Forestry & British Timber articles from October 2006

Forestry & British Timber archives from October 2006

Map drawn for brave new biomass world.
October 9, 2006... Foresters have always demonstrated an ability to react to changed circumstances in a practical and direct way. That explains how, in spite of a sea of difficulties over the past decade, the APF Demo can still grow and prosper, pointing to a...

UNDER ONE BANNER: Confederation of Forest Industries.(Forestry and Timber Association )
October 9, 2006... `We are delighted that the amalgamation of ConFor* and the FTA is now complete and we are operating as a single organisation', said David Crichton, CE of the former on September 6. He was commenting after the `physical integration' of the...

LOGBOOK: Your CLA memories sought.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... First held in Stetchworth in 1958, the CLA Game Fair will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2008. To mark the anniversary it is intended to publish a book looking back over 50 years of what has grown to be the world's biggest annual country...

LOGBOOK: Lamberhurst to distribute Chaptrack.
October 9, 2006... Lamberhurst Engineering Limited, the UK distributor of Ferrari Tractors, Pellenc electric pruners, Seppi mulchers and the full range of Caroni mowers have been confirmed as the UK distributor of the Chaptrack 175 from French manufacturers...

LOGBOOK: Redwood to distribute Arborplant.(Predator sales are growing very fast in the UK and across Europe)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Arborplant, manufacturers of the Predator range of stumpgrinder have appointed Hants-based Redwood Equipment as its UK distributor. Arborplant MD Patrick Watts said: 'Predator sales are growing very fast in the UK and across Europe. It makes...

LOGBOOK: Scottish Exec supports grants.(new grants scheme in 2007)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... The Scottish Executive is to add an additional #6m towards SFGS in an effort to help ease the pressures being faced by parts of the industry due to the early closure of the scheme. The additional funding has been found through the Executive's...

LOGBOOK: Thumbs down for govt.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Just as the party conference season kicked off last month the County Land & Business Association (CLA) revealed the results of an ICM poll which shows that three quarters (76%) of the British public do not agree that the Government is...

LOGBOOK: Makita boom means expansion.
October 9, 2006... Power tool manufacturer Makita is doubling the warehouse capacity at its Milton Keynes HQ to meet 'the accelerating demands of their customers throughout the UK'. A further 7000m2 stock holding and distribution facility is under construction...

LOGBOOK: Welsh winner, `tree-times' over.
October 9, 2006... `In the short space of seven years, through hard work and determination, the volunteers have transformed the former conifer clearfell site into an increasingly diverse community nature reserve'. Steve Wigfall, a member of the Coed y Bobol Trust...

LOGBOOK: NF's woodland cover grows to 17%.(National Forest Company)
October 9, 2006... During the year 2005/6, the National Forest Company (NFC) - now in its second decade of woodland creation - planted another 413 hectares. This is revealed in its latest annual report* which is noteworthy for its optimistic approach to the...

LOGBOOK: A-Plant gains `A' grade.
October 9, 2006... Tree work contractors involved in roadside operations will be interested to hear that A-Plant's Traffic Systems (A-PTS) business has won the hire industry's first Sector Scheme (SS) 12 certification. This follows rigorous procedure...

LOGBOOK: To recognise arb excellence.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... A highlight of the Arboricultural Association's annual conference dinner at York University on October 3, will be the award of a new trophy to this year's `outstanding student' in the Royal Forestry Society's (RFS) Professional Diploma in...

LOGBOOK: New life for old timber.
October 9, 2006... A new recycling initiative - `Wood Chuckers' - aims to reuse some of the thousands of tonnes of waste wood thrown into landfill sites each year and also provide work for people with learning disabilities and for young people who otherwise would...

LOGBOOK: 'Hot glove'for BTS.(Distribution Power Lines)(Broadleaf Tree Specialists)
October 9, 2006... A company responsible for protecting some 40% of UK consumers' electricity supply from vegetation has moved into the utilities maintenance field following a #2.5m acquisition that will see it - BTS - become the only company in the UK to offer...

LOGBOOK: Lakeside Way launches Kielder's trail.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... As part of the ambitious plans to create one of the UK's `most spectacular' multi-user trails at Kielder Water and Forest Park, the first ten-mile section of the long-distance route that will eventually circumnavigate Europe's biggest man-made...

LOGBOOK: Restoration continues at Penycoed.
October 9, 2006... The Woodland Trust is carrying out thinning work at Penycoed, a 28 hectare part-ancient wood on the eastern fringe of Llangollen, as part of its long-term aim of restoring the wood to its former broadleaved glory. During September and...

LOGBOOK: TRADA's new look at treatments.(Timber Research and Development Association )
October 9, 2006... Using as the key information source, BS 8417, `Preservation of timber - recommendations', TRADA Technology Ltd has revised its Wood Information Sheet (WIS) - `Preservative treatment for timber: a guide to specification'. It would act, TRADA...

LOGBOOK: The web to access.(Facelift Access Hire)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Powered access specialist Facelift Access Hire has launched its new website*. Aside from general improvements the true aim of the redevelopment was to provide all access users with a complete reference library or tool for relevant information...

LOGBOOK: Vive la difference!(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... A new report by Robinwood, the Forestry Commission Wales European project which aims to help give rural Europe a new future, shows that trees and forests play an important role in the lives of millions across Europe. Each of the project...

LOGBOOK: Cairngorms consultation.
October 9, 2006... Views are being sought on the proposed transfer of ownership of the Cairngorm Estate from Highlands & Islands Enterprise to Forestry Commission Scotland. The Cairngorm Estate is owned by Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE), which is looking to...

LOGBOOK: `Hands on' in the Highlands.(forestry)
October 9, 2006... `Like many of the land-based industries, forestry is often misunderstood. Many people do not realise the high level of technical skills involved here and see the industry as having limited career prospects, when in fact the opposite is true'....

LOGBOOK: UK stats, 2006.
October 9, 2006... A total of 8.8m green tonnes of UK timber (roundwood) was delivered to primary wood processors and others in 2005, the Forestry Commission revealed in its `UK timber statistics 2006'* published at the end of August. Sawlog delivered to sawmills...

LOGBOOK: Beetle could target broadleaves.
October 9, 2006... Originating in Asia, the citrus longhorn beetle (Anoplophora chinensis) is a quarantine-listed pest that could pose a threat to UK trees, Defra announced in late July. Earlier that month, it reports, a small number of adult beetles - believed...

LOGBOOK: 'Ancient' celebration in Belfast.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... The grand finale of a year-long series of Woodland Trust events celebrating our precious ancient woodland takes place at Belvoir Park Forest, a Forest Service property, sitting right on the doorstep of Belfast, on Sunday 15 October. It's a...

LOGBOOK: Alan's 30 years of loyal service.(Central Scotland Forestry Education Initiative)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Cowie-based wood panel producer Norbord has paid tribute to one of its longest-serving employees, who has retired after a distinguished 30- year career. More than 60 staff gathered at the Dunblane Hydro recently to say a fond farewell to their...

LOGBOOK: More tree cover planned in Yorkshire.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Tree cover in the Yorkshire Dales National Park amounts to four per cent of the total area - the lowest of any National Park, according to Geoff Garrett, Trees and Woodland Officer for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority (YDNPA). In an...

LOGBOOK: Edinburgh's forest schools.
October 9, 2006... Teachers in Edinburgh are set to swap their blackboards for loppers, saws and an outdoor classroom thanks to a unique partnership between Forestry Commission Scotland and the City of Edinburgh Council. Under the Edinburgh Forest School...

LOGBOOK: Keeping track of honey buzzards.
October 9, 2006... Rare honey buzzards from the Scottish Highlands are being tracked on the internet as part of a pioneering project to uncover the mysteries of the birds' annual journey south. The honey buzzard is an elusive raptor that breeds in small numbers...

Walnuts for horse chestnuts.
October 9, 2006... August is the media's `silly' season but there was nothing frivolous about the mass coverage given to the plight of horse chestnut trees when the national press finally woke up to the `double whammy' from bleeding canker and horse chestnut leaf...

Harping on an ancient theme.
October 9, 2006... `It's a well-known fact', writes Susan Burke, `that wine, women and song all have the power to change a man's direction in life'. Mark Norris explained: `Although I don't play the instrument, when I married the Celtic harpist, Savourna...

Making more of what's left.
October 9, 2006... While no tree surgery arisings end up in landfill, local authorities in Greater Manchester and Merseyside spend almost #170 000 a year on disposal. This was one of the key findings of a report `Of Chips and Logs*' by The Mersey and Red Rose...

Enlightened management at Leeds.
October 9, 2006... As grounds' manager at Leeds Castle there's rarely a dull moment for James McConkie and his team that meticulously maintains the magnificent 500 acres of forest, gardens and parkland there. James recently invited FBT along to share a few...

FIREWOOD PROCESSING: Fuelwood range grows ever-wider.
October 9, 2006... Among the latest additions to Fuelwood (Warwick) Ltd's* already long list of small-scale forestry machinery - with its emphasis on fuelwood conversion - is its new Fuel Factory 400: A fully automatic firewood production facility that converts...

FIREWOOD PROCESSING: Three-way splitting.
October 9, 2006... High productivity for its Firewood Line automatic bandsaw wood splitter machines is claimed by Arbor Eater Brushwood Chippers Ltd*. Known as models A800 and A900 - signifying bandwheel diameters - their standard features include splitting wedge...

FIREWOOD PROCESSING: The Posch pride of machines.(producing a high quality product)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Austrian manufacturers Posch 'pride themselves on producing a high quality product to withstand the rigours of hardwood conversion', according to distributors Jas P Wilson*. Posch produced 11700 firewood machines in 2005 and expect to...

FIREWOOD PROCESSING: For large rings to kindling.
October 9, 2006... Hydrocut Ltd* offer their well-established 'Hy-Crack' range of screw- type logsplitters including the successful HC2X 'contractors' model which was introduced at APF 2004. These machines, according to Hydrocut's David Mansfield, 'offer...

FIREWOOD PROCESSING: A machine for everyone.(fully hydraulic log feed deck)
October 9, 2006... M Large Tree Services* distribute the Thor logsplitter and Hakki Pilke range of Firewood processors throughout the UK and Ireland. 'The Hakki Pilke range provides a machine for every scale of producer', comments Jeffrey Borland. Top of the...

FIREWOOD PROCESSING: Business as usual at Technorton.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... Following the recent sale of Technorton Ltd*, new owner Greg Hartshorn has announced 'it's business as usual at Technorton'. The company will continue to manufacture and expand its range of sawbenches and logsplitters with the following...

CHAINSAW FEATURE: Making way for the new generation.
October 9, 2006... `I am impressed with the developments on this next generation saw and enjoyed that for a powerful machine it is very high revving'. That independent assessment of Stihl's latest chainsaw, the MS 441, came from arborist Richard Townsend of...

CHAINSAW FEATURE: Cornering the domestic market.
October 9, 2006... Emak UK* has launched three new Efco professional-quality petrol chainsaws for the domestic market just in time for the autumn pruning, lopping and firewood preparation season. The three new models, designated the 137, 141S and 141SP, have...

CHAINSAW FEATURE: Winning over the pro.
October 9, 2006... Makita's* rugged DCS9010 is winning over more forestry professionals according to the company. Powered by a high-revving 90cc two-stroke engine that complies with the latest EC emission regulations, the 6.8hp available is matched by a...

CHAINSAW FEATURE: Pouring water on troubled oils.
October 9, 2006... Could new water-extended chainsaw chain oil revolutionise industry habits? 'The biodegradable chainsaw oil market has never really got going in the UK, primarily because high prices compared to mineral oils meant that few were prepared to...

CHAINSAW FEATURE: These boots are made for working!
October 9, 2006... 'Too stiff', 'too heavy', don't fit' - sound familiar? 'How many times have you said that about chainsaw boots but have been forced to buy them as there is no alternative?', says Greg Shotliff, development manager with Arbortec Forestwear* (a...

CHAINSAW FEATURE: World class saws.
October 9, 2006... Prior to the concluding limbing final, it was unbearably exciting when the World Logging Championships in Otepaa, Estonia were brought to a close at the end of August. Dutchman Hugo van Bijsterveldt led the competition, closely followed by his...

Open house - harvest home.
October 9, 2006... 'I feel that "open houses" are a good way forward and a way to thank our current customers and welcome new ones over a cup of coffee or a glass of wine or whatever'. The speaker is Greg Davis and the `open house' was the working demonstration...