Forestry & British Timber articles from May 2004

Forestry & British Timber archives from May 2004

TOO MUCH TALK - TOO LITTLE ACTION.(discussing the consultation document 'Seeing the wood for the trees' - Forestry Framework for the South East)
May 7, 2004... March 3 saw yet another meeting to discuss the future of forestry. This time it was the launch of the consultation document 'Seeing the wood for the trees' - Forestry Framework for the South East, issued by the Forestry Framework Steering Group...

Burning opportunity.(The North Eastern England Northwoods initiative is working with Lantra Awards in developing the UK's first-ever qualification in running a woodfuel business.)
May 7, 2004... The NE England Northwoods initiative is working with Lantra Awards in developing the UK's first-ever qualification in running a woodfuel business. The Rothbury, Northumberland-based enterprise announced this when it unveiled its `Ignite'...

SEEING THE TREES BUT NOT THE WOOD.
May 7, 2004... Tim Rollinson, the recently appointed director general of the Forestry Commission, gave a sobering view of prospects for timber supply over the next few decades, as plantation forestry increasingly gathers momentum and world supplies of both...

World-wide role.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Martin Gale has been appointed by UPM-Kymmene Corporation as vice- president, international forestry. In this global role, he will be the group's `ambassador in forestry matters in significant international forums' such as the `World business...

Up the great, green road.
May 7, 2004... Creating 500 hectares of new woodland every year... opening up markets for wood as a fuel resource through ten new small-scale projects... and promoting greater collaboration between timber-related businesses and expanding wood-processing...

Relying less on pesticides.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... New advice to help foresters and land managers reduce pesticide usage has been published by the Forestry Commission*. The guide provides a decision framework to help tackle the main pest and weed control problems in British forestry. It...

KEY PLAYERS REVEAL 'LEVEL FIELD' TACTICS.(Forestry & Timber Association's 'Level Playing Field for Forestry' proposals)
May 7, 2004... How does #50m sound? This was the figure thrown into the Forestry & Timber Association's latest 'Level Playing Field for Forestry' debate (March 8, Scotch Corner) as a possible target for funding for forestry in England. There was no dissent,...

Is this the beginning of the end for ICF?(Institute of Chartered Foresters)
May 7, 2004... The Institute of Chartered Foresters Annual General meeting attracted an unusually large audience this year. The perennial agenda of the regular business of the year showed the Institute's finances and activities to be in robust health, with...

England's green and pleasant trees.(Agricultural Development and Advisory Service.)(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Public liability risks and building subsidence fears are two major factors potentially threatening the future of England's urban trees and forests - and those whose livelihoods lie in their management. They are two of the topics covered in a...

Renaissance man.(Jez Ralph of South West Woodland Renaissance partnership on development of woodland and timber sectors)(Interview)
May 7, 2004... `We have six months to produce a plan to persuade the Regional Development Agency to spend #2 million developing the woodland and timber sector in terms of business growth and employment'. Speaker is Jez Ralph of the South West Woodland...

Agreed haulage routes in Tayside.
May 7, 2004... An important step towards minimising the impact of timber lorries on roads in Tayside came with the launch of an 'Agreed Routes Map' for timber haulage in the area. The amount of timber coming out of Tayside forests is set to increase over the...

Clocaenog calling cutters.(2004 Royal Welsh tree- felling competition)(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... May 31 is the closing date for entries in the 2004 Royal Welsh tree- felling competition* to take place at Clocaenog Forest, north-east Wales on June 12. Competitors will have to prove their skills to the judges in felling, snedding and...

Return of the osprey.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... It's 50 years since the osprey returned to breed in Scotland and, almost on cue, a pair of the birds who successfully reared two chicks last year have come back to the Tweed Valley to nest. To celebrate this important half-century a number...

Focusing on Forest's future.(National Forest)
May 7, 2004... 'The National Forest has already been a great success. When this ambitious and highly original project began, tree cover within the Forest boundary stood at just 6%. Today that figure stands at 15%. The Forest is now taking shape and...

Western woodworkers' co-op coup.(Bespoke Woodworkers Ltd)
May 7, 2004... A new marketing initiative for promoting English broadleaved timber has emerged in the Tamar Valley which divides Devon and Cornwall. Bespoke Woodworkers Ltd* (BW) has been set up to make its members' quality furniture, woodwork and services...

The mating game.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Just as people can find that special person via a dating agency, a new Woodland Trust (WT) brokerage service achieves a similar aim for woods so that they - and like habitats' - can enjoy long-term well-being. Its new Conservation Land Trust...

Babes in the wood.( Forestry Commission Wales )(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... A Scandinavia-style woodland classroom in the grounds of a Welsh school `provides very good learning and social development experiences out of the classroom, in a natural environment'. This was the positive verdict of school inspectors after...

Securing our forests' future.(community forests)
May 7, 2004... 'Community Forests have been an unrivalled success, creating areas rich in wildlife, woodland and areas of green open space for all to enjoy. They have created high quality environments that will attract businesses and employers, contributing...

Fresh advice.(Forestry Commission)(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Forestry research has entered a new era following the appointment of a 'high calibre' advisory committee to steer the Forestry Commission's research agency 'on an innovative and broad ranging path', according to Professor Jim Lynch. The...

MARKET REPORT: Accentuating the positive.
May 7, 2004... Following what proved to be a reasonable year in 2003, the always delicate balance of the various factors that affect the UK forest products industry seems still to be weighted towards the positive, and in general there is 'cautious optimism'...

Letter: The blight of treeshelters.(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
May 7, 2004... From Mark Yorke 'Sir, Are we not concerned as woodland owners and managers of our responsibility for littering the countryside, and potentially "attractive" woodland, with millions of redundant plastic treeshelters? In many cases it...

Letter: The end of an era for ICF?(Brief Article)(Letter to the Editor)
May 7, 2004... From Richard Stirling-Aid 'Sir, I was interested to read "End of an era for ICF?" (FBT March p3). When I qualified back in 1969, it was as "Chartered Land Agent". At that time there were several overlapping chartered bodies involved in...

WoodWISE: The view from the sharp end.
May 7, 2004... In which our monthly contracting contributor Nick Hilton of WoodWise Forestry* takes Lady Luck for a ride down Destiny Drive and comes out smiling. It's funny how there are times in life when you find yourself being forced down a certain...

Drax - a dream renewed.(Renewable Fuels Ltd)(Drax Power Ltd)
May 7, 2004... `(This) is excellent news not only for the region but also for the environment. It shows that renewable energy can bring economic and environmental benefits in equal measure'. In welcoming the latest positive industrial step towards making...

Timber Quantity and Quality.
May 7, 2004... Advances in timber quality research - in particular predicting the wood properties of Sitka spruce - was the theme of a seminar last October at Forest Research's Northern Research Station. Around 50 delegates from both the growing and...

Keeping a cool head.(construction machines shows)
May 7, 2004... In the normal run of things, Finnish Laplander Samuli Luksua uses his portable band sawmill for processing pine logs into material for cabins. However, when it came to Finland's 2004 Snow Show at Rovaniemi near the Arctic circle, he switched...

FC REGIONAL INITIATIVES: Responding to Tanarus' challenge.
May 7, 2004... `Yes, times are very hard, but I think that it is important that we don't lose sight that we are an industry with much to offer. We should be talking the industry up rather than highlighting our shortcomings'. In the third and final...

Keeps coming back for more.(MG Harvesting Ltd)
May 7, 2004... Repeat orders are always a good indication of a contractor's satisfaction with a forest machine. Welsh contractor Mike Gillet must therefore have had considerable positive experiences with Ponsse given his unbroken ten-year purchasing...

ARB MATTERS: Carving a career in tree work.
May 7, 2004... Freelance climber, sub-contractor, and now much-in-demand carver of flowing designs on timber, John Cox is a man of many talents and skills which he employees in his daily round of business. John, who lives in the village of Long...

Comfortably integrated.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Latest additions to the Andreas Stihl Ltd* safety clothing stable include a lightweight helmet with integrated safety goggles, visor and ear defenders and a `Hi-Viz' protective suit for brushcutter operators. The new `Integra' helmet has...

'Just a few' of the additions.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Several mountaineering-style helmets with full four-point chinstraps have now been added to the Severnside* range including the Kong Magic helmet, the Lucky Acute and the Kong Scarab. 'The Scarab is perhaps the ultimate helmet for extreme...

`Top of its class'.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Lightweight chainsaw protective clothing in the Arbortec* range is available offering Class 2 protection, which is `set to become a brand- leader' according to Lynette Watson who reports that sales had been brisk since its launch. Recently...

FBT readers' special.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Leading supplier of tools and equipment to the arboricultural, forestry, landscaping and conservation industries, Stanton Hope* have just launched their new 100 page catalogue. Within their comprehensive range, they offer over 40 styles of...

Something for everyone at Cirencester.(Arborists' Trade Fair)
May 7, 2004... The foremost arb machinery, equipment and training exhibition in the UK - the Arborists' Trade Fair* - moves from its regular Highclere, Berks venue in 2004 to Bathurst Estate, Cirencester, Gloucestershire. Dates are 25/26 June for the...

Across the range.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... ATS Machinery* offer a comprehensive range of chainsaw PPE and arborist equipment for the professional user. Clothing stocked includes trousers, boots, helmets, jackets and gloves from such suppliers as Stihl, Oregon, Sip, Haix, Jallatte and...

Specialist bat courses.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... A specialist course aimed at professional ecologists, arb workers and eco consultants - `Bats in woodlands' - will be held on two occasions later this year at Holnicote Estate on the North Somerset coast, near Minehead. The course will run...

New forest helmet.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Peltor (part of Aero Ltd*) has designed a completely new helmet aimed at forestry workers which provides 'better protection against falling objects, and offers unique ventilation and a maximum field of vision', according to the company who say...

Smooth operators.
May 7, 2004... There is now a Silky saw (Silky Fox Handsaws*) for almost every possible eventuality. 'Silky Saw sales continue to rise annually', said David Davenport. 'Customers are impressed not only by the quality of steel used in manufacture, which...

Keeps water at bay.(Brief Article)
May 7, 2004... Established in continental Europe for several years, a `highly- technical boot' is newly-available in the UK from Buxton's Ltd*. `Developed for the demanding needs of climbers and ground workers alike', this `class-one boot... is light,...

Where trees - literally - mean life.(Tree Aid)
May 7, 2004... Since 1987, Tree Aid's mission has been in working `to reverse poverty and environmental degradation' in West Africa and Ethiopia through a range of forestry-related projects. Recently, its president John Fletcher travelled with a party of...

APF 2004 DIARY.(APF Exhibition - Ragley Hall)
May 7, 2004... With Spring in the air, the APF Exhibition - Ragley Hall, Staffs, Sep 23-25 - comes ever closer. Exhibition secretary Ian Millward* keeps us posted on the latest developments. Another busy month but a successful one. Our year-end accounts...