Early Career Professionals Study Tour 2024

Carbon & Investment: A Green Future

Join us on this year’s Early Career Professionals Study Tour for an opportunity to meet and network with fellow early career professionals and gain invaluable continued professional development from experienced practitioners and project managers. Over the course of two days, we will explore carbon markets and investments, visiting both a traditional mixed Devon estate that seeks to balance multiple objectives and a charity-owned new woodland creation project. Not only will you have the chance to increase your knowledge of carbon markets, but also discuss ecosystem services, resilience in planting and the planning of new woodlands, species mixes, additionality and a host of other topics in a friendly and supportive environment. Networking opportunities will be available throughout the two days including at an optional evening meal.

Day one

Site one – Cruwys Morchard

This is a traditional 600-hectare mixed Devon estate of which 210 hectares is woodland. The challenge of the estate’s desire to increase woodland cover while continuing to meet the multiple objectives of commerciality, amenity, sporting and biodiversity has recently been undertaken.

At the site, attendees will hear about:

• How potential revenue streams from these new areas of woodland have been considered
• The Woodland Carbon Code and its suitability for the site
• How other non-timber means of income from the woodland is affected by afforestation

Speakers: Felix Gregory MICFor, Ilona Coulson-Ashworth & Will Moreton

Site two – James Wood

This is Woodland Heritage’s first site and the charity hopes to extended planting to all 34-hectares of the site by the end of the season using an innovative and diverse range of species. As well as the new woodland, there is some existing mature woodland and some young woodland that they hope to bring back into active management. Pryor & Rickett Silviculture has been working with Woodland Heritage to design the woodland using the Woodland Creation Planning Grant and England Woodland Creation Offer funding.

At the site, attendees will hear about:

• Resilience and trying new species
• Ash dieback and how it is impacting on young woodlands
• The planning and design process
• The operational delivery of this project
• Carbon markets and biodiversity net gain opportunities
• FSC/UKWAS/Grown in Britain and the scope of ecosystem service payments
• Investing in woodlands

Speakers: Norbert Kovacs MICFor & more to be announced!

Day two

Site three – Knightshayes

This National Trust estate near Tiverton features the gothic house designed by William Burges, 19th-century parkland and great post-war garden. Knightshayes is home to over 1,200 plant species, some of which are unique, and has some of the tallest Douglas firs in England. Members will enjoy a guided tour around the grounds to view the formal and woodland garden, and greater estate, led by Sam Tyson.

Speaker: Sam Tyson

Site four – Bickleigh

Bickleigh is an 80 hectare woodland in Mid Devon with Douglas fir and Sitka spruce the primary commercial species with a pocket of red cedar. Ash, oak and sycamore are the predominant broadleaf species. Amenity and conservation value are features of the woodland, afforded by a mixture of location terrain, proximity to water courses, broadleaves and areas of ancient woodland ground flora.

The long term vision for Bickleigh is ‘to maintain and develop a profitable forestry investment whilst sustaining the nature conservation and amenity value of the woodland’. Harvesting of certain species has been undertaken in recent years including ash suffering from Hymenoscyphus fraxineus (ash dieback). Restocking in the woodland with Sitka spruce and broadleaved species has been undertaken and is growing well. The site has good access extending over a kilometre into the woodland.

Speaker: Alex MacKinnon

Additional information

Accommodation

We recommend that members stay in Tiverton in Devon as it is a midpoint for all sites. Tiverton is close to the M5 motorway and there is a train station. Please note that accommodation is not included in the standard ticket.

Transport

Travel to and from sites will be done through car sharing. We will be in touch with members that have booked to confirm arrangements.

Evening social

Delegates are invited to meet for drinks at The White Ball Inn in Tiverton from 19:00. Please note that dinner is not included in the standard ticket.

About the speakers

Ilona Coulson-Ashworth (Study Tour Chair) – Forest and Carbon Manager, South West Woodland Management

Ilona is a specialist in voluntary carbon markets, with experience in creating and managing carbon projects across the UK. Ilona advises on farm carbon, ecosystem services and woodland creation.

Felix Gregory MICFor – Senior Forest Manager, South West Woodland Management

Felix manages a wide range of woodland properties for private landowners across the south west. Involved in increasing numbers of small to medium scale afforestation projects, Felix is interested in helping landowners to diversify their woodland and maximise its potential for providing benefits for multiple objectives.

Norbert Kovacs MICFor – Forest Manager, Pryor & Rickett Silviculture

Norbert studied forest engineering in Hungary (2006) and worked for the Hungarian Forest Service as woodland planner creating woodland management plans for over 6,000 hectares of forests, before relocating to the UK in 2009. After establishing himself in the UK, Norbert managed woodlands and contracts in the South East of England and in Scotland, ranging from seven hectares to 5,000 hectares. Pursuing his interest in digital mapping he completed a postgraduate diploma in Geographic Information Systems at Coleraine (2014) and worked for an industry leading arboricultural consultancy, developing their GIS database in Bristol. More recently Norbert became a Professional Member of the Institute of Chartered Foresters and successfully introduced active woodland management for a wide range of military establishments (through the creation and delivery of management plans) covering the southern half of the country, working on a large MOD contract. He provides expertise on GIS and useful insights into continental forestry and silviculture.

Alex MacKinnon – Carbon Project Manager, CarbonStore

Alex studied a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Science at university before joining Tilhill forestry’s renowned graduate scheme. Initially working with the investment team Alex progressed quickly to the role of Forest Manager, New Business Manager and into his current role as Carbon Project Manager. Using his silvicultural experience and combining his environmental background he has a broad understanding of the Woodland Carbon Code and its fundamental principles. Alex works on the technical side of CarbonStore working directly with managers and clients to efficiently register, validate and verify our projects. He also works with incoming purchasers to identify and assess potential project carbon units that suit their preferences. Alex is working towards chartered manager and Chartered Forester status while also sitting on the committee of his local CLA branch and volunteering his time to help direct a charity. Alex has a strong affection for trees and nature founded by growing up in the idyllic Surrey hills.

Will Moreton – Director, CM Sporting

Will has been the shoot tenant at Cruwys Morchard estate since 2022 and has been involved in running shoots since 2009. Will co-owns The Wolf Run and is a winner of the Farmers Weekly Diversification Award for efforts on the family farm in Warwickshire. Will has an interest in the management of woodland diversification and maximising potential for income generation.

Sam Tyson – Lead Ranger (Knightshayes Court), National Trust