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| | | | ICF News | ICF National Study Tour dates announced
 Make sure you keep Thursday 24 (from 6.30pm) and Friday 25 September free for this year's Study Tour.
Based in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, the focus of our tour will be the Clashindarroch Forest (pictured right) where we'll look at Silviculture in a Changing Climate: Practical adaptations of forest management to climate change. Among the experts joining us as part of the programme is 2008 ICF Silviculture Prize co-winner, Professor Jens Peter Skovsgaard from the University of Copenhagen. Forestry Commission Scotland and Forestry Journal are supporting the Study Tour. Bookings now being taken, see the ICF website for more details or call on 0131 240 1425.
ICF National Conference 2009 proceedings now available online
The proceedings of the ICF conference 'Timber, Mutton or Fuel? Debating the economics of land use and forestry' produced by Dr Gabriel Hemery MICFor, with the support of The Sylva Foundation, are now available to download here.
Vacancies
Visit the Members' Area of the ICF website for following job vacancies:
Forest Manager - Inverness, Scotland
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| | General News |
Plastic forestry?
Plastic forests could provide the solution to the future for Welsh woodlands as the country faces up to rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns. This does not mean Welsh hillsides will be covered with man-made trees. Plastic forestry is a new concept revealed to a team of Aberystwyth based researchers whilst on a study visit to Brandenburg. Read More
Carbon Offsetting
Reforms to the UN-backed Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) carbon offsetting scheme, designed to expand the initiative and make it easier and more cost effective for emission reduction projects to gain official approval to sell carbon credits, moved a step closer to reality at a meeting in Bonn. The CDM's Executive Board agreed to investigate new rules that would allow carbon capture and storage and forestry projects to be included in the offsetting scheme and raise funds by selling officially sanctioned certified emission reduction credits. Read More
 Brash Removal guidance
The Forestry Commission's Forest Research agency has re-issued its guidance on brash removal from harvesting sites. "Guidance on site selection for brash removal" was originally published in August 2007, but has had some minor amendments to bring it into line with the recently published guidance on stump harvesting. Read More
Search online for woodlands across the UK 
There are a number of new websites that allow you to search online for information on your nearest woodland or forest. The Sylva Foundation's site myForest.org is a research and development project to advance and promote sustainable woodland management. OpenWoodlands.co.uk is a service that lets woodland-goers find their nearest publicly accessible open woodland. The Woodland Trust is set to launch VisitWoods, a searchable online database of 24,000 woodlands across the UK, next year as a "gateway" to site-based information, searchable maps, free downloadable resources, comments and pictures.
 Forest project moo-ving in Scotland
Highland cattle are taking part in a unique forest management project at Loch Katrine in Scotland that is reviving low-impact forestry techniques from the distant past to tackle a range of land use issues. Introducing the 60 cattle will provide a return to the traditional land management of past centuries. Scottish Environment Minister Roseanna Cunningham said "We all try to keep up with the fast pace of progress and that can mean we lose sight of traditional ways of doing things. Sometimes this is no bad thing but occasionally we miss a trick." Read More
UK wood production and trade statistics
The latest National Statistics on UK Wood Production and Trade produced by the Forestry Commission have been released. They include data on production, imports and exports of roundwood and wood products for the UK for the calendar years 2004 to 2008. Read More
Public asked to help get rid of pest moths
 Residents of north-west and south-west London are once again being asked to help eradicate the pest oak processionary moth from the area and prevent it from spreading further.
They can do this by reporting sightings of the caterpillars or their nests to their Council or the Forestry Commission's Forest Research agency. Read More
Wyre woodfuel project sets benchmark
A pioneering project to encourage more people living in Wyre to think green and switch to using woodfuel to heat their homes and businesses is setting a benchmark for the rest of the Region. The Forestry Commission and Heartwoods are the driving force behind the Wyre Forest Woodfuel Pathfinder scheme, which has succeeded in providing individuals and businesses with help to move over to this environmentally-friendly energy source. Read More
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| | Developments | Opportunity in Hong Kong
Mansell Products International Limited, based in Hong Kong, are seeking professional arboriculturalists who are interested in joining them to form a partnership to provide tree management and arboricultural services. As a result of a girl being killed in Hong Kong by a collapsed tree a few months ago, the Hong Kong Government is planning to inspect all trees deemed a risk and the company recognise that that there is a lack of experts available to undertake such work. For more information email Adam Au.
 Woodland grant scheme boost to North West England
North West landowners are being offered incentives to help make the region greener, thanks to the Forestry Commission's latest English Woodland Grant Scheme. Following the success of the scheme last year, there is now extra grant aid available to those looking to create significant areas of new woodland that can deliver economic, social and environmental value. Read More
The London Tree and Woodland Grant Scheme
London Tree and Woodland Grants of up to £5,000 are available for groups and organisations for a range of tree-related projects. Grants are awarded to projects across a wide variety of categories. The deadline for receipt of new applications is the 3 July 2009. Read More
Bringing small woodlands back to life in Wales
Farmers and landowners across Wales are being encouraged to put more trees into the landscape to help tackle climate change. A new streamlined process has been launched by Forestry Commission Wales - aimed at small woodland owners - as part of the Better Woodlands for Wales grant scheme. Read More
Grow more trees in Yorkshire National Park
 Landowners are being offered cash to plant more trees in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The scheme aims to increase the area of the National Park covered by native broadleaved woodland which will help boost wildlife habitats. Grants can cover up to 100 per cent of the establishment costs, though in most cases, applicants will be expected to make some contribution in terms of finance, materials or labour. For more information about the grants, contact Phill Hibbs on 01756 751607 or Chris Lodge on 015242 51002.Read More
(Picture courtesy of the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority)
Rural Priorities funding in Scotland
It has been confirmed that a further two funding rounds for Rural Priorities will take place in 2009 - one in August and one in November. The deadline for completed applications to be assessed in August is June 22 and for November it is September 21. Read More
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| | Consultations | Inaugural International Healthy Parks Healthy People Congress 2010 
With the increasing recognition of the value of nature to human health and wellbeing worldwide, Australia will host the first International Healthy Parks Healthy People Congress in Melbourne in 2010. This will be an opportunity to bring together delegates from all relevant sectors (i.e. planning, community development, physical and mental health, tourism, climate change, education, recreation, ecology and park management) to explore how we can take better advantage of the way nature significantly contributes to our wellbeing and broader societal benefits. The call for proposal abstracts is open from 17 April until 22 June 2009. Read More
UKWAS consultation
The consultation for the next revision of the UK Woodland Assurance Standard 2009-11 is still open and emails should reach the UKWAS Support Unit by 30 June 2009. Read More
CAP Single Payment Scheme
Farmers, land owners, and the public can still have their say on how Common Agricultural Policy money could be managed more effectively. A consultation on changes to the eligibility rules for the Single Payment Scheme will run until 22 July. Read More
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| | Events & Training |
APF 2010 dates announced
APF 2010, the UK's largest forestry and arboricultural exhibition is returning to Cannock Chase, Staffordshire, the same location as its successful 2008 event attended by over 250 exhibitors and 16000 visitors attended. The dates for next year's show are the 23-25 September 2010.
Scottish Forest and Arboriculture Show
The inaugural Scottish Forest and Arboriculture Show, a trade show for people working in forestry and arboriculture, takes place at Barony College, Dumfries on 20 June 2009. The organisers, Barony College and Wm Clark and Son, are interested in potential exhibitors to join those who have already booked a place. There is no charge to exhibit. Read More
Futures of Forestry Lecture
Futures of Forestry, the Inaugural Lecture by Professor David Robson, will take place at the University of Cumbria on 23 June at the Newton Rigg Campus. Places are limited due to the capacity of the venue so early responses would be appreciated. Email Rachel Mandale-Chapman by Friday 12th June 2009.
JUNE
8 Norwegian Wood Conference - Craiglockhart campus, Edinburgh Napier University. More
10 ICF North England Regional Group Meeting - Kielder Forest and Hexham. More
10 ICF North Scotland Regional Group meeting - Haddo House, Aberdeenshire. More
15 South Scotland Forest Industries Cluster meeting - The Gables Hotel, Gretna. More
16-17 Wildfire 2009 Conference - The New Forest, Hampshire. More
23 Futures of Forestry: the Inaugural Lecture by Professor David Robson- University of Cumbria, Newton Rigg Campus. More
26-27 Arborists' Trade Fair - Cirencester. More
30 Tree Hazard and Risk Assessment (Ref:0904) - Manchester. More
30 TEP Seminar 13 - Trees, Roots, Fungi, Soil (Part 2) - The Linnean Society, London. More
JULY
2 CCFG England Meeting - Ramscoat Wood, Chesham, Bucks. More
9 Climate Change 09 - The greatest environmental challenge - Barbican Centre, London. More
9 Wessex Silvicultural Group Meeting - Western Common and Alice Holt Lodge. More
12 Arboricultural Association meeting: Treemendous Day - Bowhill, Selkirk. More
18-19 Edinburgh Treefest - Inverleith Park, Edinburgh. More
For details of your local Royal Forestry Society events visit: RFS website | Back to top
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