February 09 

Welcome to this month's E-news.

This year's AGM is being held on Thursday 23rd April in conjunction with our Annual Conference in Cardiff when Honorary Officers and Councillors will be elected. All ICF Fellows and Professional Members are encouraged to consider standing for election.

Nominations, must be in writing and will be accepted by post or by email to Shireen Chambers by 15th February.

Please forward your E-news to your colleagues and encourage them to sign up for their own copy on the ICF website. And don't forget that you can view archived issues of E-news on the ICF website under Publications and Services. 

And, as always, please do use the ICF Members' Area Discussion Forum to exchange views with fellow members or alternatively email ICF.

shortcut to sections - click on headings below:

ICF News | General News | Developments

Consultations  | Events & Training

Leasing Scotland's National Forest Estates 
Not for a long time has ICF seen its members so roused as by the Scottish Climate Change proposal that was narrowly voted in this week in Parliament. Members attended the many open meetings to air their views, and contacted ICF Secretariat to add their weight to the ICF's consultation response. It is good to see that foresters are as passionate as ever.
Thank you to everyone who helped ICF in its response, which can be found in the Library in the Members Area.
 
He's a jolly good Fellow
Congratulations to Eamonn Wall who was appointed a Fellow of the Institute last month.  Eamonn is Consultant/Managing Director of Eamonn Wall & Co and previously served as the ICF Financial Officer until April 2008.  

New ICF Regional Chairmen
In North Scotland Graham Hamilton MICFor has stood down as Chairman and is replaced by Neil McKay MICFor (pictured), Forestry Consultant at Bidwells' Inverness office, who took over the role in January 2009. While in Wales Richard Siddons, a Forest District Manager for the Forestry Commisson, replaces David Edwards.
ICF thanks both Graham and David for their leadership and support for the Regional Groups over the past few years.


ICF National Conference 2009 and AGM
We'd like to thank two new supporters of the ICF National Conference, "Timber, Mutton or Fuel? Debating the economics of land use and forestry", 22nd-23rd April in Cardif.
The Welsh Timber Forum and The Sylva Foundation help provide delegate packs and the post-conference proceedings respectively. They join FC Wales, Flintshire Woodlands and Forestry Journal in helping make this a great event. 
If you haven't booked a place yet, you can do so here.

Congratulations 
Congratulations to Ross Weddle MICFor, ICF South Scotland Regional Group Secretary, who has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturing and Commerce (FRSA) for his work on Climate Change.

Minor Conifers 
During the spring and summer of 2009 Scott McG Wilson MICFor will be carrying out exploratory research work, funded by Woodland Heritage, to highlight the potential of the "minor conifers" for productive forestry and timber utilisation in Great Britain. If you know of woodlands or estates where these species are grown for identified markets, or of timber processors and end users who provide outlets for them, please email Scott.

Vacancies 
Check the ICF Members' Area for the latest job vacancies

Estate Supervisor - Central Scotland Forest Trust (One Year Fixed Term Post £15-17k)

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A new association to support and represent community woodlands in Wales will be launched at the Welsh Assembly on 10th February during an event hosted by Elin Jones AM, Rural Affairs Minister for Wales. Coed Lleol will act as secretariat.

Sudden Oak Death found in the New Forest
The Forestry Commission has confirmed that an outbreak of Phytophthora ramorum has been found in a small number of rhododendron bushes in the Tall Trees Trail near Brockenhurst in the New Forest. The FC is working with Defra to determine the exact scale and extent of the outbreak and to destroy infected plants while other actions include setting up a three kilometer survey zone around the newly discovered outbreak of the sudden oak death plant disease.
A Q & A about the outbreak is available and more information is available from the FC's Plant Health section.

Scottish forestry courses modernised 
The Scottish School of Forestry has completed a major modernisation of its curriculum by updating the Higher Education provision at Higher National Diploma level in both Forestry, and Arboriculture and Urban Forestry. It has also redefined the sandwich placement year of the HND as a stand alone Professional Development Award (PDA) The final step in modernising the Higher Education curriculum will be taken with the re-validation of the BSc Sustainable Forest Management in March and the modernisation of the Further Education curriculum over the next year. For further course information call 0845 272 3600

Aspen seed orchard plans take shape
The Scottish Highland Aspen Group is developing an aspen seed orchard to alleviate the labour intensive process of producing aspen trees from root cuttings. The Group has already grafted clones to root stock which will hopefully produce seeds.  They do not intend to produce seedlings but to work with an established commercial tree nursery which will produce the seedlings at a competitive rate for standard woodland planting. It is hoped that the planting stock will be ready for 2010. For more details email Stephen Corcoran, Cairngorms Biodiversity Officer or phone him on 01479 870528. Picture credit Ernest Emmett

New climate change economics website
This new website is a clearinghouse of links to documents and websites that discuss various aspects of climate change. The topics covered include the costs of climate change, adaptation and mitigation alternatives, public policy options for governments pursuing energy efficiencies, alternative energy sources and other responses to the threats of climate change. More 
 
Beavering away in Scotland  
The Scottish Wildlife Trust  and the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland will re-introduce four families of European beavers into an area owned by Forestry Commission Scotland in Knapdale in Argyll. The animals, collected from Norway, have been in quarantine since the autumn and will be ready to be released this spring. A close watch will be kept on the ecology of the beavers in the environment and the effect they have on it over the next 5 years. These results will be collated and reported back to the Government who will then decide on the next stage. Picture credit Scottish Beaver Trial/Jonathan Usher Smith

Watch and learn forestry technique 
A new film-channel entirely devoted to presenting short films about what people can do in woodlands has been launched. This new channel broadcasts short films on a range of subjects including hedge laying, willow weaving and pole lathe turning. 
The 5-10 minute films are  presented using YouTube's high quality format and are easy to watch. The most recent is about traditional horselogging. More 
 
Arb students go behind the scenes at Midlands factory 
Midlands engineering equipment manufacturer GreenMech has embarked on a rolling programme of visits to their factory aimed at showing local arboricultural and forestry students how the design process moves from prototype to production and from concept to sale.
Students will also see how machinery is supported in the field and how the product is assessed and improved throughout its life cycle. The visits will help with the various course curriculum.
Twenty six first year students from Warwickshire and Moulton colleges have already visited. Other educational establishments interested should contact GreenMech on: 01789 400044   
 
Construction industry turns to timber to cut carbon costs
'Greater use of Scotland's home-grown timber resources would help to create jobs, create wealth and help to deliver a cleaner, greener economy,' said Scotland's Environment Minister, Michael Russell, at a construction industry conference at Napier University, the home of the Centre for Timber Engineering, in Edinburgh last month. "Carbon Benefits of Timber in Construction" let architects, planners and specifiers the opportunity learn more about the many benefits of timber as a construction material. It also highlighted the publication of two Forestry Commission reports: 'Designing Housing with Scottish Timber' and 'Sustainable Construction Timber'. Download both from the website, click on the link: 'sustainable construction material'.

Six point plan on climate change 
If Brazil had been deforested to the same extent as much of Scotland in the early 1900s, you'd be able to walk the length of the Amazon and hardly see a single tree. That startling illustration of the depletion of Scotland's woodlands is helping Forestry Commission Scotland promote its Climate Change Action Plan. Launched on 30th January, it details six things that public and private sector forestry can offer to help the global effort to tackle the challenges of climate change, highlighting the importance of conserving and expanding our existing forests. More

Business Doctor
The "Business Doctor" programme, launched by Scotland's largest business support organisation, GO Group, aims to aid ailing Forestry businesses survive the credit crunch with a range of training and advisory services, focusing on nurturing business start-up, supporting business growth and encouraging innovation during the next financial year. More

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Research boost to market for Scots pine timber
A study report from the Forestry Commission identifies encouraging prospects for the potential to grow and develop the market for Scots pine timber from northern Scotland. The report reviews the value-added and local processing potential of Scots pine timber from northern Scotland. It discusses the market potential of a number of products, and identifies relevant development actions and measures that would help develop the market for these products. Some of the possibilities highlighted in the report will be explored in a recently funded Northern Periphery Programme project, "Developing Scots pine". More

£90m funding available for park schemes
Applications for the "Parks for People" UK wide scheme must be received by 28 February 2009. The scheme aims to regenerate public parks of national, regional or local heritage value for the enjoyment and recreation of local people. The fund value is £90M with a minimum award of £250,000 and maximum of £5M. At least 5% of the funding must come from the organisations own resources. A further 25% of project costs should come from partnership funding, which can be in either cash or non-cash contributions. More information for England or Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Rural expert appointed to review the £1.6 billion SRDP
Peter Cook, an independent consultant and former head of rural business at the Scottish Agricultural College, will assist the Scottish Government and the Scotland Rural Development Programme Monitoring Committee with a first stage review. This review takes place before the full-scale review demanded of the Programme in 2010 and will take into account the impact of the economic downturn and the changing global agenda as well as identifying lessons to be learned following the first year of operation. More

Timber use by UK Government
From 1st April 2009, only timber and products derived from timber that originate either from independently verified legal and sustainable sources or from a licensed Forest Law Enforcement, Governance & Trade (FLEGT) partner will be demanded for use on UK Government property. The change initially applies to England, Great Britain and UK departments and their executive agencies and non-departmental public bodies. More

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Minister to "carefully consider" Scottish forest consultation
Scottish Environment Minister Michael Russell said he is very keen to see all the new ideas and proposals put forward in the forest climate change proposal, passed in Parliament las week, and which include a response from ICF on behalf of its members.
He said: "I am very pleased that so much interest has been shown. It is now my job to consider these responses carefully,particularly where the submissions argue from a factual basis and eschew the nonsense and scaremongering that has been a feature of the political responses. We need to find new and practical ways of maximising the use of our forests in the fight against climate change." A decision on a way forward is expected in March or April. The ICF response can be found in the Members Area Library.

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Woodland Heritage course dates confirmed  
The next  "From Woodland to Workshop" will be held in Herefordshire from 5th-7th May 2009. Places will be limited and offered based on 'suitability'. Some subsidised places will be available to deserving individuals. Email Woodland Heritage details.

Celebrating the humble hazel beanpole! 
The Small Woods Association's "National Beanpole Week!" will be held from 25th April to 3rd May.
Via a series of local events, it encourages gardeners to use hazel beanpoles sourced from British woods rather than use imported bamboo canes thus helping to support local woodland craft workers, woodland management and wildlife. More

Things hot up at new wood fuel expo
Chris Miles, director of Econergy and board member of the Renewable Energy Association, will join the panel for the Heated Debate which will launch IGNITION09, the UK Wood Fuel Expo at The Sage Gateshead from 11th-12th March. Admission is free. More

Join the 'Kew' for tree design course
ICF member Clive Mayhew MICFor is running a one day training course on Trees and Design specifically looking at trees in historic landscapes. It takes place on 21st May at Kew Gardens, London. More 

CCFG sets conference date 
The Continuous Cover Forestry Group (CCFG) will hold a conference on 29th September 2009 at Westonbirt Arboretum on "Understanding daylight in the context of Continuous Cover Forestry". The programme includes a field demonstration session to make the link from science to application. CCFG hopes to significantly advance understanding of light in the forest and how it interacts with other factors which affect growth at this conference . More

Management of Decaying Habitat: One day seminar organised by the ISA UK&I, York Club, Windsor Great Park, 5th Feb. More
Improved Conifer Timber Quality through Plant Selection and Silviculture: orest research seminar, Birnam Arts & Conference Centre, Dunkeld, 11th Feb. More
Rural Affairs Forum- Getting help in the Recession: 9.30am-12.45pm, Bedern Hall, York, 17th Feb. More 
ICF North Scotland Regional Group Meeting: The present and future use of Douglas fir, 2.00pm, Great Glen House, Inverness, 17th Feb. More
Understanding the carbon cycle of forest ecosystems - a data assimilation approach: Forest Research seminar, 2-3pm, Northern Research Station, Roslin, Nr Edinburgh, 20th Feb. More
Ignite Woodfuel Training Course (South Yorkshire): RSPB Old Moor, Barnsley, 24th-26th Feb. More
Winter lunch and Extraordinary General Meeting for SWA Members: 12.30-4.00pm, Ironbridge, Shropshire, 1st Mar. More
OCN Introduction to Small Woodland Management: a course  for those managing or planning to manage woodland. Green Wood Centre, Coalbrookdale, Shropshire, 7th-8th Mar. More
Forest Research and climate change: Northern Research Station, Roslin, Nr Edinburgh, 2.00-3.00pm, 13th March. More
Forest Research Update Seminar: Northern Research Station, Roslin, Nr Edinburgh, 17th Mar. More
Forest Research Annual Chilterns Woodland Conference on "Tree pests and diseases": Green Park Training & Conference Centre, Aston Clinton, Bucks, 20th Mar. More

Find details of Royal Forestry Society events at: RFS website
 

View full events list

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