Welcome to this month's E-news.
Please forward your copy to your colleagues and encourage them to sign up for their own copy on the ICF website. Don't forget that you can view archived issues of E-news on the ICF website under Publications and Services and we do value your feedback. Email Allison Lock with your views.
As always, do use the ICF Members' Area Discussion Forum to exchange views with fellow members or alternatively email ICF.
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ICF News | General News | Developments, Grants and Opportunities
Consultations | Events & Training
| | | | ICF News | Improved Members' Forum launched
ICF Members' now have access to the greatly improved Discussion Forum in the Members' Area of ICF's website. Use the Forum to share views with other members on topics and issues of interest and as a shared information portal.
  ICF's new faces
Scott McKellar, our new Marketing Officer, will be working on raising the profile of ICF's professional designations both within our sector as well as in the public arena. Scott previously worked in the Biotechnology sector as a marketer and scientific copywriter/editor before joining Investors in People Scotland, where he promoted best business practice for various organisations across Scotland.
Laura Stark has also joined as our Administration Officer and she will be working closely with Ingrid Palmer, ICF's Office Manager.
National Study Tour is popular
Have you booked for the Study Tour yet? Silviculture in a Changing Climate: Practical adaptations of forest management to climate change, Huntly/Clashindarroch Forest, Aberdeenshire, 24-25 September? The Programme is on the ICF website and we are delighted that Silviculture Award winner JP Skovsgaard will join us.
Study Tour Sponsors: Forestry Commission Scotland, Forestry Journal
ICF responds to consultations
Shireen Chambers is collating the views of ICF members on several important consultations. Please refer to the Consultations section of E-news and help Shireen by responding by the dates indicated in order that ICF's professional voice may be heard.
Latest CFA Newsletter now out
ICF Members can download the latest Commonwealth Forestry Association Newsletter (No. 45, June 2009) from the dedicated ICF area of the CFA website. Contact Allison Lock for a reminder of how to access.
 Excellence recognised through Best Student awards
Congratulations to the ICF Best Student winners who received their awards in July: James Ramsay (forestry, University of Aberdeen); Anthony Pigott (forestry, University of Bangor) is pictured receiving his from ICF Wales Regional Group Chairman Richard Siddons MICFor; Gareth Waters (forestry, University of Cumbria); and Tom Popplewell (arboriculture, Myerscough College).
Vacancies
Visit the Members' Area of the ICF website for following job vacancies:
Woodland Officers/Forest Officers - Perthshire/Aberdeenshire
Forest Manager - Herefordshire
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| | General News |
 Threat from lappet moth
Forestry Commission investigators and amateur moth recorders have discovered pine-tree lappet moths in woodlands west of Inverness.
Many trees can die during severe outbreaks as the defoliated trees become susceptible to diseases, bark beetles and wood-boring insects. Read More
Work begins to map ancient trees
A three year survey of more than 40,000 ancient trees, including Newton's apple tree and the yew tree which overlooked the signing of the Magna Carta, will reveal the full extent and condition of the ancient trees cared for by the National Trust. The research will be carried out by their newly appointed Ancient Tree Advisor and the records will also be added to the Woodland Trust's Ancient Tree Hunt. Read More
Eco diploma for teens
The Diploma in Environmental & Land Based Studies, designed for 14 to 19 year olds, will be launched in September. The Forestry Commission, Natural England and other partners have developed the diploma. Read More
 More hydro schemes for Scotland
Forestry Commission Scotland is inviting interested commercial parties and communities to help develop the potential for hydro-electric schemes at locations across the country. Existing small-scale hydro developments on the national forest estate already exist and plans are underway to develop more. It is estimated that there is further potential of at least 50MW, enough to power 40,000 homes. Read More
Low-cost GIS available
A study by Forest Research has concluded that GIS software that is freely available on the internet can provide a cost-effective alternative to expensive commercial GIS packages. Read More
 Central reservations on street trees
A study published in the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management suggests that we can improve city environments by planting trees down the middle of streets to trap vehicle exhaust emissions provided the trees are not too close together. Read More
Photo credit: CABE/Stephen McLaren
Two websites get a makeover
The Continuous Cover Forestry Group has launched its new web site: www.ccfg.org.uk. While the Royal Forestry Society have also been busy and their new website now includes a Discovery Zone aimed at primary school children: www.rfs.org.uk.
Who's who and who's new
 Suzanne Martin (left) is the new research liaison officer for England at Forest Research. Contact Suzanne by email or telephone 01420 526188.
Stewart Scull is the new Development Officer at Heartwoods. His new role is to develop the Heartwoods project and increase the value of the forestry industry in the West Midland's regional economy. Read more
Gordon Mann OBE has been appointed as a new non-executive member to the Forestry Commission National Committee for Scotland. He has over 25 years of experience working in local government during which time he worked closely with the Commission and government in relation to local forestry policy, planting schemes and landscape character assessment.
Carbon yes or no?
- The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) has set up the Forest Carbon Working Group to explore the roles that FSC governance, policy and forest certification can play in frameworks and projects to mitigate climate change.
- A report commissioned by the Prime Minister concludes that a global carbon trading network is vital to preventing dangerous climate change.
 Lights, cameras, business action
As part of Forestry Commission Scotland's External Communications plan, the Commission has placed a new forestry film on the Scotland newspaper's Business Club website.
It gives a brief overview of FCS and explains the benefits of forestry to a business audience. Wood for good emerges from the ashes
It is hoped that a summit meeting in London on 16 September will open a new chapter in the wood for good marketing campaign after the original organisation was wound down. Organised by some of its previous supporters, the meeting will be hosted by the Timber Trade Federation at the Building Centre with up to 80 companies invited to attend. Please contact John White (TTF) or Stuart Goodall (ConFor) by email.
Woodlands losing biological distinction
British woodlands are less biologically distinctive than they were 70 years ago, says a team of UK researchers as the use of fertilisers in farming had increased soil fertility, while tree canopies had grown thicker and cut light levels. As a result, the woodlands were becoming home to the same species, resulting in the unique characteristics of individual sites being lost. Read More Welsh forestry gets Government support at royal show
Welsh Assembly Finance and Public Service Delivery minister Andrew Davies AM joined ConFor and Wales Forest Business Partnership members at the Royal Welsh Show to discuss how to bridge the gap in the market. He said: "The public and private sectors need to work together to tackle the impact of the recession. The message from  government is clear, the timber industry is important to Wales and all the major players need to work together to bridge the gap and move forward confidently."
During the show Paul Raymond Barker, who is credited with shaping many woodlands throughout Wales over the past 40 year, was presented with the Ian Forshaw Memorial Medal for his services to forestry by Welsh Rural Affairs Minister Elin Jones.
Top award for UPM Tilhill
UPM Tilhill has scooped a prestigious RoSPA Occupational Health & Safety Award for the fourth year running. The company met RoSPA's key performance requirements, attaining high levels of health and safety management. George McRobbie FICFor, Health & Safety Director at UPM Tilhill, will receive the Award at a special ceremony in Glasgow in September.
 Leading the way for the next generation of foresters
Faced with an ageing workforce, Forestry Commission Scotland set up a forestry modern apprenticeship scheme in 2004.
In just five years its success is confirmed with 30 apprentices - including eight women - now enrolled across seven of the Commission's forest districts. Read More
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| | Developments, Grants and Opportunities | SoI bypass underway
The Scottish Government has started implementing part the key SRDP Rural Priorities recommendations. An option to completely bypass the Statement of Intent stage will go live with amended guidance soon. The timescales for some of the other planned changes are still under discussion although the first of the changes are now being seen. Read More
 Forestry training for businesses in Yorkshire
Yorwoods has secured £100,000 for the LandSkills training project. Over the next three-years this will provide bespoke forestry training to meet industry demand. Training can be in a technical area like forest machine operations or mobile sawmilling, a practical area like woodfuels, orchard management or coppicing, or management skills such as marketing, grants and licences. Contact Yorwoods on 01765 609355 or visit their website.
Lifeline for Scottish forestry investment
Scottish forestry businesses struggling to secure investment have been offered a lifeline after one of the country's top investment conferences promised to release between £6 million - £45 million in equity funding. The Connect Conference will offer Scottish tech-venture companies the opportunity to raise millions in equity funding, which is otherwise unavailable in Scotland. Read More
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| | Consultations | ICF consultation responses
ICF members' professional views are important to helping shape the Institute's response to the consultations below. Please email Shireen Chambers by the dates indicated:
- The role of a modern Forestry Commission Public Forest Estate for the 21st Century. Views to ICF by Friday 28 August. Consultation ends 28 September. Read More
- The first UK Forestry Guidelines written specifically to help forest managers meet the challenges of climate change. Published by the Forestry Commission and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development's (DRAD) Forest Service in July, they can be downloaded from the Forestry Commission's website. Views to ICF by 30 September. Consultation ends 30 October.
- The proposed Code of Good Practice for Forest Carbon Projects. Views to ICF Carbon Group (via Shireen Chambers) by 28 August. Ends 14 September. Read More
Forest Enterprise Scotland seeking certification
Forest Enterprise Scotland (FES) has appointed SGS Qualifor to carry out an evaluation of the management of all their forests and woodlands with a view to seeking certification against the requirements of the Forest Stewardship Council Principles and Criteria (FSC P&C). The evaluation will take place 19 and 27 August. Comments direct to FES please. Read More
 Are trees history?
Communities and Local Government invite views on a new Planning Policy Statement that will replace Planning Policy Guidance 15: Planning and the Historic Environment and 16: Archaeology and Planning. It reflects a more modern, integrated approach which defines the historic environment in terms of heritage assets to be conserved. However, it does not appear to include historic treescapes. Ends 30 October. Read More.
Forestry apprenticeships and training in Wales: have your say by 7th August
As part of a partnership project, Coed Lleol is setting out to investigate ways of improving the flow of skilled new entrants into the forestry industry to produce a more competitive woodland business sector in Wales. The paper will consider the current shortage of skills in the sector and the likely future demand for workers at all levels. Read More
 Insect could halt spread of alien weed
Defra Ministers are seeking views on proposals to release the non-native psyllid Aphalara itadori to help control Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica). This plant has spread across Britain since being introduced as an ornamental plant and costs the country millions of pounds in repairs to buildings, roads and railway lines. Respond by 19 October. Read More
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| | Events & Training |
Forest health days announced
Not a workout among the trees but three important seminars for forestry professionals on pest and disease awareness. They are organised by Forest Research and will be held on 10 September and 1st and 10 October in various locations. See ICF's event calendar.
North Scotland research update seminar
North Scotland members should diary Forest Research's next update seminar in Aviemore on Thursday 12 November.
 Forestry Engineering Group Symposium date confirmed
The 2009 Symposium is on 9 September at the University of Cumbria, Newton Rigg Campus at Penrith. The programme includes presentations on the potential for renewable energy from biomass, stump harvesting, wind and hydro-power.
Email Bruce Hamilton for details.
Change to TEP seminar date
The Trees and Conflict Resolution seminar in London that was set for 3 November has been re-scheduled for 12 November. TEP are also running a seminar in partnership with the Forestry Commission on 19 November. Trees and Urban Climate Change Adaptation - A social agenda for livable cities at the Royal Geographical Society, south London. Read More
Biomass for Business event in South Lanarkshire
The drive to promote the benefits of biomass to the business sector continues with Forestry Commission Scotland hosting a second free seminar on Wednesday 9th September at Hamilton Racepark. Read More  From woodland to workshop course
Places will shortly be allocated for the next three-day FromWoodland to Workshop course, 14-16 September in Herefordshire. Woodland Heritage will be offering some subsidised places.
Email Belinda for more details or call her on 01428 6752159.
More courses from Floral Locale
Their autumn training programme includes: Propagating and planting tree seeds for woodland creation projects (9 Sept.), Good practice in managing ancient trees (22 Oct.), and Habitat management for lower plants and fungi (10 Nov). Full details on their website.
Losehill countryside course programme out
Losehill courses for countryside and environmental professionals from September 2009 to March 2010 are shown in their new brochure. Download
Experts talk trees on bank holiday Monday
Top tree experts will be presenting in the new "Talks Tent" at the National Forest Wood Fair on August Bank Holiday Monday, 31 August. They include Keith Sacre of Barcham Trees who will discuss issues of tree production and selection and ICF Fellow Mick Boddy, of Symbiosis Consulting, who will reveal how to manage mature trees. Read More
AUGUST
11 Queensberry Grey Squirrel Control Seminar and Practical WorkshopFair - 10.00am - 1.00pm, Queensberry Estate, Drumlanrig Mains, Thornhill. More
31 National Forest Wood Fair - Beacon Hill Country Park, Charnwood, nr Loughborough. More
SEPTEMBER
1-3 International Association for Landscape Ecology UK Conference on Assessment - Edinburgh University. More
3 CCFG Scotland meeting - Glenmore Forest, Aviemore, Cairngorms. More
6 Lincolnshire Firewood Fair and Auction - Stourton Estate, Baumber, Lincs. More
9 Biomass for Business free seminar - Hamilton Racepark, South Lanarkshire. More
9 FEG Conference: Engineering Energy from Forest Lands - 9.30am - 5.00pm, Newton Rigg Campus, University of Cumbria. More
9 Understanding Tree Diseases and their Diagnosis (NATO/TRA, Ref:0905) - Bristol. More
10 Forest Health Day - Pests & Diseases - Marywell, Aberdeenshire. More
11 South West Woodlands Show 2009 - Longleat Estate, Wiltshire. More
14 From Woodland to Workshop: A Woodland Heritage event - Herefordshire. More
Late September events on the ICF website include:
24-25 ICF National Study Tour- Huntly/Clashindarroch Forest. More
For details of your local Royal Forestry Society events visit: RFS website
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