Forestry & British Timber articles from May 2005

Forestry & British Timber archives from May 2005

WE THINK WE SHOULD BE TOLD.(Woodland Grant Scheme closure)
May 5, 2005... It is now just coming up to a year since the Forestry Commission in England announced the closure of the Woodland Grant Scheme and almost 18 months since consultation from interested parties for the new English WGS was invited. During that...

THE HEAT'S ON ON TEESSIDE.
May 5, 2005... A year after Sembcorp Utilities announced plans to build a #60m wood- burning power station on Teesside (FBT, June 2004, p8) comes confirmation that it is go ahead with the project on the former ICI chemicals site at Wilton. Welcoming the...

Two years to regrow Lancs.(Lancashire)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... 'Lancashire has only half the national average amount of woodland cover so it is especially important for the county to conserve and expand woods wherever possible'. Paul Bullimore, project officer, Lancashire County Council, was...

Ian moves up.(Ian Rickhuss, M and M Timber)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... One of Europe's top manufacturers of machined round timber, M&M Timber, has a new sales director - Ian Rickhuss, former national field sales manager. The Worcs-based company, a leading supplier of fencing products and playground equipment, was...

MBO - `new dimension' for SW.(Scottish Woodlands Ltd)
May 5, 2005... One of the UK's oldest-established and well-known forest industry management companies - Scottish Woodlands Ltd - has achieved a management buy-out. `SWL Ltd', the buy-out vehicle established to effect the transaction, is 90% owned by SW's...

Kielder hits global headlines.(man-made forest)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Europe's biggest man-made forest, Kielder, was highlighted by Forestry Commission director general Tim Rollinson when he addressed delegates at the `Forest landscape restoration (FLR) workshop' in Petropolis, Brazil last month. He said that the...

Stihl supports show.(7th Arborists' Trade Fair)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... On the eve of the 7th Arborists' Trade Fair - on June 24-5 - leading chainsaw manufacturer Stihl announced its three year-year sponsorship of the event. Organised by the Arboricultural Association, it again takes place at the Bathurst Estate,...

Oban opens up to wood-fuel.(wood-fuel-based community heating scheme)
May 5, 2005... `The heating system being installed by the (West Highland Housing) Association (WHHA) on this development demonstrates that we are dedicated to the use of sustainable renewable energy sources...'. Ken MacColl, association chairman, was speaking...

WWC wins on Wigan's waste.(Wood Waste Control Engineering Ltd.)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Latest move in the rapidly expanding company, Wigan Timber is the installation in its sawmill of a Wood Waste Control (Engineering) Ltd (WWC) 3HJ silo filter system. Together with twin 18.5kW main fans and an 11kW transfer fan - `plus a...

North East takes the green road.
May 5, 2005... `By managing our woodlands sustainably we can achieve a wide range of outcomes'. Jonathan Blackie, regional director, Government Office for the North-East was speaking at Newcastle upon Tyne when he launched the region's first-ever trees and...

Nightjars churr in N Yorks' woods.(North Yorks Moors)
May 5, 2005... News of an `astonishing' return of a once-endangered nocturnal bird to the North Yorks Moors comes from the Forestry Commission. Results from a national survey of nightjars carried out last summer reveal that numbers have increased by nearly...

Glendale go for composting.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Glendale, Lancs-based `provider of green service solutions', has strengthened its green waste recycling interests by acquiring a leading composting specialist. Ecological Sciences Ltd, located at Exeter University (where it has its own research...

`Ban illegal timber'.(United Kingdom Timber Trade Federation )
May 5, 2005... `Cheap imports of illegal timber and the non-compliance of some firms with basic environmental standards destabilise international markets, threaten jobs and create unfair competition'. John White, chief executive of the UK Timber Trade...

Management buy-in for Stenner.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Stenner Ltd is now wholly owned by its directors, following a management buy-in that was fully supported by shareholders and staff. Managing director Doug Shopland has held a minority stake in the Tiverton-based company since 1993, when he...

From A to C in easier stages.(timber transportation)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... In trials which ended a few weeks ago in a bid to take timber loads off mid-Wales's roads, Chirk-based board manufacturers, Kronospan UK have been testing a return run to the rail transportation system. The experiment has twin aims:...

Coals to Newcastle' win Tilhill a Queen's Award.
May 5, 2005... Tilhill a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Finnish group UPM, and the UK's largest timber harvesting company has been awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise 2005, for international trade. 'This is fantastic news for all our employees,...

Chop for health.(Chopwell Forest Festival)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Now in its 12th year, Chopwell Forest Festival - described as one of England's biggest showcases for ancient forest skills - will be making a return appearance on a site near Gateshead, Tyne and Wear on July 9- 10. Meanwhile, as chisels are...

Kronospan collects kudos.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... As a `vanguard of manufacturing in Wales', leading UK wood-based panel manufacturer Kronospan was recently invited to the House of Commons to participate in a showcase for successful North Wales enterprise. Opening the event, Peter Hain MP,...

MARKET REPORT: Windblow concerns.(Wood Promotion Premium Scheme)
May 5, 2005... News that the proposed Wood Promotion Premium Scheme has fallen at the last hurdle has cast a bit of a shadow over what has otherwise been a positive start to 2005 for the UK timber industry, writes Martin Pearce What is it about generic...

USDA FOREST SERVICE: 'Caring for the Land and Serving the People'.(United States Department of Agriculture)
May 5, 2005... 'The American had but one thought about a tree and that was to cut it down.' So said Theodore Roosevelt, incumbent US President a century ago when he addressed the First American Forest Congress in 1905. When the United States Department...

Technical Developments: New flexible backpack for forest fire fighting.
May 5, 2005... In the series of short articles from Forest Research Technical Development, this second article looks at a new backpack fire extinguisher for use in forest fire fighting. Background: improving practical efficiency and operator comfort and...

THIRTY YEARS OF BOATBUILDING TRAINING EXCELLENCE.(International Boatbuilding Training College)
May 5, 2005... `Our concept of training, which is unique to the International Boatbuilding Training College (IBTC), involves having a very large number of widely different boats, at carefully controlled, varying stages of construction or repair...'. In this...

ARB MATTERS: Reaching out for richer pickings.(forestry)(Industry Overview)
May 5, 2005... `What we are looking for from powered access isn't so much working height - it's outreach. You need to be able to reach into the tree rather than straight up height'. Jonathan Strange of Treetops Forestry (TF), Skipton, North Yorkshire was...

Root and tree inspection.(PICUS, radar equipment)
May 5, 2005... Following a visit to the UK earlier this year by American Dr Tony Mucciardi (TreeRadar Inc) to demonstrate his device for tree stem and root inspection at the invitation of Fujikura Europe Ltd (FEL)*, the specialist arb equipment distributor...

Meets all EU emission standards.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Three additional attachments - a rotary cultivator, a pole-saw and a hedge-trimmer head - are available for the new Makita (UK) Ltd* commercial line trimmer - model RBC2510. Features promoted by the company are: low vibration and compliant...

Full range launches from Oregon.(Oregon, Blount UK)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Oregon (Blount UK)* will launch, over the next few months, new helmets, protective eyewear, boots and protective clothing. These developments are all part of a new range to be known as the 'ProLite' series, a name derived from Oregon's...

High comfort - high style - HiFlex!(Stihl)
May 5, 2005... A new Design C trouser, with all-round chainsaw protection, the Stihl* HiFlex is not only lightweight, thanks to a reduction to six-layers of protective material, it is also flexible, cool and therefore very comfortable to wear. A jacket is...

Kit's in the bag.(Husqvarna Forest & Garden UK)
May 5, 2005... Husqvarna* has added a number of new items to its popular accessory and protective clothing range. The Pro Light jacket has been updated to include some practical new features and a 'stylish' new design. It is made from polyester and...

Facelift's Haulotte Haul.(Facelift Access Hire)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Not content to continue with the specialised access equipment it's known for, Facelift Access Hire*, one of the UK's largest independent powered access companies has been out shopping, and in the bag is its first major investment into...

Best boot forward.(Arbortec's Arbotect safety boots)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... 'Taking into account the on-the-job dangers to the professionals in the tree surgery/forestry field, the possibility of accidents occurring should not be underestimated. Although safety clothing and boots can be perceived by some as being...

Catalogue maintains standard.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... 'Foresters, groundsmen and others who care for the outdoor environment will be impressed by the newly-published 2005 Catalogue from Charterhouse Richmond*, the mail order division of the Charterhouse Turf Machinery Group', said MD Philip...

'Sugoi' saws!(Silky Fox Handsaws)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Silky make some 80 different hand pruning saws. All are made to the same high quality standards and there is a Silky saw for almost every possible pruning eventuality. It is not unusual, the company say, for their saw blades to last well over...

Totectors take on Puma.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Two famous footwear brands have got together as Totectors has become the UK distributors for Puma Safety Footwear. This well-known sports and leisure brand (Puma are said to be the fastest growing company in their sector in the world) have...

TRAINING & EDUCATION: Seeds of learning.(National School of Forestry )
May 5, 2005... Whether you are coming into forestry/arboriculture for the first time or are looking to further develop your training and skills there's a wealth of opportunities available at the various training and education establishments around the...

Crafts on the downs.(Weald and Downland Open Air Museum)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Horse logging, coppice management and strength-grading of oak are just a few of the courses in traditional rural trades and crafts and historic building conservation skills offered at the picturesquely sited Weald and Downland Open Air Museum....

Plump for Plumpton.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Plumpton offers a popular 12-week tree surgery course, Forestry and Arboriculture skills courses, work-based training, chainsaw and other legislative courses. They also, with an eye to the future students, offer free taster sessions for...

The Bicton experience.(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... A range of courses are offered on site at Bicton's 200 hectares of farmland and Grade 1 listed parkland, set in beautiful Devon countryside. From specific technical short courses in chainsaw use and climbing techniques and the National...

Myerscough majors in arb.(Myerscough College)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Myerscough College's new National Centre for Arboriculture is among the excellent facilities available to those who study at the main campus. Sited at Bilsborrow, Preston, it offers arboriculture courses from entry to degree levels - from the...

News from Newcastle.(Parks and Countryside Training )(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... A wide range of land-related courses is currently being run under Newcastle upon Tyne City Council's Parks and Countryside Training (PACT)* scheme. These include: Horticulture level 1, 2, 3 (NVQ); Arboriculture level 2,3; Forestry level 2,3;...

Cannington merges.(Cannington College)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Two of Somerset's colleges have combined their expertise: Cannington College has now merged with that of Bridgwater. Among the courses it offers are the City and Guilds National Certificate in Arboriculture and the EDEXCEL National Diploma in...

Bangor's `exciting addition'.(MSc degree, Forest Industries Technology, School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... Commenting on its MSc degree Forest Industries Technology (distance learning) course. (`unique in the UK') Bangor's School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences (SAFS says that `we hope to be in a position to announce an exciting and relevant...

Barony boasts new technology centre.(Barony College)
May 5, 2005... Barony College, near Dumfries is well on track to becoming a `Centre of excellence' for training in the forestry sector with its developing reputation in providing high-quality education. Set within a 228- hectare estate, it specialises in...

In the capable manner.(London School of Arboriculture, Countryside and Environment)
May 5, 2005... Capel Manor - London School of Arboriculture, Countryside and Environment. The School offers a complete range of training courses from foundation to advanced level and has recently been awarded Beacon College status for the quality of its...

Helping Hants.(Woodland Management and Arboriculture)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2005... All courses in Woodland Management and Arboriculture at Sparsholt, Winchester, Hants, have access to a wide range of facilities, both on and off campus, including engineering workshops, chainsaw workshops, a timber processing area, tractor...

Merrist Wood Open Day.
May 5, 2005... Heart-stopping feats from famous motorcycle daredevils The Wall of Death will thrill spectators on Open Day at the Merrist Wood Campus of Guildford College on Sunday May 15. The death-defying act by the stunt riding stars will be one of the...