March 2008

Welcome to our first E-news. We hope you find it useful. 

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ICF News | General News | Developments

Consultations  | Events & Training

To get started you will need to log in from the main website's homepage using your membership number as User ID, and your surname (in CAPITAL letters) as password. Call 0131 240 1425 if you need to check your membership number or if you have any problems logging on. We'll be adding new functions to the site as it develops and we welcome any feedback on how you think it could be improved.

Introducing Betsy Andrews
Betsy, who hails from Atlanta, USA, started work with the Institute this month as our Marketing & Admin Officer. As well as helping with the Secretariat administration Betsy will be developing a marketing plan to help us broaden our presence. You can meet her at the ICF conference in April and, later this year, at the APF 2008 International Forestry Fair at Cannock Chase where the ICF will has a stand.

Just 8 places left for the ICF conference
'Carbon Lean UK - A Role for our Trees, Woods and Forests?'  That's the topic of the moment if delegate numbers are to go by. Make your own booking then flag this to your colleagues before places run out. Programme and booking: details
Conference supported by Forestry Commission GB, Scottish Woodlands, UPM Tilhill and Forestry Journal

AGM papers sent out this week
Papers for the Institute's Annual General Meeting have been posted to all corporate members this week. Make your vote count!

New look Chartered Forester
We've given Chartered Forester a make-over.  Look out for your copy which should be with you now. We've tried to make it more digestible with bite-sized information and fast facts to enable a quick scan until you have time for a good read.  Let us know what you think.  Email Allison Lock

Vacanies
Latest jobs advertised on the Members' Area website:

. Forestry Consultant, Northampton area
. Forestry Assistant, Northampton area
. Arboricultural Assistant, Northampton area

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Wood for Wales competition 
Woodland owners in Wales are invited to compete for up to £1,500 in prize money offered in a new competition run by the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society and Forestry Commission Wales. The competition is seeking out projects which demonstrate examples of sustainable diversification and the provision of added value in three separate categories of woodland developments and management covering recreational, commercial and social activities. The closing date is 7 April. more

Examiners Sought
ABC Awards and the RFS are seeking new people to join their examining team for the Professional Diploma in Arboriculture. This is a level 6 qualification and the top vocational accolade in arboriculture in Europe for aspiring consultants. If interested email Alison Rogers or Dr John Jackson

Italian forester seeks UK work experience
Simona Ferutta, a professional forester in Italy for 12 years, is seeking work experience abroad preferably in the UK so she can improve her English. She is available for either a summer or one year placement in survey work or assisting in areas where her experience lies, namely forestry, agriculture and the environment. View Simona's CV and email Simona. 
 

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"Oak Passports" mandatory from end March
An emergency amendment to the Plant Health (Forestry) Order 2005 comes into force from 31 March and requires that all oak trees imported from European Union (EU) Member States, regardless of whether they are prepared and ready for sale to the final consumer, are accompanied by a "plant passport". The plant passports will confirm that the trees have been grown in a nursery and that they come from an area where the place of production and its immediate vicinity have been free from oak processionary moth since at least the beginning of the last cycle of vegetation. more

Latest news: Phytophthora kernoviae found off Scottish Coast on the island of Arran at the National Trust for Scotland's Broddick Castle & Country Park.

European Biomass Standards published
European technical standards governing the production of solid biomass fuels, including woodfuels such as logs, pellets, chips and sawdust, and straw bales, are now available for downloading from the UK's Biomass Energy Centre website. more

Deadly pox virus outbreak discovered on Anglesey
A red squirrel in Pentraeth forest has been found with the deadly squirrel pox virus during routine monitoring of the population. The animal was taken to the Welsh Mountain Zoo for treatment but died a few hours later. A second animal is currently being treated in the hospital unit at the Zoo. more

Trees survey report now available
The report from Britain's largest ever tree survey was published on 18 February. "Trees in Towns II", written by Chris Britt from ADAS and Mark Johnston from MyerscoughCollege - the two organisations that carried out the project - concludes that Britain's tree stock is not being looked after well enough. Buy the report from Communities and Local Government Publications. Tel: 0870 1226 236, email communities@twoten.com and from other specialist book shops at £55. View the Executive Summary                   

New Information and Practice Notes
APN 13: Trees in focus - Girdling, Constriction and Ring Barking. Author: Harry W Pepper. Now available from AAIS: Telephone 01420 22022.
FCRN01: Jan 08, Impacts of climate change on forestry in Scotland - a synopsis of spacial modelling research, Duncan Ray.  more 

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Have your say on South Oxfordshire Council new guide
South Oxfordshire District Council is seeking comments on its new "Trees and Development - Best Practice Guidance" report.  The document has been published alongside its South Oxfordshire Design Guide 2000 as part of the council's work on the Local Development Framework.  The consultation deadline is 10 April 2008. more   

Minister calls for views on Scotland's climate change plan
Scottish forestry has a "fundamental role" to play in tackling climate change, said Environment Minister, Michael Russell, as he launched for consultation Forestry Commission Scotland's first ever draft Climate Change Action Plan in March.  The plan demonstrates what the Commission will do to boost the response and contribution of Scottish forestry to the challenges of climate change.  It sets out a range of proposed actions that will help the sector prepare for our changing climate. The Plan is being sent to key stakeholders for consultation and anyone with an interest in forestry and climate change is urged to comment by 6 June. more

Views invited on forestry sector training needs
Martin Glynn FICFor is representing the forestry sector on the Yorkshire & The Humber RDPE Skills Industry Advisory Panel . The panel's role is to advise Yorkshire Forward and LANTRA as to how the £1m per annum available for training in the region should be allocated. Martin is keen to see that the forestry sector gets its fair share of the funding and to this end wants to hear your views on what the sector's training needs are. Please input your views by email.

The Future of Flood Risk Management in Scotland
The Scottish Government will introduce a Flooding Bill in 2008 to modernise the flood risk management system in Scotland. The proposals set out in this consultation paper are designed to establish a framework within which sustainable flood risk management in Scotland will operate more effectively than at present. more

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Free forestry Health and Safety events
Due to demand from the industry, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are running further Safety and Health Awareness Day for the forestry industry.
Forestry Safety and Health Awareness Days have been developed in partnership with the industry and are being delivered by trainers who have years of experience working in forestry.  While it is too late to book for the next course you can register interest for future training. Email Claire Eadie at the Forestry Commission to find out more.

IGNITE course programme extended
Rural Development Initiatives Ltd have extended their three day 'classic' IGNITE courses (the UK's only accredited woodfuel training) to include a suite of additional courses to create a comprehensive programme of woodfuel supply chain training.
During 2008 IGNITE courses are currently scheduled to run in Wales, North Yorkshire, Cumbria and the East of England. Tel 01765 650 149  for more information.

New woodland training from Flora locale 
Creating new woods, planting wildflowers in woods and managing ancient trees are topics in the new Flora locale training programme running from April to November. The events will help people involved in the design, management and restoration of land for biodiversity. The woodland events, in particular, will appeal to people working with community groups, local authorities and corporate organisations to create Breathing Places where people can connect with nature and wildlife.  more 

Bat awareness training for arboriculturists
The Bat Conservation Trust has a series of basic awareness courses aimed at helping people carry out tree works with consideration of the potential effects of bats and their habitats.  Please note that the next course is on 21 April at Juniper Hall in Surrey (not 24 April as advertised in the 2008 brochure). They have also published an information note entitled "Bats and trees in England". more                                Photo by: John John Altringham/Bat Conservation Trust

Forest Research Update meeting , NRS, Roslin, 10 April more

CCFG meeting , Forest Inventory for Continuous Cover Silviculture and Carbon Accounting, Stourhead (Western) Estate, 16 April more

The History & Ecology of Woodlands , The Kingcombe Centre, West Dorset, 18-20 April more

Interpreting the landscape - The Forest of Blackmoor, a case study, 21-25 April more

ICF South East England meeting , Health & Well-being in the forest (am) and Utilisation of the South East's Sweet Chestnut resource (pm), Bedgebury Pinetum, Kent, 22 April more

ICF National Conference , Carbon Lean UK. A Role for our Trees, Woods and Forests?, Pollock Halls, University of Edinburgh, 23-24 April - limited places, check before booking more

Capel Manor's Annual Celebration of Trees and the Countryside , Enfield, Middlesex, 25-26 April more

ICF South West England meeting (with the Wessex Silvicultural Group), Free Oak Trials, Tintern, 30 April more

View full events list

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