CONFOR Woodland Show 2015 - demonstration of equipment for managing small woods

10 & 11 September 2015

Confor Woodland Show, Longleat, Wiltshire

Six demonstration visits over two days will be run by Forestry Commission England and Forest Research’s Technical Development Branch in support of the Confor Woodland Show 2015

• See machinery and equipment that works on broadleaf woodlands that are small, undermanaged or hard to access. 
• Talk to experts to find out how to get the most from this equipment 
• Learn first-hand where to focus time and effort in harvesting and extraction 
• See a harvesting site worked efficiently with low environmental impact 

Minibuses will take you from the showground to the demonstration site for a 2 hour visit.  

Places on the demonstrations are free for anyone visiting the Confor Woodland Show.  

Spaces are limited so booking in advance is essential by contacting:

Cherie Lovegrove
Forestry Commission South West
cherie.lovegrove@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Business support for forestry businesses

The Forestry Commission has recently appointed a consortium of organisations to provide business support to forestry businesses across England.  

The objective of this support is to support forestry businesses in advance of the new grants within the new Rural Development Programme (RDP), set to start in 2015.

Mike and Max knew there must be an easier way!

A recent survey undertaken by the Kent Downs Woodfuel Pathfinder showed that the average age of forestry machinery currently in use in Kent is around 20 years. 

Survey respondents identified 32 items of forestry machinery required to either maintain or enhance business performance.  


The cost of this machinery was just under £1 million:

Kelvin's tractor had
seen better days

• The average cost ranged from £7,250 (firewood processor) to £70,000 (harvester/processor).
• The majority of the equipment was allocated for purchase within the next two to three years (and no later than 2020).
• Forwarders and firewood processors were the most frequently cited items.
• Most investment is required in forwarding machinery (£315,000).

Mark's great great great Grandfather's
chainsaw was a bit smoky

These results indicate that substantial investment in forestry machinery is still needed in Kent in order to maintain or develop businesses performance.

The consortium, known as FACE (Forestry Advisory Consortium England), will provide free one-to-one business support.

Details of future schemes under RDP are still taking shape.  

However, based on the previous programme grant support may be available for (but not limited) projects involving machinery, training, business support, venison processing and initiatives involving collaboration.

Guy's harvester was not helped by the foam leftover
from the last woodland rave

Experience from previous rounds of these European Rural Development Grants shows that it will be important for forestry businesses to have good quality “oven ready” applications in time for the official opening.

FCE are encouraging businesses to register their interest in the support as soon as possible. 

Please choose from the appropriate regional contact below:

• East England: Corinne Meakins corinne.meakins@forestry.gsi.gov.uk 01842 819089
• East Midlands: David Bole david.bole@forestry.gsi.gov.uk 07712 750549
• South East: Matthew Woodcock matthew.woodcock@forestry.gsi.gov.uk 01483 326210
• South West: Mark Prior mark.prior@forestry.gsi.gov.uk 01392 834260
• West Midlands: Simon West simon.west@forestry.gsi.gov.uk 01905 532212
• North West: Penny Oliver penny.oliver@forestry.gsi.gov.uk 01524 565805
• Yorkshire & the North East richard.pow@forestry.gsi.gov.uk 07831 216024

Further details can be found here.

Rick's two horsepower log extractor was very thirsty

In parallel to business support the Forestry Commission is also delivering a series of workshops between September 2014 and January 2015.

To register for these events please contact Amy or Jude on 07502 985 921 or email events@lantern.uk.com.  More details can be found here.

Lucas Mill - Fuelwood Case Study & Video

Those lovely people at Fuelwood have just created a new case study and video for the Lucas Mill - a portable saw mill that can be set up around a felled tree.

More videos can be found here.

Whilst on the subject of machinery Fuelwood has an interesting selection of ex-demo and second hand equipment - take a look here.

Finally, we should draw your attention to APF2014 which will take place at the Ragley Estate (Warwickshire) on the 18th to 20th September.

Timber and Wood Fuel Supply Chains - Kent Survey 2013

Since 2011 the Kent Downs Woodfuel Pathfinder has been working to promote sustainable woodland management, wood fuels and biomass heating.

As we are now half-way through our work programme we would like to turn our attention towards the supply of timber, particularly as the markets for woodfuel continue to improve.


Our main motivations for doing this are related to: 

• The sustained demand for firewood for open fires and log stoves
• The increasing demand for wood chip for use in biomass boilers
• Proposals for a new biomass (wood chip) power station in East Kent

To help us gather up-to-date information on machinery, skills and the demand for new workers and apprentices we have developed an online survey targeted at businesses operating in the forestry sector.

The survey, which can be accessed by clicking here, will be to understand more about the forestry sector in the South East and will help direct our support package over the next two years.

The survey consists of around 20 questions and should take no more than five minutes to complete.

All information provided will be treated in the strictest of confidence. It will be used exclusively by the Kent Downs AONB for research purposes only.

The survey will be open for the remainder of 2013 so there is plenty of time to participate.  We will provide a summary of the responses in early 2014.

The survey covers a range of subjects, from machinery needs to skills and training.  It also includes some questions around apprentices, particularly as we are currently looking at how we can support new entrants into the forestry sector.  

If you require any support around the subjects of training or apprentices please don't hesitate to contact us on 01303 815 171 (or email matthew.morris@kentdowns.org.uk).