Forestry & British Timber articles from September 2002

Forestry & British Timber archives from September 2002

Cydcoed communities.(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Another #100 000 of European cash has gone, via the Welsh Cydcoed - Woods for All scheme, towards backing the woodland development work of community groups. In announcing the latest `Objective one' funding success, programme manager Dominic...

UK's largest initiative to boost timber industries.(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... `No other project of this kind has been mounted anywhere in Europe. It offers a unique opportunity for businesses in the sector - from timber growers right through to manufacturers and retailers - to work together over the next two years to...

Powis provides it all.
September 11, 2002... Described as a two-day celebration of Wales' `woodland heritage and timber industry', the Powis Wood fair will be staged in its unique 13th- century castle setting near Welshpool on the weekend of September 7-8. Organised by the Welsh Timber...

As if by MAGIC!(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... A new website, launched in London recently by rural affairs minister Alun Michael could mean faster processing of WGS and felling licence applications. The `Multi-Agency Geographic Information for the Country' or MAGIC* for short, brings...

Logging on at Ludlow.(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... At one time, surveying his 3000 hectares of prime woodland was a `mind- bogglingly' complex task for Ludlow, Shropshire-based Forestry Commission area forester Mark Crowley. But now, thanks to the NASA space programme and the FC's new computer...

Tender scheme on a high.(National Forest Company reaches highest success rate)
September 11, 2002... The highest success rate since starting its competitive tender scheme eight years ago is reported by the National Forest Company. A `highly impressive' 383 hectares of land is set to become new woodland following the selection of 16 winning...

New England comes home.(New England forestry)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Old England's emerging Midlands-based National Forest (NF) is on the path towards matching the magnificent autumn colours displayed by New England's maples with their blaze of tourist-trapping scarlet, gold and yellow. The scene for the future...

Lost generation.(wood industries, production)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Wood-processing industries generated far more wood residues than they sold but they had little idea how much waste was involved or what the alternative to using landfill sites might be. That is the conclusion of the `Turning a blind eye' report...

Goodbye tarmac trudging.(walkers' access to paths in)(Scotland)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... `This path... will be an invaluable facility enabling users to enjoy the outdoors - from keen mountain folk to the less energetic - who have grown tired of trudging over tarmac to access the hills'. With this message, Scotland's deputy...

Orange opens up.(Orange Plant)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... To meet continued expansion, woodchipper and stump-grinder distributors Orange Plant* have opened a further depot sited on the Brunswick Estate in Newcastle upon Tyne. It complements existing branches at Amble, Warkworth and Ponteland,...

New man at Kendall's.(Kendall Machinery appoints Miles Mackay)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Miles Mackay has joined the Kendall Machinery as sales engineer for the West, Central and East Midlands. Miles a former Newton Rigg Student, has a background encompassing a boad range of arboricultural and forestry experience, from small...

Tree improvement and regional diversity.(in the UK and Ireland)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... The recent implementation of government policies aimed at enhancing regional diversity in the UK has been a contentious topic amongst foresters and scientists. The British and Irish Hardwoods Improvement Programme (BIHIP) - a consortium of...

Alrewas arboretum.(Queen Elizabeth II and Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh visit on jubilee tour, England)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... As part of her jubilee tour, the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, visited the National Memorial Arboretum created on a former sand and gravel quarry. Established on 150 acres of restored land near Alrewas, Staffs, it is a tribute to...

`Large' order for log-splitters.(M. Large Tree Services Ltd.)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Taking on the sole UK and Ireland distributorship of Thor hydraulic log- splitters are Northern Ireland's M. Large Tree Services Ltd*. They complement the company's Hakki Pilke firewood processor range which it has handled since October 2000,...

Cowie commissions.(Nexfor Inc.; particleboard machinery at Cowie, Stirlingshire plant)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... The successful commissioning of an #l8m particleboard line at Nexfor's Cowie, Stirlingshire plant is highlighted in the summer 2002 issue of its `Agenda' customer newsletter*. The scheme is part of a three-year #80m investment in MDF, OSBs. PB...

Winning ways in Wales.
September 11, 2002... `With the cancellation of last year's event, we might have wondered if the previous winners had lost their touch but Alyn Jones and Phi Dunford managed to finish on top again', reports chief forestry steward George Johnson on this summer's...

Universal Unimog.(U300 transport equipment)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
September 11, 2002... Grounds maintenance company Sodexho Land Technology wanted a vehicle to meet many needs: all-terrain capability in parks and woodlands, power to pull a six-tonne, 20in chipper and large payload capacity for tree debris and tools and equipment....

Getting to the root of the problem.(tree roots in Edinburgh, Scotland sewer system cleared by Insituform Group Ltd. and John Kennedy Holdings Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 11, 2002... Handsome above ground but offering potential problems beneath, mature trees offer conflicting environmental characteristics. This was the case at Edinburgh's Water of Leith where a major #750 000 sewer rehabilitation project has just been...

Euroforest achieve ISO 14001.(Euroforest Ltd. standards, International Standards Organization)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Independent timber harvesting and marketing company Euroforest Limited has made a further advance in `enhancing its standards of environmental management'. Following final assessment in early July by BM Trada Certification the company has been...

Operation walnut witness.(trees seed collection project, United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... This autumn, seed from outstanding Black walnut (Juglans nigra) trees are being collected from the USA and continental Europe as part of a new improvement programme for UK production of its timber. Part of the British and Irish Hardwoods...

Strathspey success.(BSW Timber PLC)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Latest company in the industry to gain `Investors in People' status is BSW Timber plc for its Boat of Garten sawmilling operation alongside the River Spey in the Highlands. Employing around 40 people, it won the national award in recognition of...

Wanted - ladies in waiting.(Forestry Commission, trees)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... A `hunt-the-female' exercise is under way in North Wales. They're needed for breeding purposes - although nothing more sinister than silvicultural, of course, as befits a Forestry Commission appeal. And, in this case, the species must be...

New life for old wood.(TRADA Technology Ltd., Biocomposites Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 11, 2002... The use of waste sawdust as a plant-protection material and a system for identifying and sorting preservative-treated timber are just two of the projects chosen to benefit from new research funding (#10000 and #40000 and won respectively by...

Distance learning course in Wales.(Welsh Timber Forum)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Ten members of the Welsh Timber Forum attended the launch of the `distance learning' course in forest industries technology held at Gregynog Hall near Newtown in mid-Wales. The course provides the opportunity to register for a post-graduate...

Restoring king capercaillie.(funds to protect grouse species)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Five million pounds are winging their way to the Scottish Highlands to help save the capercaillie, the world's biggest grouse. The news follows forestry minister Allan Wilson's recent announcement that #2.5m of European money had been awarded...

Leading on from Leeds.(TreesUnlimited)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Leeds-based arboricultural equipment supplier TreesUnlimited* (TU) is finalising plans to expand its operations in the south by opening a second office in Gloucestershire this month (September). At the time of going to Press, the precise...

Oak handler supreme.(Carpenter Oak and Woodland Company Ltd. contract with National Trust Museum, Woodbridge, Suffolk)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 11, 2002... For the past 15 years, Carpenter Oak & Woodland Co Ltd (COW) of Chippenham, Wiltshire has specialised in the design and production of green oak timber-framed buildings. It has won many prestigious contracts, a recent one for the display...

Training boost urged.(Adult Learning Institute, United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... The Adult Learning Institute says that training in the UK wood and timber processing sector needs to be improved. In its annual report the ALI said that many employers in the sector are not up to speed on how to help staff gain...

Greens lose case.(Greenpeace on illegally logged Brazilian mahogany, United Kingdom)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... An appeal judgment has gone against environmental group Greenpeace which was attempting to force the UK government to seize imports of Brazilian mahogany which it claimed had been illegally logged. The appeal court judges ruled that the...

Greens accuse govt.(Worldwide Fund for Nature report)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Worldwide Fund for Nature has claimed that up to 10% of the UK's timber and other forest products imports are derived from illegally felled logs. In its new report, `The Timber Footprint of the G8 and China', the WWF also says that around...

SCA suffers.(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... The SCA forest products group of Sweden reported a downturn in operating profits in the first half of the year. The company said that its solid wood division achieved a slight improvement but across all operations, including pulp and...

Pallet alliance.(Howie Forest Products Ltd., J Nicklin and Sons)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Wood packaging and pallet producer J Nicklin & Sons has signed up to a supply deal with sawmiller Howie Forest Products. The latter has installed a new dedicated line at its Dalbeattie plant to make cut-to-size pallet wood. Most will be...

Finnish giant reports upturn. (Finnforest's financial results in first half of 2002).(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Finnish forest products group Finnforest reported operating earnings up Euros 900 000 to Euros 21.6m for the first half of 2002. On the downside, the company said its sawmilling operations were still in loss due to market oversupply, but...

Jones to quadruple output.(James Jones and Sons)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Sawmiller James Jones & Sons has been given the planning green light to extend its I-beam factory and the company says it will now be able to quadruple production. The company is investing #1m in the expansion of the Forres facility. The...

Scots e-initiative. (forest products firms' e-business).(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... An initiative has been launched in Scotland to assist forest products companies adapt to and exploit e-business. The e-business `forum' is being led by the Scottish Forest Industries Cluster and Forest Industries Development Council, with...

Weatherald sales surge. (Weatherald Wood Components).(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... The former joinery arm of the Thomas Weatherald construction business has reported a jump in sales after becoming an independent business. Now restyled Weatherald Wood Components, the North Yorkshire company focuses on products for the...

International seven-day week. (International Timber).(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... International Timber is introducing seven-day working at its Trafford Park milling facilities to meet demand. The company has taken on 20 extra staff at the branch and has also spent #300 000 on new equipment at the site. Managing...

Rising from Calder ashes. (Ryburn Fell Ltd.'s formation after Calder Wilkinson AIM Ltd.'s liquidation).(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... A new wood processing machinery company has been formed following the liquidation of Calder Wilkinson AIM Ltd. Ryburn Fell Ltd has been launched by former Calder Wilkinson AIM executive Allen Morley and has acquired the rights from the...

Ireland looks to wood fuel.(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Around a fifth of Ireland's energy requirements could be satisfied by burning wood fuels, according to a new report. The study by the Sustainable Energy Ireland organization said that a large percentage of the country's current consumption...

Palgrave Brown boost. (financial results in 2002).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 11, 2002... Engineered wood products specialist Palgrave Brown says its sales have doubled since 1999, while profits have risen by 15%. The company said that its turnover in the year ending March 31 reached #54.4m, compared with #25m in 1998/99, while...

New champ for old woods.(Forestry Commission selects Simon Pryor)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... `This is a tremendously exciting time to join the Forestry Commission. Devolution is giving us all new opportunities to develop policies and approaches to woodland management tailored specifically for England'. With 10 years' solid experience...

Jan steps down. (Arboricultural Association's chairman Jan Polnik).(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Jan Polnik has been forced to step down, for health reasons, from the chairmanship of the Arboricultural Association. His decision to resign from the association was announced, `with regret', by vice-chairman Jonathan Hazell speaking on behalf...

Mark of the Marches.(Mark Crowley to manages woods around Leominster, Ludlow, Knighton, and Presteigne)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... `My first priority is to make contacts among the thousands of individuals and organisations who come to enjoy our woods'. Described by the Forestry Commission as its `new man in the Marches', on the English-Welsh border, forester Mark Crowley...

Double first for TEP arborist.(The Environment Partnership's Phillip Harris completes arboriculture degree)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Phillip Harris, one of the first graduates to obtain a first-class degree in Britain's new honours-level university course in arboriculture, has joined the Warrington-based The Environment Partnership (TEP) as a consultant. The...

Myerscough Arb students reach for top honours.(Myerscough College's Arboriculture class of 2002)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Graduation day at Myerscough College has proven the high standard of teaching and quality of student's work in the BSc Honours Arboriculture class of 2002. The course in advanced tree care and management is the only one of its kind in the...

Letter: Native woodland restoration.
September 11, 2002... From Donald W. MacDonald `Sir, the Woodland Trust has many admirable qualities and I must admit I was very impressed with the work that they were doing at the Hucking Estate in Kent which I visited with the RFS earlier this year. However,...

Ever-upward Jeremy.(Jeremy Barrell wins poleclimbing championships)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
September 11, 2002... English entrants dominated at the 2002 world poleclimbing championships - taking the top five places - staged at the New Forest and Hampshire county show in August. Over 100 000 visitors had the chance to see the contestants battle it out on...

Letter: FTA's certification policy.
September 11, 2002... From Robert Scott `Sir, I refer to your editorial in August (p2). In his speech at the Royal Show, Francis Fulford articulated the growing sense of frustration shared by woodland owners throughout the UK at their ongoing, unsustainable,...

Letter: FTA should address the `real issues' affecting members.
September 11, 2002... From David Ogg `Sir,I have read with interest the editorial in the August issue (p2) and note Francis Fuldford's comments about certification. It is regrettable that I was unable to make use of my invitation to the England launch of...

For creative coppicing.(training for coppice cutters)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... A free training programme starts next month (October) to improve the performance of those working in the coppice industry. Focusing on the special aspects of chainsaw harvesting in `these unique and valued woodlands', it is being funded by...

Ace for accuracy.(Fujikura Europe Ltd.)(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... Latest addition to the long list of arboricultural equipment to be introduced by Fujikura Europe Ltd* is an advanced, hand-held laser tree measurement system. Forest Ace uses reflectorless laser technology - with an inclinometer and optional...

Shredding supremo.(Brief Article)
September 11, 2002... In the wood-shavings and sawdust production market for nearly 40 years, Boden Timber Products has installed a Doppstadt DZ 750 Kombi shredder at its Astley, Manchester plant - only the second to be sold in the UK since its launch earlier this...

Breathing new life into old roots.
September 11, 2002... `Soil compaction and root disturbance are the largest single killers of Britain's trees'. Mike Dewhurst of Eastwood Tree Services Ltd was speaking under a 300-year-old yew tree situated by the entrance to the park surrounding the Norman castle...

50 Great Trees - 50 Golden Years.
September 11, 2002... With so many trees of note along the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, how do you go about selecting a relative few to be `The 50 Great Trees from 50 Great Years' chosen to celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee? That's the question...

Out on a limb.
September 11, 2002... From jamborees to TCC. Andy Barell* - New Forest-based and world- hopping, self-employed climber and rope access solution specialist - charts the evolution of tree-climbing competitions through his own experiences over the past 15 years,...

TO BOLDLY GO.(Peter Sheeran stresses the importance of machine selection in timber harvesting)
September 11, 2002... When it comes to harvesting difficult and extremely challenging sites, equipment choices are of paramount importance. For Irish contractor Peter Sheeran, overcoming problems through careful machine selection and modification has become second...

New Jeep is just the job.(profile of the most recent Jeep Cherokee)(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
September 11, 2002... Latest Jeep Cherokee is the first all-new model since the launch of the Grand Cherokee back in 1999. Jeep has been producing rugged off-roaders for the past 61 years and here Eamonn Wall brings us up to date. The previous Cherokee model...