Forestry & British Timber articles from May 2006

Forestry & British Timber archives from May 2006

Commercial woodlands escape the bird.
May 15, 2006... Forestry, it has been asserted, is the form of land use most likely to satisfy the aspirations of 21st-century Britain. It's certainly well enough recognised that woods are good - good for leisure, good for health, good for biodiversity and...

Task force tackles St Regis crisis.
May 15, 2006... The closure of the St Regis Sudbrook Mill in Gwent - planned to take place this month (May) - represented a lost market for up to 150 000 tonnes of small-diameter and low-quality hardwood with a delivered annual value of some #6m. It was...

New man at Euro Tree.
May 15, 2006... David Gilbert has taken over as operations manager of Euro Tree Services an arboricultural firm based in Cheshire with contracts with utility companies and local authorities throughout the north-west. He will support the director Simon...

A touch of majesty at Betws.(river engineering)(Betws y Coed )(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... A new #80000 all-ability riverside walk through a beautiful Douglas fir woodland - Coed Tan Dinas in North Wales - is being created by Betws y Coed community council. It has been made possible through money received from Cydcoed, the #16m...

Double decade.(Phil Hall)(Lawcris Panel Products)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... Phil Hall recently celebrated 20 years' service with Lawcris Panel Products, a leading UK supplier of wood-based panels, of Leeds. He began, at the tender age of 16, as a Saturday warehouse helper and began working his way up. After three...

Still on probation.
May 15, 2006... A recent government sample check on the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) system requirements revealed `no justification to change its probationary status yet', environment minister Elliott Morley announced at...

Burrows' Myerscough success.(Burrows Grass Machinery secures deal with Myerscough College)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... Burrows Grass Machinery* recently won a five-year contract with Myerscough College, the Lancs-based horticultural and agricultural training centre, to supply its sports turf department with Ransomes Jacobsen equipment. The deal has seen the...

Meeting demand with mechanisation.(M&M Timber )(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... `Demand for our garden and landscaping products is now such that we are having to replace many of the traditional processes with high-speed automation to keep pace'. Nigel Poynter, managing director of M&M Timber was explaining the reason why...

Accoya bridges the reliability gap.(BSW Timber signs agreement with Titan Wood)
May 15, 2006... With a start-up date in September 2006, Titan Wood (TW) in the Netherlands is currently building a 30000m3 pilot plant for the commercial-scale production of a new, high-performance wood known as `Accoya'. Major sawmilling group BSW...

Gannon gives way to gap year!
May 15, 2006... Now in his 80th year, Derek Overton the principal of Gannon UK, has decided to take a well-earned break and will retire from business completely. As a result, from the end of April, the company ceased trading. Derek (the son of a...

May open days for Logset.
May 15, 2006... Logset has issued an invitation to its open days at RJ Fukes Forestry Services in Llandovery on Fri/Sat May 12 and 13. Logset's comprehensive product range will be on display and there will also be a working demo in the forest nearby. The...

Brighter horizon in the South West?
May 15, 2006... Four years ago in 2002, Duchy Timber's Lostwithiel, Cornwall softwood sawmill was closed. This led to a major fall in the consumption of locally grown wood with a knock-on effect which hit many woodland owners and timber contractors. Now,...

Echo sponsor carve-up at APF 2006.(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... A new chainsaw carving competition will form an integral part of the APF 2006 Exhibition at Ragley Hall (21-23 Sept) thanks to sole sponsors Echo. APF exhibition secretary Ian Millward told FBT: 'We are delighted to welcome Echo as sole...

Living legacies in Wales.
May 15, 2006... Since the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DEA) was launched in 1956, more than five million young people in 100 countries have provided 54 million hours of service to their communities. `This is an outstanding achievement and I am thrilled that we...

Dallas Mithen CB FICFor - Forester.(obituary)(Obituary)
May 15, 2006... Dallas Mithen, who died in Wishaw, near Glasgow on February 20 - write Gwyn Francis and George Holmes - had a most distinguished career as a senior public servant in the Forestry Commission, notably as a Forestry Commissioner. He was a...

Education gets boost in central Scotland.
May 15, 2006... Wendy Hay has been recruited as education officer to join Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and help in the drive to build stronger education links through the Woods In and Around Towns (WIAT) initiative, which is using woodlands to improve...

Green light for timber transport.
May 15, 2006... Scotland's projected new timber-transport system has been given the green light by the European Commission. `This is excellent news...', said forestry minister Rhona Brankin, commenting on the Brussels announcement. It means that Forestry...

Partners raise the roof.
May 15, 2006... `This is a great time for the timber industry. In 2000, 60% of homes in Scotland were built using timber frame; this has increased by 5%. However, in England five years ago only 6% of houses had timber frames; this has more than doubled to...

Tree care in the South-West.(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... At the end of March the Wessex Tree Officer Group met at Norton Radstock College near Bath to vote through a constitution for the group. The constitution formalises the aims of the group (to promote and develop the management and care of trees...

Getting to grips with SRC.(Short-rotation coppice)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... Short-rotation coppice (SRC) is being planted this spring by Coppice Resources (CRL)* from Kent in the south up to north Scotland and from Norfolk in the east across to Ireland. The crop will be grown under several supply contracts and for...

Munich beckons again.
May 15, 2006... May 12 is the closing date for entries in the `Interforst 2006' forest technology innovations competition. Joint sponsors are the KWF* (German Centre for Forest Work and Technology) and Messe Munchen GmbH and all exhibitors at the fair, which...

Decking boom to follow ban?
May 15, 2006... Timber decking sales are likely to benefit significantly from Scotland`s smoking ban, according to BSW Timber whose group HQ are at Earlston, Berwickshire. Driven out of pubs and cafes, customers will, it says, be tempted seek the comfort and...

'Internationalism' of FC research.(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... Professor Jim Lynch, chief executive, reports that Forest Research continues to 'respond successfully to challenges and the realisation of our target goals'. In the Agency's Annual Report and Accounts, he highlights the very rapid and effective...

Sharp-end forestry.
May 15, 2006... The growing wood fuel market was a significant talking point when forestry minister Jim Knight, MP visited Stourhead Estate near Mere, Wiltshire owned by Nick Hoare. `I know Stourhead well, the politician said, `having lived here in the past,...

A beacon shines at Charnwood.
May 15, 2006... Bank Holiday Monday August 28 is the National Forest's (NF) big day out. Following its debut last year, the NF Company promises, this year's Wood Fair - at Beacon Hill Country Park, Leics, within ancient Charnwood Forest - will be `even bigger...

2006 Tree Climbing Championships.
May 15, 2006... 'With the support of old and new sponsors in the 2006 season we are hoping to provide one of the best years yet weather permitting'. Nick Pott, 2006 Sponsorship & Marketing Officer for the ISA Tree Climbing Championships was commenting on this...

LETTER: That abandoned feeling.(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2006... From Mark Yorke 'Sir, Your March leader "That sinking feeling" with its reference to 7500 hectares of productive felled forest that appears to have been "abandoned" during the last 15 years in Wales and not replanted or regenerated-raises...

LETTER: UKFPA and ConFOR.(Letter to the editor)
May 15, 2006... From David Wood 'Sir editorials are, of course, written to be provocative and to provoke reaction. April's was no exception. But the view from UKFPA is very different than that from the desk of FBT's editor. For a start, it is quite...

LETTER: Just keeps rolling along.
May 15, 2006... From George Johnson 'Sir, Your editorial headline for April's FBT coincided with a production by the Llanwrtyd Wells Players of a "Wild West Fantasy" in which one of the numbers was "The Deadwood Stage". Your headline ushered in a...

New Commissioners named.(Olutayo Adebowale and Calum MacDonald appointed as Forestry Commissioners)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... Dr Olutayo Adebowale of Manchester and Dr Calum MacDonald of Lewis have been appointed by The Queen as two new Forestry Commissioners, to represent England and Scotland, respectively. Dr Adebowale, an environmental scientist, runs her own...

LETTER: Bracken control.
May 15, 2006... From Jane Kerswell 'Sir, your article on bracken control (February pp30-31) was interesting. However, we have eliminated bracken through the use of Soay Sheep, a primitive breed native to the Scottish Island of the same name, and still...

LETTER: That sinking feeling.
May 15, 2006... From Peter Goodwin 'Sir, Your leading article in March - was deeply shocking. If, as you say, Forest Enterprise/Forestry Commission is felling without replanting on a sustainable basis, then it is time that the FSC (via The Soil...

Wiser about Morecambe's woods.
May 15, 2006... Regular travellers on the M6, or the west-coast main line for that matter, may be unaware of just how close they come to the Lancashire coast as they start or finish the haul over the Cumbrian Mountains. Although Morecambe Bay is well-known for...

Welsh initiative 'deserves to succeed'.
May 15, 2006... Better Woodlands for Wales - commercial production remains a basic objective - focus is on improving quality and management. David Taylor couldn't resist the opportunity to witness first-hand how the new Better Woodlands for Wales (BWW)*...

Safety considerations when off-set winching.
May 15, 2006... Rob Shaw, Quality, Environment and Safety Officer with Scottish Woodlands Ltd was involved in the investigations surrounding two tragic fatalities in 2004 involving off-set winching (one of which happened on a site where SWL were Forestry Work...

ARB ISSUES: World-wide search for the best.(Tree Care Industry Association)
May 15, 2006... 'It's the world's biggest tree care show and the visit gave me a chance to see how arboricultural practice is developing across the pond, catch up with old friends, and research the latest products for inclusion in our range'. Speaker is...

Clothing range echoes saw quality.
May 15, 2006... Claimed by distributors Countax Ltd* to be around `33% lighter than most other currently available' protective clothing, the Echo Arblite range includes trousers with all-round protection to EN 381-5 Design C Class l, jackets to EN 381-11 Class...

Three new Husky's.(Husqvarna introduces 3 new chain saws)
May 15, 2006... Husqvarna* has introduced three new chainsaws to its comprehensive range to 'help operators increase efficiency and productivity'. The powerful, state-of-the-art 575XP is equipped with the new X-Torq engine, which delivers high torque over...

Your partner in utility arboriculture.
May 15, 2006... AUS Ltd*, founded in 1998, are a manufacturer and distributor of specialist tools and equipment for the arboricultural and utility industries. With a unique product range that covers both the utility arb and electrical supply industries,...

Windsor from up north.
May 15, 2006... Nordic Forest* was established to distribute the full range of Windsor products including chains, bars and safety clothing. Due to expansion, the company has recently moved to new premises in Lockerbie, from where a next-day delivery service...

One-stop package.
May 15, 2006... Orchard Hill Forestry & Arboricultural Supplies* started a mail order service in 1995 for tree surgeons, local authorities and forestry contractors. The latest catalogue has just been produced which is stuffed full of specialist equipment...

Innovation technology from the experts.
May 15, 2006... Fujikura Europe Limited (FEL)* are the leading UK and international supplier of specialist and hi-tech equipment for arboricultural and forestry applications. Part of the multinational Fujikura organisation - world leaders in optical fibre...

An Essex 50th birthday.(Stanton Hope Ltd to stock a new range of trousers and jackets)(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... With 50 years' experience of supplying tools, equipment and protective clothing to the forestry professional and arboriculturist, Stanton Hope Ltd* (SH) announces that it now stocks the new range of Stihl `Hi-Flex' trousers and jackets. It adds...

Lightweight protection.(Severnside Safety Supplies Limited introduces a new range of protective clothing)
May 15, 2006... New from Severnside Safety Supplies Limited* - to compliment is extensive range of safety clothing and work and weather wear - is Arblite lightweight clothing for chainsaw users . This is around 33% lighter than most other currently available...

APF 2006 DIARY: Looking forward to Ragley.
May 15, 2006... We are nearly there! APF Exhibition secretary Ian Millward presents his penultimate diary... April 13 saw our penultimate site meeting. It does help to focus your efforts when you know there is such a relatively short time left before...

And so farewell Sudbrook.
May 15, 2006... The demise of an old friend is always an emotional experience as David Taylor found out when he took a fond last look at the Sudbrook Mill of St Regis Paper Company. The chips are down - Sudbrook's last gasp. There is something sad...

`Worst case of vandalism'.
May 15, 2006... `This would be by far the greatest loss of ancient woodland in Wales since the Assembly gave it protection under planning regulations in 2002'. This is how the Woodland Trust (Coed Cadw) (WT) conservation charity described the proposal to...

Renewal of trust.(Brief article)
May 15, 2006... With 25000 ha of woodland under its wing, the National Trust (NT) is celebrating the renewal of its certification with the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). In the words of NT forestry head Ray Hawes, the largest non-governmental woodlands...