May 08 

Welcome to this month's E-News.

The summer edition of Chartered Forester will be hitting desks and doormats around the 9th June with plenty of news, articles and views in our mission to keep members up-to-date. It contains a review of the ICF National Conference and several articles on professionalism.  

Please forward your E-News to any colleagues that you think may be interested in receiving it and don't forget to add icf@charteredforesters.org to your address book so you don't miss any issues.  

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

Conference presentations on web
Presentation slides from last month's National Conference on Carbon Lean UK are available to download from the ICF website. Go to the Download Library under Publications and Services. The conference proceedings are being prepared and will be available shortly.

National Study Tour dates confirmed
Clear your diary for 16th-17th October when this year's Study Tour on "The Management of Trees and Woodlands in and around our Cities" will be held at The National Forest. Our base will be The Royal Hotel in Ashby de la Zouch and the tour will take in The National Memorial Arboretum and Calke Abbey.
Delegates should plan to arrive in time for the introduction to the Study Tour on the evening of 15th October. More details will be available soon, but to express your interest email Allison Lock.  

ICF Council
The next ICF Council meeting is on 17th June. If you have any burning issues that you would like to raise, contact a member of the Council (listed in Who's Who on our website). Minutes of previous Council meetings, together with Council members' contact details, can be found in the Members' Area.  

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

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Beavers back in Scotland
Scottish Environment Minister Michael Russell has given the go-ahead for up to four beaver families to be released next Spring in Knapdale, Argyll, on a trial basis as part of a £500,000 conservation project. It is 400 years since the last native beaver tunnelled below Scotland's riverbanks. While the decision is welcomed by Scottish Natural Heritage, critics warn that the move could damage the environment, tourism and angling in Scotland. More

Director swaps landscape to focus on trees
Marion Bowman, who stood down last month as Director General of the Landscape Institute (LI), has been appointed a Trustee of The Tree Council. Sue Roe, Chair of the Trustee Board, said, "Marion is an outstanding advocate with great skills in strategy, networking and communications and is a great addition to our team." Marion's replacement will be Alastair McCapra, currently Chief Executive of the Institute of Conservation, who joins LI in July. 

New Head for Forest Research
Dr James Pendlebury has been appointed Chief Executive of Forest Research. James, aged 47, who is currently head of the Forestry Commission's team of specialist advisors, has had a distinguished career in research, management and market development in the timber and forestry sectors. He holds a BSc Honours degree in forestry and a PhD from Aberdeen University. He has held timber research positions in several countries, including the UK, United States, South Africa and New Zealand and headed the TNO Centre for Timber Research in The Netherlands and more recently CEO of Highland Birchwoods in Scotland.
Since joining the FC six years ago, posts held include business policy advisor for Forestry Commission Scotland and a secondment to the Scottish Government's Renewable Policy Team.

Researchers say trees may help childhood asthma
Living on a tree-lined street reduces a child's risk of developing asthma compared with life in a grey inner-city neighbourhood, according to researchers in the USA. They found that asthma rates among four-to five-year-olds fell by almost a quarter for every 343 extra trees per square kilometre in an urban area.
However, Professor Irwin McLean, who studies asthma at the University of Dundee, heeded a warning. He said it was a "very interesting study" but he urged caution in interpreting the results. "It shows that there is some correlation between suburban living and a reduction in asthma. But that doesn't mean you should go out and plant a load of trees around your house if you want to stop your kids from getting asthma," he said. More

Report sees timber sales peak in 2007
The 2008 UPM Tilhill Timber Bulletin: 'Trends and influences on the UK standing coniferous timber sales market', is now available to download. It records a 'dramatic peak' in the market in 2007 which saw record timber sales against recent years with demand for energy wood a major factor in driving up both demand and prices for small roundwood. "This year's Timber Bulletin confirms the rising market and increased levels of activity that were forecast last year, with growers seeing the benefit of strong demand in the significantly increased prices paid for standing timber," said Steve Lavery, MD, UPM Tilhill. More

North East England trees get website
A new regional Forestry Commission website has been launched that provides information about trees, woods and forests in North West England. The new site allows visitors to explore the exciting range of opportunities offered by the Forestry Commission across North West England including places to go, activities to do, interactive maps and in-depth information about the region's forests. The website also contains key information on the English Woodland Grant Scheme, felling licences, the region's forest strategy and educational resources. More

Squirrel News - good and bad
A black interloper has ruffled fur in Cambridgeshire. An aggresive mutant black squirrel species is driving grey squirrels from their homes and it is suspected that black squirrels now make up half the total squirrel population there. It is believed that the black squirrels could spread to Norfolk and Suffolk within ten years and there are fears that they could wipe our greys altogether. The prediction ironically comes at a time when moves are being taken to control the grey squirrel species which threatens to wipe out the red squirrel. It also highlights the plight of the red squirrel which is further threatened by the squirrelpox virus as new cases are found in Scotland (in Dumfries & Galloway) and in Wales (in the Pentraith Forest) during the month.
More

Green revolution in Cardiff 
A tree planting drive in Cardiff has added three times as many extra trees as last year. As well as replacing trees that had to be felled due to disease or decay, the council planted an extra 110 trees in the south-eastern part of the city. With Welsh Environment Minister Jane Davidson backing the need to improve green spaces in cities, it is good news.  The parks team will next year concentrate on the western district of the city.

Oaks face extinction
A recent survey of populations of oak worldwide concluded that 78 of the world's 500 species face extinction in the wild. The Red List of Oaks is published jointly by Fauna and Flora International and Botanic Gardens Conservation International through the Global Trees Campaign. More

Wales to get new Eden
The Borneo Rainforest will be built in Bridgend! £45m has been committed to build the 9,230 sq/m structure in South Wales together with a hotel and visitor centre nearby. The company, Rainforest Ventures, will co-operate with a local horticultural college and employ learning impared young adults in its tropical plant propagation unit. 

New publications
APN 13 on Girdling, Constriction and Ring Barking: The Arboricultural Advisory and Information Service (AAIS) has issued Harry W Pepper's latest practice note giving a description of what ring barking is, its common causes and possible preventative measures. Available from AAIS, telephone 01420 22022.
NI Native Woodland Guidance: The Northern Ireland Native Woodland Group has issued a booklet on the definititions and guidance on native woodland in NI. ISBN: 978-1-84807-041-7
Tree Damage Alert:  No. 125 on Phellinus punctatus occuring on plane trees. News that the decay has been found in the UK in London has prompted this update note. Available from AAIS as before. 

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Scottish woodland project fund opens
In and Around Towns Challenge Fund (WIAT) and Forestry for People Challenge Fund (F4P) are now open. The WIAT Challenge Fund aims to bring urban woodland into sustainable management and improve recreation facilitates by carrying out an agreed programme of work. The funding is targeted at woods within 1 km of settlements with a population of over 2000 people (WIAT area). The Forestry for People Challenge Fund covers all Scotland. It supports local involvement in woodland projects for health, learning and strengthening communities. More

New outdoor volunteering report 
Funded by the Forestry Commission, National Trust, Countryside Council for Wales, and Natural England a new report explores the current and developing status of volunteering related to the natural environment. The report shows that although it attracts very large numbers, volunteering in the natural outdoors has been overlooked in volunteering policy despite the clear benefits it delivers. FC offers the report to ICF members at a 33% discount until November. More 
Also, membership of The Tomorrow Network, a group of individuals (currently some 3000) with an interest in futures work, is open to ICF members free of charge. More 

RDPE announces £53m West Midlands funding scheme
Land-based businesses in the West Midlands can now benefit from the Rural Development Programme for England's new funding scheme to help reduce carbon emissions. Advantage West Midlands is running the £53m scheme which will encourage land-based businesses to take advantage of low-carbon opportunities, save costs, improve profitability and expand into new business areas. The RDPE scheme is set to run until 2013. More

Joint Mitigation Protocol launched
The Joint Mitigation Protocol, an agreed method of subsidence claims management where trees may be implicated as the cause of building movement, was launched this month. It seeks to establish best practice in the processing and investigation of building damage, benchmarking time scales for responses and standards of evidence. Download the Protocol from the LTOA website.

New solution to control Japanese knotweed
A non-native weed biocontrol agent could be starting the battle to control Japanese knotweed in the UK by next summer. As part of a research study by the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureaux International (CABI), the introduction of a Japanese insect or a fungus is being explored as a way of dealing with the invasive weed. The work is currently going through a process of peer review and it will go to the Advisory Committee for Releases into the Environment next before being subjected to review by Defra with a public consultation expected to follow in December. Ministerial approval is likely to be required. 

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ICF member rallies for grey squirrel action in Scotland forest plan
Bede Howell MICFor is encouraging fellow ICF members to include a call for action to reduce or eliminate the grey squirrel population as part of their feedback on the draft Forest Enterprise Scotland Framework Strategic Plan consultation. The consultation closes on 9th June. More

Input invited for Coppice survey of South East England
Debbie Bartlett, a Landscape architect, ecologist and rural development consultant, is running a coppice survey for South East England on behald of the School of Science at the University of Greenwich. The survey will look at where coppice has been cut between 1st September 2007 and 31st August 2008. If you would like to give input email Debbie.

Consultation launched on managing ancient woodland guide
Forestry Commission England is seeking views on the contents of 'Managing Ancient and Native Woodland - England Practice Guide'. It wants to know whether the guidance will help woodland owners manage their woods to deliver the outcomes the Commission wants to see. The guide is aimed at experienced practitioners and outlines the types of management that will ensure the protection and enhancement of ancient and native woodlands and the many benefits they provide. The Consultation is available online or from the FC Bristol office on 0117 906 6000. Closing date: 22nd August 2008. More

Don't forget to join the Lantra job profiles consultation
Anyone who works in the environmental and land-based sector - whatever job you do; whether you are an employee, manager, director, proprietor or owner, Lantra wants to find out about the job you do. Lantra's on-line Job Conculter has clear instructions and a tick box approach to make things simple. Please take a few minutes to add your views to this important survey. More

There's still time to add your voice to these consultations
Communities & Local Government's Eco-towns: Living a greener future includes the shortlisted locations proposed. Closing date: 30th June. More
Defra's Soil Strategy aims to halt the loss of soil carbon. Closing date: 23rd June. More

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Forestry Commission pine weevil training 
The Forestry Commission will start training users from across the forestry industry in a new management support system to help foresters predict and reduce damage and costs caused by large pine weevil beetles, Hylobius abietis, in upland spruce and pine plantations.
A course for private-sector foresters will be held on Monday 4th August in Ae, Dumfriesshire, cost £80. Contact Diane Carmichael for a booking form. Telephone 0131 334 0303.

Rural First Aid course from SAS
A first aid course developed by ex-SAS personnel is being made available to foresters. It focuses on the hazards of working remotely in potentially dangerous situations with equally dangerous machinery. It incorporates the risks and possible outcomes of such situations. More  

Conference on climate proofing cities 
Broadcaster and environmentalist Professor Chris Baines and arboricultursists Jeremy Barrell FICFor and Neville Fay headline this conference on 10th July at the Royal Geographical Society, London. The conference will highlight the temperature-buffering benefits that trees offer to urban life in the face of climate change. More

Ignite Woodfuel Supply training course: Brecon Beacons, Monmouthshire, 3rd June. More
RSFS Lothian & Borders Meeting: Rosebury Estate Forestry Tour, meet at Rosebury Estate Sawmill, 3rd June. More
Arboriculture & Bats training course: A Guide for Practitioners, The Kingscombe Centre, Dorset, 9th June. More
Managing Ancient & Native Woodlands: Forestry Commission Workshop, Alice Holt, Nr Farnham, 10th June. More
ICF South West England Regional Group Meeting: Heathland Management on East Devon Pebblebed Heaths, Clinton Devon Estates, Bickton, East Devon, 11th June. More  
ICF North Scotland Regional Group Meeting: Protected Species and Forest Management, Nethy Bridge Village Hall, 12 June, More
ICF North England Regional Group Meeting: Woodlanddland establishment on the urban fringe and more, Towneley Hall, Burnley, Lancashire, 12th June. More
South Scotland Forest Industries Cluster Meeting: Incorporating a visit to E.On's biomass power station at Lockerbie, Queen's Hotel, Lockerbie. 17th June. More
Forests and Climate Change: a Convenient Truth: FC Wales Conference, Millennium Centre, Cardiff, 18th June. More 
ICF East England Regional Group: Red Band Needle Blight, Santon Downham, Thetford, in conjunction with ConFor, FC/Forest Research, 19th June. More
CCFG ProSilva Conference: Freudenstadt, Black Forest, Germany, 19th-21st June. More
ICF South East England Regional Group: Habitat Regulations, Alice Holt, Nr Farnham, 26th June. More
Wessex Silviculture Group meeting: Oak Woodlands, Alice Holt, Nr Farnham, 26th June. More
ICF Midlands Regional Group Meeting: Red Band Needle Blight, Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, 1st July. More  

View full events list

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