The University continues to work hard to find the best solution to ensure a sustainable future for its Newton Rigg campus. In partnership with the Skills Funding Agency, the Young People’s Learning Agency and Cumbria County Council the University is looking to identify a partner to take over the delivery of its FE provision by August 2011.

Vice Chancellor Professor Graham Upton said: "All partners involved will now be working together to formally move the plans for Newton Rigg forward. The University is of course very keen to be involved in the process and make sure that a suitable FE provider is identified to take over the FE provision and that the provider actively engages with key stakeholders to ensure that the transition of FE from the University to the new provider happens as seamlessly and effectively as possible.

Although we are looking to identify a new provider to take over from August 2011 the formal process needs to start now to give us and other key stakeholders sufficient time to select and appoint a suitable provider and to complete the complex transfer process. We have already written formally to the responsible agencies SFA, YPLA and the County Council to notify them of our plans which is in accordance with our contractual obligations."

A spokesman from the Skills Funding Agency said:

“The Skills Funding Agency will continue to work with the University of Cumbria and other stakeholders to ensure that a long-term solution can be reached to secure high quality cost-effective learning and skills provision for young people, employers and individuals in the local community.

“A process will take place in October/November 2010 to find replacement provision and an alternate provider will be announced early in the New Year.”

The University is recruiting as normal to courses at Newton Rigg from September this year and is committed to ensuring the student experience is unaffected by these plans. FE is seen as a successful progression route to the University and courses will continue as planned.

Although the University has decided to transfer the continuing FE provision to another provider from 2011, the preferred position is for the University of Cumbria to make continued use of the Newton Rigg site for higher education and research. However this will ultimately depend on any new provider. The University will therefore look at the future of HE delivery to determine the best future for the University, its students and research activity. The university will do this while maintaining its unique strengths in forestry, conservation and outdoor courses. These strengths have enabled the University to grow courses and research base since its formation.

The University is committed to running HE from Newton Rigg for at least the next academic year and any subsequent changes, yet to be determined, will be phased in over time to ensure programmes have good quality facilities in an appropriate and sustainable environment.

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The Forestry Commission has launched a pilot to test a new quality assurance scheme for tree planting projects designed to sequester carbon.

The market for such projects is increasing but, until now, there have been no standards to measure their claims against, or to ensure that real benefits will accrue.

The new Woodland Carbon Code will encourage a consistent approach to projects and provide clarity and transparency to potential customers and investors about what their contributions should achieve.

The Commission developed the code in conjunction with a wide range of interests, including ICF, and it was subject to consultation earlier this year before being finalised. To comply with the code projects must:

• be responsibly and sustainably managed to national standards;
• use standard methods for estimating the carbon that will be sequestered or locked up;
• be independently verified; and
• must meet transparent criteria and standards to ensure that real carbon benefits are made.

Project providers must register with the Forestry Commission, stating the exact location and long-term objectives of their project. Once approved, projects will then appear in a national online register.

Tim Rollinson FICFor, Forestry Commission Director-General, said:

"Increasingly, people and companies are realising the valuable potential that tree planting schemes have to soak up CO2 from the atmosphere. There are now many commercial schemes that encourage individuals and businesses to contribute to tree planting to help compensate for their carbon footprint. But before investing in projects people want to know that schemes will actually deliver what they claim. The Woodland Carbon Code will provide that reassurance and will encourage more investment in tree planting in the UK."

The six-month pilot phase will test the scheme with around a dozen pilot projects throughout the UK. This experience will help to refine the code and its associated guidance before it is launched early in 2011.

Visit www.forestry.gov.uk/carboncode for more details or download the flyer.

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ICF Supporter Chris Badenoch has been elected as the new President of the Royal Scottish Forestry Society (RSFS).

The appointment was made at the RSFS annual excursion when outgoing President Paul Ramsay stood down.

Originally from an agricultural training and working for five years with the Hill Farming Research Organisation, Chris developed his ecology and forestry experience with NERC in a detailed survey of deer damage to commercial plantation in the Forestry Commission North Conservancy as well as being part of the Mountain and Moorland Habitat Team in the old NC Research branch, specifically involved there in researching natural regeneration within deer and sheep range in Deeside and Speyside.

A move to the Regional staff of Lothians and Borders brought major ecological survey work and the preparation of the Provisional Inventory of Ancient and Long-established Semi-natural Woodland in the four Border Districts as well as detailed advisory input to forest sites and plans in the Tweed Valley Forests, Craik and Wauchope and the private blocks of the Borders.

In the 1990s Chris was in charge of the disbursement of government grant for the Central Scotland Woodland Trust, and also sat as ecological adviser on the FC’s Central Scotland Challenge Fund panel. As a co-founder – now a Director - of Tweed Forum he was much involved with early work on the management of forest streams and was the co-founder of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group in Scotland, which, as he recalls, originally included forestry.

A Supporter member of the Institute and member of ConFor, Chris sits on the Regional Forestry Forum for South Scotland and the National Forest Land Scheme Assessment Panel.

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In July, Wales’s Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, confirmed that Better Woodlands for Wales (BWW), the woodland grant scheme delivered by Forestry Commission Wales, will close with effect from 1 January 2011. Woodland grants will be integrated into Glastir, the Welsh Assembly Government’s new sustainable land management scheme from 1 January 2013.

So what does this change mean for existing BWW schemes and for woodland owners who may be planning to apply to BWW in the next few months?

Patrick Green, Forestry Commission Wales’s Operations Manager, explains, "As BWW contracts are for five years, we need to manage a planned closure of the scheme to avoid a significant spend beyond the end of the Rural Development Plan in 2013.

"As a result, new applications to BWW will not be accepted after 17 November 2010 and any existing or new applications will be given until 31 December 2010 to reach Foundation Plan approval stage.

"All BWW contracts must then be approved by 31 December 2011. After that date, Forestry Commission Wales will continue to manage BWW as a legacy scheme until approved contracts expire and staff will continue to issue felling licences."

Glastir is the Welsh Assemby Government’s new sustainable land management scheme for Wales. It replaces previous land management schemes including Tir Gofal, Tir Cynnal, Tir Mynydd and the Organic Farming Scheme/Organic Farming Conversion Scheme.

Patrick said, "The development of Glastir as a single integrated land use scheme should make it easier for all landowners to access grant support through a single application.

"Management grants will be accessible both to landowners who only have woodland and to farmers with woodland."
Before the new Glastir woodland grants are launched, Forestry Commission Wales will work with Welsh Assembly Government staff to ensure that information and training are given to the forest and woodland sector.

In the meantime, Forestry Commission Wales is developing Glastir woodland creation grants which will be available from autumn 2010. It will deliver these new grants on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government from Autumn 2010 until 1 January 2013 when they transfer to the Assembly Government.

Patrick added, "Our research showed that the majority of the BWW scheme funding has gone into existing woodland management, not into creating new woodlands or managing additional areas that have not historically been in any grant scheme.

"The development of the new Glastir woodland creation grants offers us a signficant opportunity to continue to deliver the Assembly Government’s Woodlands for Wales strategy."

Information on the new Glastir woodland creation grants will be available later this year on www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-5z8jcr

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Professor Sir John Beddington, the Government's Chief Scientist, caught up with the key scientific work being done to protect Britain's forests from pests, diseases and climate change when he visited Forest Research's Alice Holt Lodge Research Station in Surrey.

"The current threats from climate change and tree pests and diseases mean it is more important than ever that British forestry is underpinned by a sound scientific base," said Professor Peter Freer-Smith, the Forestry Commission's Chief Scientist. "These threats apply equally to trees being grown for timber or to conserve nature.

"It was therefore a great pleasure to show Professor Beddington some of the high-quality science which we're involved in to help protect our woods and forests from these threats, and to help our trees, woods and forests play their role in protecting us from the effects of climate change."

This visit highlighted some of the work that Forest Research conducts into climate change, resource management and the human and ecological sciences. Professor Beddington saw the work being conducted on climate change and carbon fluxes within the forest.

Alice Holt Research Forest is a mixed broadleaf woodland with a 12-year record of CO2 flux measurements. These data underpinned the research that was summarised in the Forests and Climate Change chapter of the Read Report 'Combating Climate Change - a role for UK forests' published in November 2009.

Forest Research is also working on the use of wood as an alternative fuel, and provided a summary of the work of the Biomass Energy Centre and the short-rotation forestry trials in England and Scotland funded by the Department for Energy & Climate Change (DECC) and Forestry Commission Scotland.

Given the serious concerns about the threats from pests and diseases, Forest Research's scientists also gave Professor Beddington a briefing on the current status of threats from tree pests and pathogens. It particularly focused on two high-profile diseases - acute oak decline and the spread of Phytophthora ramorum to Japanese larch trees - which are causing concern in the forestry sector.

Pictured: Professor Beddington inspects climate change research work in Alice Holt Research Forest with Dr James Morrison of Forest Research.

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The London Tree Officers Association (LTOA) has welcomed this week’s press coverage on the spread of the Oak Processionary Moth and the human health issues it poses.

In 2006 OPM was first identified in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and now in 2010 it has spread to the boroughs of Ealing, Brent, Hounslow and Hammersmith & Fulham. The LTOA is of the opinion that, without drastic action, OPM will continue to spread across the UK, as it has across the continent. We are close to the last chance for eradication. The LTOA has alerted the tree officers in Hillingdon, Harrow, Kingston, Merton, Wandsworth, Kensington and Chelsea, Spelthorne and Elmbridge who may well be next affected. In a relatively short period we might be faced with problems at, for instance, Olympic venues such as Greenwich Park.

The LTOA is about to release a Guidance Note on OPM.

Among key aspects highlighted are:

• The London Boroughs are trying to fight a problem without the correct resources. We need funding for a pan London approach to management and control of OPM.
• More effective and environmentally friendly treatments are in use on the continent but are not currently licensed for use in the UK. This needs to be addressed immediately.
• Although increasingly seen as a human health issue, the legal tools to fight the pest are based on plant health. If OPM fully establishes itself legal tools appropriate to eradication would be automatically discontinued. We would then be faced with permanent and expensive damage limitation measures.

Over the last year the LTOA has:

• Provided free training to members regarding the identification and treatment of OPM.
• Written to MPs, the Mayor of London and the press to seek funding for treatments and to try to raise awareness of the consequences of failure to deal conclusively with this issue while it remains containable. These initiatives have had little effect.
• Offered support to members and other affected landowners by joining the Forestry Commission’s Outbreak Management Team and setting up its own working party trying to raise awareness and utilise the extensive experience of the tree officers of affected boroughs.

Dave Lofthouse, Chair of the LTOA, said:

“The members of the LTOA are the officers dealing with this on the ground and do not have the resources and tools to do the job. Eradication will only be possible if this is reprioritised as a human health problem with appropriate legal controls and given adequate resources”.

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Seminars at Scotland’s Housing Expo
Edinburgh’s Napier University has announced that its Forest Products Research Institute will host a series of seminars at the forthcoming inaugural Scotland Housing Expo.

The Expo, which runs for the entire month of August in Inverness, is based on a concept from Finland with the aim of focusing on housing design. With more than 50 houses by more than two dozen different architectural practices, the Expo offers the widest range of examples of sustainable housing development yet seen in Scotland.

Forestry Commission Scotland and Wood for Good are co- promoting the three afternoon seminars as follows:

1.00pm, Thursday 5 August – The Carbon Benefits of Using Timber in Construction

1.00pm, Thursday 12 August – Off-site and Modern Methods of Timber Construction – a sustainable approach

1.00pm, Monday 16 August – The Use of Home Grown Timber in Construction

For full details download the flyer

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Local authorities in England stand to lose a key source of income under proposals for the review of developer contributions, says the Landscape Institute.

Plans proposed by DCLG could severely limit revenue funding for green spaces and make it harder for groups of local authorities to collaborate on the development of green infrastructure.

Source: The Landscape Institute. Read More

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A woodland surrounding a reservoir which provides clean water to the people of Newport has won a gold award for its sensitive management by Forestry Commission Wales.

Foresters use low impact methods to look after Talybont woodland in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park to avoid affecting the water quality in the reservoir.

Now the woodland, which is owned by Dwr Cymru and leased to FC Wales, has won the gold award for the best-managed woodland in Wales between 200 and 1,000 hectares.

Talybont is a popular forest containing long-distance walks and cycleways, such as the Taff trail and Sustrans cycle route. There are also car parks and access points onto the open hill and the popular Blyn y Glyn watefalls.

The 810 hectare forest, managed by FC Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government, was originally designed in the 1950s to balance tree types and colour to create year-round interest and is an important part of the landscape in the Park.

It also has signs of the area’s industrial past with the Brinore Tramroad, which once transported material from the nearby Trefil quarry and Tredegar ironworks to the canal at Talybont for onward shipment to a demanding world.

Over the past 15 years, FC Wales has focused its efforts on creating a more interesting mix of tree types and ages by clearing some areas and thinning others.

In order to protect water quality, they use Low Impact Silvicultural Systems (LISS) in the buffer zones around the reservoir and along streams to ensure they are unaffected by felling operations.

Today, FC Wales aims to increase the amount of broadleaved trees in the forest and reshape the hard edges on the upper slopes so that the forest sits better in the landscape.

Judge Graham Heath said, “An attractive and productive woodland is being enhanced by sympathetic and well-considered management.

“The constraints of the adjacent reservoir and watercourse are well understood and considered.”
Accepting the award at this year’s Royal Welsh Show, FC Wales Local Area Manager Paul Dann said, “Winning this award recognises the attention to detail and consideration given to this important and prominent woodland by foresters during the past 60 years.”

Caption: FC Wales Local Area Manager Paul Dann accepts the award from Bill MacDonald, President of the Institute of Chartered Foresters.

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Wales’ Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, has confirmed that Better Woodlands for Wales (BWW), the woodland grant scheme delivered by Forestry Commission Wales (FCW), will close with effect from 1 January 2011. Woodland grants will be integrated into Glastir, the Welsh Assembly Government’s new sustainable land management scheme for Wales.

This change is the result of a review carried out by FCW into how woodland grants should be managed to ensure they deliver the Assembly Government’s Woodlands for Wales strategy.

FCW will continue to deliver woodland creation grants until 1 January 2013 via Glastir on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government.

The Woodlands for Wales strategy, which was launched in 2009, places particular emphasis on woodland creation and bringing farm woodlands into management.

However, research has shown that the BWW scheme has not attracted enough farmers to manage their woodlands or to plant new woodlands. And, as farmers own most of the plantable land in Wales, their involvement is essential to expand the country’s woodland cover.

Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones said:
“The delivery of woodland grants via Glastir will establish a single, holistic approach to grant support for land management in Wales.

“As an integrated land management scheme, Glastir will offer support to woodland owners and farmers and will reduce bureaucracy by offering a one-stop-shop for rural grant aid.”

The BWW scheme will close to new applicants at the end of December 2010 and all contracts for work supported by BWW must be approved by 31 December 2011.

Forestry Commission Wales will be involved in the design of the woodland creation grant scheme that they will deliver from Autumn 2010 on behalf of Glastir and it will also be involved in the design of the woodland grants that will be delivered by the Welsh Assembly Government via Glastir from January 2013.

For information on the BWW scheme, contact Forestry Commission Wales on 0300 068 0300, email FCWEnquiries@forestry.gsi.gov.uk or see www.forestry.gov.uk/wales

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The Forestry Commission is continuing to lead the fight against the tree disease, Phytophthora ramorum, that has been infecting Japanese larch trees in forests across the South West.

Acting on the best available scientific advice, it is carrying out a programme of felling infected trees on public and private land as the most effective means of controlling further spread of the disease.

A current large-scale example of such felling for disease control is now underway on land managed by the Forestry Commission in the Glyn Valley in Cornwall. Further felling operations are also in train in Plym Woods on the edge of Plymouth; Lydford on the edge of Dartmoor. Felling will also soon start at Burrator Reservoir on Dartmoor, which is managed by South West Lakes Trust.

The Forestry Commission is repeating its earlier requests to landowners and woodland managers to remain vigilant and boost our efforts to contain the disease by reporting any suspected signs of infection in their woodland.

Chris Marrow FICFor, Forest Management Director from the Forestry Commission’s Peninsula district said:

“No one, least of all the Forestry Commission, wants to see trees and woodland cut down unnecessarily – ahead of their natural time for harvesting - and leaving exposed bare landscapes on a scale greater than through routine, planned rotations. Unfortunately, our scientific advice is that felling infected trees is the best method for controlling this disease and so preventing further damage.

We are seeking to minimise the impacts of this highly infectious disease on landowners and the landscape as best we can – simply by seeking to contain it. But also from the outset, we have been working closely with private landowners and their representative bodies to keep them informed about the disease, the symptoms to look out for, and to explain and agree the necessary control and biosecurity measures . For owners who find they have infected trees we have secured a limited fund and depending on the progression of the disease we may have to target support to sites that pose the greatest risk of spread to uninfected areas.

We have been greatly assisted by the vigilance and support of private woodland owners in helping us detect and seek to limit the spread of this disease.”

Read More

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ICF will host a major international conference on Urban Tree Research in Birmingham from 13-14 April next year in partnership with a range of relevant organisations.

In preparation for the programme, ICF has launched a call for papers which will run until 1 November 2010.

Urban trees and woodlands are essential elements of our green infrastructure and have a vital role in promoting liveable and sustainable towns and cities. They can have numerous environmental, economic and social benefits, contributing enormously to the health and welfare of everyone who lives and works in urban areas.

As concern grows about the sustainability of our urban environments, the importance of protecting and expanding our urban forests can only increase.

The main aims of this research conference on urban trees are to identify completed research that remains relevant, research being undertaken currently, and gaps in research where future efforts need to be focused.

The conference recognises the wide range of organisations and disciplines whose work relates to urban trees and it expects the event to be another useful step forward in working together. The partners who form the Conference Steering Group with ICF are:

Arboricultural Association, Ancient Tree Forum, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, Forest Research, Forestry Commission, International Society of Arboriculture (UK & I Chapter), Landscape Institute, London Tree Officers Association, Midland Tree Officers Association, Myerscough College, National Association of Tree Officers, Natural England, Royal Town Planning Institute, Trees and Design Action Group, University of Manchester, Utility Arboriculture Grou

Get information about making a submission

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Five forestry and arboriculture degree graduates have got their new careers off to a flying start, winning Best Student awards from the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF).

The ICF Best Student Award recognises the brightest students graduating with forestry and arboriculture degrees across the UK. Winners receive a cheque from the ICF together with a Best Student Award certificate presented by ICF chartered members, who are leading professionals in forestry and arboriculture.

The five graduate winners were: Thomas Coates from The National School of Forestry in Cumbria, Claire Harbinson from Myerscough College, William Malcolm from The University of Bangor, Anthony Marshall from The University of Edinburgh, and Kamil Witkos from the University of Aberdeen.

Commenting on the awards, ICF President, Bill MacDonald FICFor said:

“The ICF strives to recognise and support excellence in forestry and arboriculture, not only from our chartered members but from anyone working towards a career in forestry or arboriculture.

All five graduates have demonstrated a focus on excellence. They should be very proud of what they have accomplished so far.

ICF looks forward to supporting them as their careers develop along with other graduates working towards Chartered Forester status.”

Pictured: Bill MacDonald FICFor, President of the Institute of Chartered Foresters, with William Malcolm, a forestry graduate from The University of Bangor

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The Forestry Commission has launched a consultation to find out seed testers' preferences for future implementation in Great Britain of the European Directive governing the marketing of forest reproductive material.

The Directive is implemented in Britain through the Forest Reproductive Material (Great Britain) Regulations 2002. These provide a system of control for seed, cuttings and planting stock used for forestry in Great Britain.

One of the requirements of the regulations is that all seed of the 46 'controlled' species, and all seed of the Populus genus of trees, must be tested by an approved seed tester, using internationally accepted techniques, before it can be marketed.

The purpose of the consultation is to allow current and potential seed testers, and others with an interest or expertise in seed testing, an opportunity to comment on the options available for the future implementation of the regulations.

The consultation will cover questions on two key topic areas: the standard to be met by Forestry Commission-approved forest tree seed testing facilities, and the methods of obtaining and retaining approval to become a Forestry Commission-approved forest tree seed testing facility.

The consultation documents can be downloaded from: www.forestry.gov.uk/consultationsFurther information is available from Alister Henderson, tel 0131 314 6276;

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Local authorities in England stand to lose a key source of income under proposals for the review of developer contributions, says the Landscape Institute.

Plans proposed by DCLG could severely limit revenue funding for green spaces and make it harder for groups of local authorities to collaborate on the development of green infrastructure. These proposals are the subject of a recent consultation on planning obligations to which the Landscape Institute has responded.

Planning obligations have traditionally allowed for ongoing management and maintenance of open space, critical to the continued delivery of the benefits provided by green infrastructure. The changes proposed will preclude the ability of local authorities to obtain developer contributions for maintenance and management of areas predominantly used by or for the public.

Commenting, Landscape Institute President Neil Williamson said:

“If there is no money from developers there is nothing to ensure that trees, planting and habitats become properly established. If these proposals go ahead, local authorities will see any new public open space or green infrastructure as an unacceptable burden on limited public funds, rather than the valuable public assets they are.”

The proposals also limit future planning obligations to those “directly related to the development”. Recent legal judgements confirm that there is a growing awareness of how development in one place can have indirect effects on a wider scale. These effects, cumulatively, may require mitigation.

Williamson continued:

“If the planning regulations define ‘directly’ in the narrowest sense, we will move away from the principle that the developer has to fund the full cost of the project, with all its impacts. We will be back to the days when the developer only assumes the narrow, short term risks, and the council tax payer is left to deal with the larger and longer-term consequences.”

“The coalition government has promised measures to promote green spaces and wildlife corridors to address climate change, halt the loss of habitats and restore biodiversity. It has also promised more green jobs and green investment,” said Williamson. “These proposals fly in the face of that promise, and we urge the government not to enact them as they stand.”

Source: The Landscape Institute

Read the Landscape Institute's response

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The Low Impact Silvicultural Systems in Ireland (LISS) research project aims to expand the knowledge base on sustainable forest management in Ireland. The project is run by University College Dublin, the forest management research company Purser Tarleton Russell Ltd. and the semi-state forestry company Coillte Teo, and is funded by COFORD, the National Council for Forest Research and Development in Ireland, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The project is directed by the Project Coordinator, guided by the Project Steering Group consisting of the Project Coordinator and representatives of the participating companies and national and international experts.

The LISS Project is seeking a PhD Student for 46 months. The research will consist of the following tasks:

• familiarisation with the existing (international) research on: LISS; thinning systems used in transformation of stands to LISS; and the economics of LISS.
• development of a database of stands in the Republic of Ireland currently being transformed to LISS in collaboration with project partners, and an evaluation of the methods used to transform the stands.
• field experiment investigating different thinning interventions that are likely to be used in transforming stands to LISS.
• desktop study of economics of LISS and clearfell systems.

Mandatory requirements for this position are:

• Honours Degree in forestry or relevant discipline.
• Ability to combine field work with office-based activities.
• Good writing and communication skills.
• An understanding of, and interest in, low impact silvicultural systems.

Desirable skills are:

• A full, clean driver’s licence.
• An understanding of forestry in Ireland.
• A Masters Degree in forestry or relevant discipline.
• Knowledge of experimental design and statistical analysis.

The project starts in July 2010 and will end in June 2014. The starting date of the PhD research position is flexible, but preferably close to 1 September, 2010. Closing date for applications is July 30^th, 2010 at 5 pm.

The PhD scholarship will have a value of circa €17,000 per year. Tuition fees sufficient for an EU student are available.

For more information or to apply, please send a cover letter and CV, along with the names and addresses of two referees, to the Project Coordinator, Dr Aine Ni Dhubhain or phone 00353 1 716 7755

Website

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Woodland owners will be given access to a £600,000 support package announced today to help tackle the outbreak of Phytophthora ramorum infection in larch trees in South West England and South Wales.

P. ramorum infection has been confirmed in Japanese larch trees (Larix kaempferi) in a mix of Forestry Commission England and privately owned forests in South West England, and in woodland managed by Forestry Commission Wales in South Wales.

The package has been put in place by the Forestry Commission from funding made available from Defra's £25 million, five-year Phytophthora management programme. The first £100,000 has been earmarked to give private-sector owners access to professional advice about how to have infected trees felled and marketed in ways that comply with biosecurity and other regulations. Owners will be able to apply for up to £1000 of aid from this part of the fund.

Roddie Burgess, head of the Commission's Plant Health Service, said:

"Woodland owners need to make decisions about how they deal with these outbreaks to comply with requirements imposed on them under the disease management programme, but there are a number of options open to them. These funds will provide support from experienced professionals who can help owners decide on the best options tailored to their situation."

The £500,000 balance will be used to prevent further spread of the disease. It will help owners with the costs of clearing immature Japanese larch from affected sites, both privately owned and those managed by the Forestry Commission, especially those most likely to cause further spread of the disease. (Immature, or "thicket-stage", trees are young trees that are too small to have any commercial value that would otherwise help to offset the costs of removal.). Mr Burgess explained:

"Larch can produce many more P. ramorum spores than other species so far infected, and they can spread easily over considerable distances.

"We are working hard to define the limits of infected larch by combining aerial surveys with follow-up ground checks of suspected sites. Once we are clear on this extent the limited funding might have to be targeted at areas most likely to cause further spread to the wider country.

"We will use the funds to remove infected trees from as many of these areas as possible before the end of March 2011.

"Full details of how the funding package will be administered will be finalised over the next few weeks, but allocation of the assistance will be decided by a board comprising representatives of the Forestry Commission, Fera and the Confederation of Forest Industries (ConFor - representing private-sector forest owners)."

The announcement follows a series of meetings between officials, woodland owners and other bodies, including ConFor, to identify the potential impacts of the disease beyond the infection of the trees themselves. Regular reviews will monitor the effectiveness of the support package and associated works.

To find out more about the fund, woodland owners in England should contact the Commission's South West England regional office on 01626 890666; email: fc.sweng.cons@forestry.gsi.gov.uk Woodland owners in Wales should contact Forestry Commission Wales' Grants & Regulations Office on tel: 0300 068 0300 or email: bww.ts@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

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On 6 July the Secretary of State announced that he intends to consult on streamlining the approach to tree protection, to reduce bureaucracy, reduce inconsistencies and make the system fairer. This coincides with the proposals to cut red tape announced today:

http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsstories/newsroom/1633580

The aim is to consolidate the 1999 and 2008 tree preservation order regulations (SI 1999 No. 1892, SI 2008 No.2260, SI 2008 No.3202) governing the making and management of tree preservation orders, reducing the complexity of the model order and producing a unified system which will apply to all tree preservation orders, whenever they were or will be made.

It is unlikely that any new regulations will come into force until 2011.

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Stewart Stevenson MSP, Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change, was the guest of honour at a private reception organised by The Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) and Commonwealth Forestry Association (CFA) during the 18^th Commonwealth Forestry Conference on 29 June 2010.

Speaking about the vital impact the forestry sector has in tackling climate change, the minister addressed over 80 commonwealth forestry conference delegates and guests at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

Guests included renowned environmental film-maker John Liu, and Tim Rollinson FICFor, Director General and Deputy Chair of the Forestry Commission.

During the reception, the ICF formally presented an Honorary Fellowship of the Institute to Mike Dudley, Head of International Policy in the Forestry Commission, and the Medal of the Institute to Chris Starr MICFor of the University of Cumbria for his services to forestry.

Speaking at the reception, Mr Stevenson said:

"We need look no further than the forestry sector when it comes to demonstrating leadership in the battle against climate change....the sector has deserved a well earned reputation for being able to change with the times and to get the changes delivered with good effect.”

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On behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government, Elin Jones, Minister for Rural Affairs, issued a statement on 30 June re Sudden Oak Death.

Download the statement here

Detailed information on this issue and further links to other plant health matters is available through the web-site link at:

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-85TDX6

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The Woodland Trust has launched More Trees, More Good, a new campaign that aims to double the number of native woods and trees in the UK.

Research gathered over recent years has highlighted the countless essential benefits to people, wildlife and the environment that come from planting trees. To maximise these, the UK needs to plant 20 million native trees per year and achieve 15,000 ha of new native woodland– but at the moment we’re planting just 6 million, around 5,000 hectares.

The goal is vital but ambitious, and so requires a vast tree-planting movement. From farmers and communities to schools and companies, we need to rally those who can plant trees with our help and inspire those who can contribute financially.

An impressive range of organisations have already risen to the challenge including Sainsbury’s, the National Association of Local Councils, the Ministry of Defence and the Women’s Institute. The coalition government has also committed to a national tree planting campaign and the Woodland Trust hopes that all organisations in the sector will help raise awareness of trees and woods and promote the fact that it is now time for a step change in action on the ground.

You can find out more by clicking here to watch the campaign video. The video gives a sense of the financial support needed which ranges from what individuals can give right up to the big picture for companies and grant givers. But it also gives the message that land and enthusiasm and commitment are things we also need to hit our goals.

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The Forestry Commission has enhanced and increased the amount of information available from the Research Programme pages on its website.

They now provide access to a much wider package of research material than was previously available.

The new pages continue as before to provide access, through its Publications Catalogue, to commissioned reports of research projects undertaken by Forest Research staff. However, a new feature is that a greater number of published reports are now more clearly linked to the particular programmes under which they were commissioned.

The pages now also list many more reports of research projects commissioned from external providers than were previously available.

Where such reports are not yet on line, the Commission is working to provide them electronically.

In all, more than 400 reports are directly available, compared with 138 in the previous service, and a link to the publication sales service is provided for users who want to buy priced reports.

Users can also link to in-depth information about the research projects themselves and the research programmes they belong to. In addition, links are provided to information about the programme leaders and researchers who work on them, such as their current and past projects and published work.

The information in the Research Programme pages is organised into programme themes, which cover:

• climate change;
• social and economic development and urban greening;
• wood and timber properties;
• ecosystems and biodiversity;
• sustainable forest management;
• monitoring and biosecurity; and
• inventory and forecasting.

Roger Coppock FICFor, the Commission's Head of Specialist Advisors, said,

"We made a commitment in our recently refreshed Science & Innovation Strategy to re-launch our research programme information this year.

"The website now presents a more complete and holistic package of information about a wider range of our commissioned research work, including a significantly greater number of research reports. We believe this will make it a much more useful resource for our customers and stakeholders.

"We will continue to develop it further to ensure our stakeholders have ready access to information as it becomes available."

The Research Programme pages and the Science & Innovation Strategy are available from links at www.forestry.gov.uk/research.

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The delivery of public services for which Defra is responsible will be shaken up to line up with the coalition Government’s commitments on service delivery, Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman said today.
Mrs Spelman announced that, as part of the review of Defra’s arms length bodies, the Commission for Rural Communities will be abolished, with a strengthened Rural Communities Policy Unit within Defra. She said:
“With an urgent need to drive down debt and reduce Government spending we will have to make some tough decisions. Our belief is that policy should be driven from the centre and that our arms lengths bodies will be efficient and effective in meeting customer needs.
“We are committed to improving the quality of life for those living in rural areas and we will put the fair treatment of rural communities at the centre of Government.
“Focusing rural policy making within the department will give rural communities and interest groups a direct link to central policymakers and a stronger champion for rural issues at the heart of Government.
“I pay tribute to the commitment and the quality of work undertaken by the Commission for Rural Communities, its staff, Commissioners and Chairman, the Rev Dr Stuart Burgess CBE, over the past four years.”
It is intended that the forthcoming Public Bodies (Reform) Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech will provide the legislative vehicle under which the Commission for Rural Communities (CRC) will stop operating.
In the interim, the CRC senior management team will provide a smooth transition back into central Government. In due course, there may be opportunities for some key existing CRC staff to join the Rural Communities Policy Unit in order to minimise the loss of experience. Together with staff already in the Department supporting Ministers on rural policy, these will form a new team to work across Government and beyond.
Further information is available on Defra's website.

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The importance of Scotland’s woodlands and forests was in the spotlight on a world stage when Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham, gave one of the opening addresses to the Commonwealth Forestry Conference on Monday 28 June.

More than 400 delegates from around the world are attending one the most important events in the international forestry calendar, which is being staged at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.

The conference presents a wide range of experts from a number of disciplines; among them ICF Executive Director Shireen Chambers MICFor who will talk about professionalism in the sector.

Delegates will have the opportunities to learn from the presenters and from each other the techniques and skills that will help them develop and adapt forestry in their home countries to maximise the effort to tackle climate change.

Welcoming the delegates to Scotland, Ms Cunningham highlighted the increasing relevance of forestry and the work being done in Scotland to help drive forward the global effort to tackle climate change.

Ms Cunningham said:

“Climate change is a global issue that has to be tackled on many fronts and in many ways, but what everyone is clear about is that forestry and afforestation are amongst the principal tools at our disposal.

“Scotland now has world leading legislation in place and we have committed to planting some 100 million trees by 2015 and – in the longer term – are aiming to see 25% of Scotland’s land area under forest cover during the second half of this century.

“But like everywhere else, climate change will impact upon forestry practices, bringing new challenges requiring new solutions.

“However chances are that a new series of issues in one place will closely resemble the conditions that someone elsewhere deals with on a day to day basis - so this gathering of speakers and experts from around the world presents us all with a golden opportunity to learn from each other and maximise our efforts to restore our forests and help to tackle climate change.”

The Conference, which runs until Friday 2 July, has drawn delegates from around the world. Key speakers include the Commonwealth Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma, HRH the Prince of Wales, Forestry Commission Chair Pamela Warhurst, and Forestry Commission Director General Tim Rollinson.

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Environment Minister, Roseanna Cunningham, presented awards to fourteen of Scotland’s finest woods and woodland projects at the Royal Highland Show on 25 June. ICF Executive Director Shireen Chambers MICFor sits on the judging panel.

The special Silver Jubilee awards programme – organised by independent charity, Scotland’s Finest Woods – celebrated the contribution that woodlands can make to the environment and to the quality of life of people and communities across the country.

Ms Cunningham said:

“Scotland’s Finest Woods has an impressive record in recognising the exceptional quality of woodlands and woodland projects being carried out across Scotland – often to the betterment of our communities, to individuals and to our economy.

“Forestry has a positive impact on many aspects of our lives, our culture and our environment and, of course, as a key element of our efforts to combat climate change, it can have a hugely positive impact on our future.

“Promoting and encouraging effective and dynamic management of our woodlands is a great way of ensuring that our forest resource can meet the many demands made on it.

“The Finest Woods Awards celebrate the best of Scotland’s woodlands and the efforts of the many people whose hard work behind the scenes makes these woodlands such fantastic examples of good forestry practice.”

Peter Wilson FICFor, Executive Director of Scotland’s Finest Woods, the charity which runs the Awards, said the judges had struck gold:

“People from across Scotland work hard to support their local communities and the environment and these Awards provide a way to recognise and reward their achievements and to identify exemplars for others to follow.

“There was a record 38 projects entered for the Awards this year and the quality of what is happening out there has simply bowled us over! The quality of this year’s entry was so high that the judges made fourteen awards and commendations in total – which is most likely a record in itself.

“And, as well as the annual Schools Award and Community Woodland Award, we this year decided to mark our Silver Jubilee with a special award - open to all previous winners of our silvicultural excellence and multi-purpose forestry awards - to find the ‘champion of champions’!

“Basically we struck gold this year!”

This year’s winners are:

Winner of the Tim Stead Trophy for Community Woodlands: Forres Community Woodlands Trust for Sanquhar Woodlands, Forres, Moray
Judges’ view: the ‘gold standard for community woodlands’ with ‘an astonishing and professional approach’. More should be done to encourage others to visit and learn.

Winner of the Schools Award:
The Charleston Academy, Kinmylie, Inverness
Judges’ view: effective development of learning opportunities through a Forest School programme, rural skills training and conservation work all using woodlands in the school’s catchment area.

The Silver Jubilee Competition:

Overall Winner of the Silver Jubilee Prize and Winner of the John Kennedy Trophy for Multi-purpose Woodlands: Forestry Commission Scotland (Inverness, Ross and Skye Forest District) for Glenmore Forest Park, Aviemore, Inverness-shire
Judges’ view: an outstanding forest, where the scale of change to achieve objectives has been dramatic. The estate now combines biodiversity conservation, timber production and high quality access in an impressive way, handling 350,000 visitors cross the forest park each year.

Winner of the Hunter Blair Salver awarded for Silvicultural Excellence: Dr James Bryce for Newbyth Oak Wood, East Linton, East Lothian
Judges’ view: an exemplar of broadleaf silviculture. The quality of crop management was singled out for praise with the thinning, brashing and monitoring an excellent demonstration of what is sadly a dying art in Scotland and ‘a window on the past’.

Winner of the Dulverton Flagon awarded for Innovation and Diversity: The Crown Estate for Glenlivet Estate, Banffshire
Judges’ view: a special prize for innovation and diversity to mark the Estate’s keen and enthusiastic focus on innovation and drawing in partners and resources to contribute to and benefit from the estate.

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Ways in which the world can tackle the urgent need to protect its threatened forests and restore forests that have been lost if it is to avoid dangerous climate change will be discussed at an international conference in Edinburgh this week.

And despite the obstacles, forests can be restored and protected, according to Tim Rollinson FICFor, Director-General of the British Forestry Commission. He was speaking ahead of the Commonwealth Forestry Conference starting in Edinburgh, Scotland today (Monday 28 June) on the theme of "Restoring the Commonwealth's forests: tackling climate change".

Mr Rollinson, who also chairs the Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration (GPFLR), said the world's remaining forests had to be protected soon or it would not be possible to prevent dangerous levels of climate change.

"Forests are essential to life on Earth - it's as simple as that," Mr Rollinson said. "Forests lock up carbon and help to regulate the climate, so we need them to help keep the Earth's climate in balance.

"They also protect the water and soil on which we all depend, they replenish the oxygen in the air we breathe, they mitigate flooding and erosion, they protect biodiversity and wildlife, and they provide places for people to refresh body and soul. When they are managed wisely, they can produce endless supplies of timber, food and many other products that need never run out.

"In short, without forests we're in serious trouble, yet they are still being lost and degraded at an alarming rate.

"The causes of forest loss and degradation are complex and difficult, but we cannot afford to shy away from tackling them. In many cases the key is to make the forest worth more alive and healthy than degraded or removed.

"The good news is that it can be done, and this conference will hear some inspiring success stories from countries where the seemingly unstoppable tide of deforestation and forest degradation has been reversed. Forests have been restored and given better protection in ways that, crucially, local communities support and benefit from.

"Also, innovative new funding mechanisms, such as those becoming available through carbon markets, are going to help make trees worth more alive than dead, and the REDD+ programme is showing encouraging signs of making an impact in this regard.

"So we know it can be done, and many Commonwealth countries, including the UK, have built up a huge fund of experience and expertise that they can share with one another and the rest of the world to help them to protect and restore their forests too.

"This conference will be a wonderful opportunity to share and develop that experience and expertise, further develop co-operative programmes for forest restoration and protection, and add momentum to the global push to protect and restore our forests."

ICF Executive Director Shireen Chambers will address the conference on Wednesday 30 June in a session focusing on professionalism in forestry.

Further information about the conference is available at www.cfc2010.org.

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The Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF) has appointed a new Development Officer at its headquarters in Edinburgh.

Thalia Bogdanou joined the ICF on 14 June on a two year post as part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) between the ICF and the University of Cumbria.

Thalia (pronounced Talia) has a BSc Forestry and Natural Environment from the University of Thessaloniki and recently completed (with distinction) an MSc Environmental Protection and Management from Edinburgh University.

In this new role at the ICF, Thalia will help support the professional development of members of the Institute and increase the value of a professional approach to a career in forestry and arboriculture.

Commenting on her appointment, Thalia said:

"As the professional body for foresters and arboriculturists in the UK, it is important that the ICF is identifying the needs of members, and providing the direction and support required to achieve their aspirations.

"In my position I'll be right at the heart of that. It is a challenge, but I'm looking forward to getting out there and meeting our members in the field."

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Free training sessions for woodland managers are being offered by the Grants and Regulations team at Forestry Commission Wales and the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA) following an outbreak of the tree disease caused by Phytophthora ramorum (P. ramorum) in south Wales in late May 2010.

The aim of these sessions is to raise awareness within the forestry sector of P. ramorum, which is a fungus-like pathogen that kills most trees that it infects. It was found on Japanese larch trees for the first time in south Wales in late May 2010.

The training sessions will be held in the morning and will last approximately three hours with a site visit included where possible. They will take place at St Asaph, Denbighshire (Wednesday 7th July), Newtown, Powys (Thursday 8th July) and Garwnant, Merthyr Tydfil (Friday 16th July).

Head of Grants and Regulations at Forestry Commission Wales, Richard Siddons, said, "Phytophthora ramorum is now infecting a significant area of the larch stands in south Wales.

"Being able to identify this disease is a really important part of our ability to control its spread.
"I would therefore encourage all woodland managers to attend these events and help us to identify and control its spread."

P. ramorum was found in Japanese larch trees in south west England last year. The outbreak in Welsh Assembly Government woodlands in the Afan Valley, near Port Talbot, Garw Valley, near Bridgend, and the Vale of Glamorgan is the first time it has been encountered on larch elsewhere in Great Britain.

Currently, the outbreak in south Wales only affects woodlands managed by Forestry Commission Wales on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government. However, the situation is changing rapidly as surveys are undertaken and it is likely that the infection has spread more widely.

To book a place at a seminar, please e-mail alison.evans@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

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Proceedings of the Institute of Chartered Foresters Annual National Conference are now available online.

The conference was on the theme of Forests and Energy, and proved very timely with ambitious government targets for tackling climate change putting forestry higher than ever on the political agenda. Trees have an important part to play in reaching green energy targets but are some of these roles conflicting? Is it possible to provide enough fibre for biomass and traditional panel and timber use? Do afforestation targets conflict with plans for windfarm development?

Over 160 delegates attended the conference in Newcastle Upon Tyne on 28-29 April 2010 to hear UK and International speakers answer these questions and present their views.

The proceedings, sponsored by the Sylva Foundation, along with presentations from the conference programme can be downloaded from the publications area of the ICF website.

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