailer to his fleet, complete with the latest Epsilon E90.82L loader. The 9 tonne/metre loader, with its 8.3 metre outreach,...

PM Flotation.(PM Group PLC)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... PM Group plc, makers of the On Board weighing systems popular with many timber hauliers, among others, is applying for admission to the Alternative Investment Market, to raise up to #33m, before expenses. The money is to be used to equip a new...

Big Three from JLG.(JLG Engineering, cranes)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... JLG Engineering, based at Chirk, has supplied three interesting Diebolt folding loaders recently. The first is a D24.93Z, fitted on to an ERF six-wheeled tractor unit for Roger Somerscales of Keelby in Lincolnshire, is is said to be the...

THE MILLER'S TALE.(Sandy Brownlie, BSW Timber PLC)(Interview)
July 3, 2002... Sandy Brownlie - the `B' in BSW Timber and one of the best known and respected figures in the industry - has built up the largest sawmilling business in Britain. He admits that the business has been his life - `I have little other interests'....

The MILLER'S ESTATE in his own words.(Carlisle Group PLC)
July 3, 2002... Carlisle is the jewel in our crown. Other people would say that they have better mills and we have to say that every mill has its own strengths and weaknesses. We are reasonably satisfied with Carlisle. We have been adding to it over the...

Milling takes farmer back to the `good old days'.(pig farmer operates milling business)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
July 3, 2002... A disillusioned Essex pig farmer's move into small-scale timber processing has not only meant retaining the farm which the family has owned for 40 years, he turns a tidy profit too. He now achieves 200% gross margin from lumber, equal to the...

Operation search and find.(metal detectors for timber industry from Protovale Oxford Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... `You don't have to hit many pieces of metal to show how much you could save with the TS8. I don't think you can improve on it; it's a useful and precises instrument'. This is the verdict of Brackley, Northants- based Helmdon Sawmills' Steven...

In with the old, in with the new.(debarkers from Technorton-Cundey)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... `Since Technorton* acquired Cundey in 1998, the number of "old" Cundey de-barkers working around the world continues to amaze. We are continually asked to supply service parts for these machines, some of which are over 40-years-old and still...

From chippers to sawbench.(from Arbor Eater Brushwood Chippers Ltd.)(Brief Article)
July 3, 2002... On the back of the product range indicated by its name, Arbor Eater Brushwood Chippers Ltd* have launched the TT600 twin-model sawbench. Its 600mm-diameter tungsten-tipped blade can cut trunks up to 240mm (9.5in) in a single strike or 450mm...