Wednesday, 18 May 2011

British Forestry Industry: News from Confor May 2011

ConFor eNews


..once again to this latest issue of ConFor's eNews.  We are pleased to welcome new members who have joined since our last issue:
William McGhee, Edinburgh
Kenneth Furling, Essex
Anthony Haighway, Shropshire
Alistair Walton, Cumbria
LC Energy Ltd,Surrey
Cutlers Wood, Germany
Midlands Wood Fuel, Shropshire
Newfuel Ltd, Aberdeenshire
Woodfuel Wales, Powys
Forest Fuels Ltd, Exeter
Haughton Castle, Northumberland
Barnhill Estate, Stirlingshire
English Wood Fuels Ltd, Leicestershire
Cotswold Eco Fuels, Bristol
Staffordshire County Council, Staffordshire
Remember, the eNews is just one part of the ConFor communications package.  It is circulated between issues of our industry-leading magazine Forestry and Timber News - now published six times a year.  All ConFor members should receive a complimentary copy of FTN. Non-members can subscribe to eNews by sending your details to enews@confor.org.uk and we will add you to our mailing list.
IN THIS ISSUE
The elections for the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly took place on 05 May 2011 with differing outcomes for each new government.  Read more..

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ConFor’s chief executive Stuart Goodall is one of 12 people appointed by the Secretary of State, Caroline Spelman to an independent panel set up to advise government on the future of forestry in England. Stuart will be emphasising the need to develop policy that supports all England's woodland and which addresses the importance of financial sustainability to forestry management. Read more..
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The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Forestry: engaging Westminster in forestry issues
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Forestry met on 08 May 2011, in Portcullis House, Westminster.  Read more..
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BSW Timber was featured on Landward (BBC2 Scotland’s weekly countryside programme) as part of a ConFor initiative to show-case how the domestic timber industry is now competing with the very best in Europe. ConFor’s chief executive was interviewed, putting the case for expanding the commercial softwood forest area.  Read more..
Phytophthora ramorum update
With aerial surveys having resumed (working upwards and eastwards from south-west England) there should soon be an insight into the latest spread of P ramorum infection. A revised strategy for combating the infection is being developed and ConFor has been raising awareness of the real danger to businesses in the sector. Read more..


Official visits to Glennon Brothers plant in Troon
Scotland and Ireland-based timber processing firm, Glennon Brothers, welcomed Labour MSP for Strathkelvin and Bearsden, David Whitton, as part of a visit organised by ConFor, to its Adam Wilson & Sons sawmill plant in Troon, followed just a day later by a visit from Consul General of Ireland to Scotland, Susan Conlon.
The visit was one of a number of events organised by ConFor for politicians from all parties in Scotland ahead of the election to expose them to the sector and to discuss the key issues facing forestry and wood businesses.

Thank you to all those who contributed to recent ConFor submissions:
Forestry Regulation Task Force. The final response is at
Management of health and safety in forestry. The final response is at www.confor.org.uk/NewsAndEvents
The plant protection products regulations 2011. The final response is at www.confor.org.uk/NewsAndEvents
Final call for comments by 31 May 2011 http://www.ukwas.org.uk/standard/revision/index.html


The consultation documents and copies of the draft felling Regulations and the Forestry Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 are available at www.dardni.gov.uk/forestservice  The consultation runs from 24 March 2011 to 23 June 2011. The new Forestry Act is inextricably linked to the forestry strategy, articulated in ‘Northern Ireland – A strategy for sustainability and growth’ (March 2006), which is built around:
  • The sustainable management of existing woods and forests;
  • A steady expansion of tree cover to increase the many diverse benefits that forests provide.
Direct responses to jan.davidson@dardni.gov.uk 
 To contribute to ConFor’s response, please send to jane.karthaus@confor.org.uk
Now in its ninth year, The Wood Awards is the UK’s premier architecture and furniture competition celebrating excellence in design in the world’s most sustainable material. Deadline 27 May 2011. www.woodawards.com
  
FCE issued an email alert on 28 April 2011, with news on Woodland Creation Grant (applications scoring 10 points or more, or three in East England, will be accepted until the budget is fully committed)  Woodfuel Woodland Improvement Grant and grant calculator. http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6myjjh
There are also new grants in Yorkshire & Humber for woodland creation in designated areas for flood mitigation purposes.
SRDP changes
View your Rural Priorities case file on-line
Are you applying for Rural Priorities funding? If so, you can now upload and view documents relating to your case file on-line.

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 RHI event
Shortly after the launch of the Renewable Heat Incentive details in March 2011, an informative event was held, jointly supported by ConFor, NFU, CLA and FC. Video recordings of the presentations are at http://heartwoods.reach22.com/

The Royal Scottish Forestry Society is looking for a new editor for Scottish Forestry http://www.confor.org.uk/NewsAndEvents/Jobs.aspx?pid=31&id=851
Forest Fuels is looking for a timber-buying manager http://www.confor.org.uk/NewsAndEvents/Jobs.aspx?pid=31&id=850

ConFor Events
ConFor at the Devon County Show, 19-21 May 2011
ConFor Marches regional AGM, 27 May 2011, at the main FC office, Birches Valley, with a short tour looking at treatment of red band needle blight and heathland restoration issues, then on to Staffordshire Wildlife Trust.
West Midlands Forestry Forum, 29 June 2011, at Burwarton Estate. Theme: Majoring on the International Year for Forestry; an estate visit with a series of illustrated talks highlighting the important contribution that trees & woodland make to the economy whilst providing considerable public benefit and contributing to everyone’s quality of life.
ConFor at the Royal Cornwall Show, 09-11 June 2011
ConFor AGM, 19 July 2011, Edinburgh
ConFor at the Royal Welsh Show, Builth Wells, 18-21 July 2011 www.rwas.co.uk
ConFor’s South West Woodland Show, Longleat, Wiltshire, 09 September 2011, with Forest programme woodfuel site visits on 08 September 2011. www.southwestwoodlandshow.org.uk

Other Events


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