Calling Kentish charcoal burners

The good people at the National Coppice Federation have established a new online directory of charcoal burners and suppliers.

We can't see any Kent burners listed so we thought we would spread the word.  If you know of anyone who should be on this list please visit the NCFED website - listing is free.

Hazel Coppice - restoration and improvement Seminar

The National Coppice Federation (NCFed) in conjunction with the Forestry Commission (FC) present:

Hazel Coppice - restoration and improvement Seminar

Wednesday and Thursday, May 13th/14th, 2015

at Westonbirt Arboretum (Gloucestershire)

Coppicing has been in decline for much of the past two hundred years. In more recent times, though, there have been attempts to increase the amount of hazel in regular management. 

These may have been inspired by a desire to earn a living from the woods, by wildlife conservation imperatives or by various other reasons.

10 year old hazel coppice (picture courtesy of Hazel Coppice Products

In many cases they have struggled, or even failed, due to the current lack of available information and knowledge of this new discipline.

This Seminar will bring leading restoration practitioners from around the country together with experts in various relevant fields to help establish ‘best-practice’ guidelines. 

It will also draw on the depth of experience which will, undoubtedly, be present in the wider audience.

The venue is Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire, where some twenty five acres of hazel coppice have been brought in to various stages of rotation over the past twenty years. 

These will provide working examples of both good and bad restoration practice.

Confirmed contributors to date include:

• Penny Jones (FC), Head of Propagation at Westonbirt Arboretum
• Brian Williamson, lead coppicer at the Arboretum
• Ralph Harmer (FC), co-author ‘The Silviculture and Management of Coppice Woodlands’
• Rebecca Oaks, NCFed Chair and co-author of ‘Coppicing and Coppice Crafts’
• Graham Rimington, The Deer Initiative.

Cost will be £35 for members of NCFed affiliated Groups; £50 for non-members.

Further information can be found on www.ncfed.org  or (with booking details) from  Brian Williamson at westonbirt.coppice@virginmedia.com 

‘A wood that pays is a wood that stays in good heart.’

BSW Timber - Saw log specification for Spruce, Pine and mixed conifer

The details below provide the specification for saw logs accepted by BSW Timber at their Southampton Mill.

Contact details are at the foot of the spec - please contact BSW directly if you have any suitable material.

Restoring Kent's Ancient Woodlands

During the last few years we have worked in partnership with the KWES - the Kent Woodland Employment Scheme.

KWES has achieved some impressive progress over the last 18 months and now employs 16 people who are undertaking a three-year woodland management apprenticeship.

KWES has kindly provided an introduction to their project which we have published verbatim below.  

If you have any questions please contact Susannah Ferguson at KWES directly (contact details below).

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KWES Kent Woodland Employment Scheme is able to assist owners of ancient woodlands, particularly those which are not currently managed, by bringing them back into sustainable production, and profitability.   

Increases in demand for, and prices of, timber and woodfuel (logwood, chips and pellets) have made profits possible – but the pinch-point is the shortage of skilled workers able to restore the woodlands, and cut and extract the timber. 

KWES Kent Woodland Employment Scheme is a charity (and training company) set up to provide training and employment for ex-Service personnel, young people and ex-offenders  in Kent’s ancient woodlands. 

KWES now has 16 trainees whose apprenticeships last for three years, during which they are given theoretical training and practical experience in all aspects of woodland operations and management. 

These qualifications will ensure they are able to get worthwhile employment in woodland and forestry industries throughout the UK.  Particularly so as all our practical training will be carried out in ancient woodlands which need highly skilled operators.

KWES mainly works with woodland owners who recognise that the increasing demand for timber and wood for fuel provides an opportunity to restore their unmanaged woods back to economic sustainability.  KWES agrees to bring their woods back into production over a period of time using a rotational coppicing system in accordance with a Forestry Commission management plan.  

In return KWES can either be allowed to extract and sell the wood its apprentices cut or alternatively we can work on a contract basis for woodland owners whose woods are in need of restoration.

All our apprentices work to the highest possible standards and are supervised and work with our fully qualified team leaders.   Our workforce come equipped with their personal protective equipment, chain saws and other equipment as well as insurance.   When necessary we even provide specialised equipment for use in ancient woodlands such as a low impact forwarding trailer.

Do you own a woodland in need of restoration and if so would you like to make contact with KWES to see if we can help?

Please contact KWES’s administrator for more information:

Susannah Ferguson
Susannah@kwes.org.uk
07860 942900

Woodfuel from agroforestry - FREE event

FREE Woodland Trust event - Technical Workshop for Woodland Practitioners

Another event for you - this time by the Woodland Trust on May 22nd.

All details are below.  Please contact Jim Smith-Wright for more details and to book places.

Heathlands and Biomass workshop - Friday March 13th

We have just learnt about a heathland biomass workshop this Friday (March 13th).

This event has been prepared by the South Downs National Park and will take place at Liphook.

The event includes two field trips - Stanley Common and Highfield School (to see the biomass heating system).

If you are interested in attending please contact:

Jonathan Mycock
SDNPA Heathland Project Manager
01730 819241
jonathan.mycock@southdowns.gov.uk.

Kent Downs Woodfuel Pathfinder - FREE Conference

The Woodfuel Pathfinder has now been operating for almost four years and we are fast approaching the end of the current phase of the project.

The ADAFOR Interreg project, which has enabled the Pathfinder to operate for the last two years, comes to a close at the end of March 2015.

To mark the end of ADAFOR the project partners will hold a small, two-day conference on March 5th and 6th at East Brabourne.

We would like to extend an invitation to readers of this blog and their colleagues.  The conference is FREE to attend.

To book a place please go to our Eventbrite page.

Alternatively email us at matthew.morris@kentdowns.org.uk or call 01303 815 171.

Forestry Commission - Preliminary Grant Offer for woodland management options under Countryside Stewardship

From 2015 Countryside Stewardship will include support for forestry. 

Workshops will be held later in the year in partnership with Natural England to provide details of the full range of grants and how the new systems will work.

To maintain momentum in the forestry sector the Government has approved a “Preliminary Grant Offer” (PGO)  for:

• Woodland creation (i.e. grants for planting new woodland) Note: Your initial application for woodland creation must be received by the FC no later than 30th April to allow time for site visits. Your final application must be submitted by 31st May
• Woodland management plans (i.e. payment for preparation of a long term management plan)
• Woodland tree health (e.g. grants for restocking woodland that has been subject to a pest or disease)

The Forestry Commission would like to invite you to either of the following seminars taking place in South East England.

Tuesday 10th February at Godstone Village Hall (also known as White Hart Barn) in east Surrey.

Tuesday 17th February at Theale Village Hall, nr Reading.

The seminars are free, but spaces are limited and subject to first come, first served. Please use the links to ‘eventbrite’ above to book your place

OUTLINE AGENDA:

Registration from 9.00

9.30   Welcome, introductions and context of the Preliminary Grant Offer

9.40   Scope of the Preliminary Grant Offer:

• Timeline
• Option Groups (including eligibility and thresholds)
• Capital items and options

10.00 Guidance and forms

• Information sources
• Application process

10.20 Break

10.40 Scoring Woodland Creation

11.05 Questions

11.20 DECC (Department of Energy and Climate Change) Sustainability Criteria for woodfuel

11.35 Woodland Management Plans - Best practice

11.55 Support for Forestry Business Development – Leader, Local Enterprise Partnerships, etc

12.15 Questions

12.30 Close

Countryside Stewardship - FREE woodland funding events

The Forestry Commission will deliver a series of free events concerning the woodland funding options under the new Countryside Stewardship scheme.

Full details are below.

For the south east events please use the following links:

Godstone (Surrey)

Theale (Reading)

More information on Countryside Stewardship can be found at the Farmers Guardian, CLA and GOV.UK.

Forestry Commission - FREE forestry contractors events

Join the Forestry Commission for a free "pie and drink" at one of the southeast forestry contractor workshops being held this February/March. 

• Hear about new markets in your county - who is out there.
• Learn about the new grant options and how they could help grow your business.
• Share your ideas and concerns with like minded colleagues.
• Tell us how we could help and meet your local Forestry Commission team.

We are seeing signs of market recovery - woodfuel, new boiler installations with the Renewable Heat Incentive, estates switching to woodfuel to heat houses, the BSW purchase of the Giddings sawmill, and a revival in markets for chestnut.  

 How can forestry businesses make the most from this recovery?  

Come and share your thoughts and hear from others.

Did you know that woods in the southeast:

• account for about a quarter of all England 's woods  - 326,000 ha covering 15.6% of land area (England average is 9.9% )
• contain more than 30 million m3 of "overdue" wood as current harvesting removes less than a third (300,000 m3) of the total volume that grows each year
• grow at a rate of more than 1,000,000 m3 a year but less than a 3rd of this is being harvested
• are at risk of collapse through lack of management

Tell us if you are coming and how many, as places are limited, by clicking on the relevant link below and following the instructions. 

We look forward to meeting you. 

Wednesday 18th February - West Sussex and East Hampshire

Thursday 19th February - Kent (Lenham)

Monday 23rd February - South Hampshire

Tuesday 24th February – Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire

Wednesday 25th February - Surrey (Joint with Surrey Hills Enterprises)

Thursday 26th February - East Sussex

Friday 26th February - Isle of Wight

Wednesday 4th March - North Hampshire and West Berkshire

2015 forestry and wood fuel events - dates for diary

A recent email newsletter from Fuelwood reminded us that a new year has arrived, and with that comes a long list of forestry and wood fuels events for the kitchen calendar.

We have replicated Fuelwood's list (thank you) and added a few others including the National Woodfuel Conference in October.

First up is LAMMA 2015 which takes place this weekend at the East of England Showground.  With free car parking for 10,000 we hope the snow holds off!

January 2015

LAMMA'15 - The UK’s largest farm machinery, equipment and services show. Wed 21st. to Thurs 22nd.

March 2015

AGRI-EXPO - Agri-Expo (SE) was formed in 2011 and now attracts over 150 stands including manufacturers, machinery dealers and other companies directly involved in agriculture. 4th.

SOUTH EAST WOOD WORKING SHOW - Now in its 4th year the show will be a mix of Demonstrations, Personalities, Trade Stands, Advice and Fun. 6-7th.

SALON BOIS ENERGIE SHOW 2015 - Nantes France - "from the forest to the flame". Thurs 19th. to Sun 22nd.

May 2015

FUELWOOD MAY OPEN DAYS - See kindling, firewood and related commercial machinery operating. Fri 29th. to Sat 30th.

June 2015

ARB SHOW 2015 - NEW VENUE - Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, Tetbury, Gloucestershire. Fri 5th. to Sat 6th.

July 2015

Kent County Show - The Kent County Show is a showcase event for farming, countryside and rural life. 10-12th July

GREAT YORKSHIRE SHOW 2015 – Harrogate - The biggest agricultural event in the region. Tues 14th.  to Thurs 16th.

THE ROYAL WELSH SHOW 2015 - Encompasses the wide spectrum of farming and rural activities. Mon 20th. to Thurs 23rd.

CLA GAME FAIR 2015 - Offering a prestigious platform for country sports and activities. Fri 31st. to Sun 2nd.

September 2015

BENTLEY WOODFAIR 2015 - A great range of exhibits, activities, demonstrations and seminars. Dates to be confirmed.

CONFOR WOODLAND SHOW 2015 - The best of sustainable forestry and low-carbon businesses. Thurs 10th. to Fri 11th.

FUELWOOD OPEN DAYS - See kindling, firewood and related commercial machinery operating. Fri 25th. to Sat 26th.

October 2015

National Woodfuel Conference - To be sponsored by LC Energy and Forestry Commission England, the National Wood Fuel Conference will be held in association with Grown in Britain and Country Land and Business Association (CLA) and will coincide with Grown in Britain week. Thurs 15th Oct.

Working with wood chip at Hever Castle - FREE CLA event

You may have heard a bit about Hever Castle's wood fuel and biomass heating project already.  

If you want to learn more then Douch Biomass and South East Wood Fuels will host a talk and site visit at Hever on March 24th.

Full details can be found on the CLA website.  Details can also be found below.

Public Forests to be named as exempt in the Infrastructure Bill

We have just learnt that the ability of the Government to transfer the public forest estate to the Homes and Community Agency, as part the Infrastructure Bill, has been prevented by campaigners.

We have compiled a series of links that should provide most of the background:

• Background to the potential impact of Infrastructure Bill on the public forest estate
• More background to infrastructure Bill from from Save Our Woods
• ITV report
• Guardian article
• Save Our Woods campaign website
• Hands of our Forest campaign website (HOOF)
• Ministerial statement and the Save Our Woods commentary on this statement
• Hansard for the House of Lords debate

We would also recommend a visit to the Save Our Woods campaign website - the organisation which appears to be leading the fight to retain control of the public forest estate.

Apologies for the lack of coverage on this topic - there seems to have been very little coverage about this in the media!

Re-ignite: A seminar for Wood Heating in the Public Sector

Installing biomass heating in public sector buildings can be very hard to achieve.  Barriers range from institutional inertia to a basic lack of understanding of alternatives to oil, gas or LPG systems.

To help unravel this complicated set of problems South East Wood Fuels, in partnership with Rural Energy, will deliver a one day seminar on November 18th at The Keep in Brighton.

Places can be booked via the South East Wood Fuels website or by telephone on 01323 340041.

National Woodfuel Conference 2014

The Pathfinder project recently attended the National Wood Fuel Conference which took place on October 17th at Denbies Wine Estate near Dorking in Surrey.

The event was very well attended and many of the most notable wood fuel, biomass and forestry companies were in attendance.  The event was expertly put together by Surrey Hills Enterprises (part of the Surrey Hills AONB).

Highlights for us included a presentation by Ben Ditchburn from the Forestry Commission (see here) who provided strong evidence of the level of timber and biomass stocks in woodlands in the South East of England.  

Ben's presentation was widely appreciated, primarily because his data confirmed how timber extraction, even at enhanced levels, will sit comfortably alongside increasing stocks of timber and carbon in our forests.

Guy Boulby from DECC, who's presentation covered the future of heating in the UK, discussed the likely role that biomass heating will play over the next 20 to 30 years.  Ben explained how biomass will act as an important transition technology until other technologies will start to play a bigger role.

Of great interest was the launch of new biomass heating guidance from CIBSE by David Palmer and his colleagues.

The presentation provided a background to why the guidance was needed and how it has been developed.

The guidance, which can be downloaded free of charge from the CIBSE website, focuses on technical aspects and will be of most use to biomass heating installers, heating engineers and people and building services specialists.

All in all the National Wood Fuel Conference, now in its fourth year, provided an authoritative demonstration of wood fuel sustainability and how the biomass sector can help bring neglected woodlands back into positive management.

All of the presentations can be found here.

Development of Forestry Businesses - FREE Demonstration Workshops

The Forestry Commission will deliver three demonstration events in November.  

These are designed to illustrate how three forestry businesses located in the South East have grown over the last seven years and how Rural Development Programme England (RDPE) support has helped facilitate this growth.

The events are described below.  Contact and booking details can be found at the end of the article.

Friday 7th November – Balcombe Estate nr Crawley

Balcombe Estate has a long history of integrated woodland management maintaining their estate sawmill and pursuing new markets for wood products. 

RDPE support has helped them build their woodfuel supply business, including supporting the purchase of a 360 mounted harvester in partnership with a nearby estate. They are currently exploring how they can grasp the growing interest in locally grown timber by upgrading their sawmill and marketing. 

As they grow their business they are also exploring how they can work collaboratively with complimentary businesses and neighbours.

This event will include:

• First hand experience of a previous grant recipient
• A walking tour and demonstration of harvesting/firewood processing
• Lunch and refreshments

This event will illustrate how entrepreneurial management and enthusiasm can grow forestry business in lowland England and how RDPE support and collaboration can help accelerate this process. 

This event will be of particular interest to anyone exploring how they can grow their forestry business in SE England. 

Registration from 9.45am for a 10am start. Lunch will be provided.

Tuesday 18th November - H G Matthews Brickworks nr Chesham

H G Matthews illustrates how a local business with high energy needs has developed the use of locally sourced wood as a fuel along with the supply chain to meet their needs. 

This event will be of particular interest to local businesses considering use of locally grown wood, contractors who are looking to expand or establish woodfuel supply chains and owners exploring options for woodfuel supply. 

This event will include:

First hand experience of a previous grant recipient

• Walking tour of the brickworks
• Lunch and refreshments at a nearby public house. 

Space is restricted and so we can only accommodate 20 individuals at this event. Only one person per company/organisation please. 

Registration from 9.45am for a 10am start. Lunch will be provided.

Thursday 27th November - Brockwood Park Farm nr Petersfield

Brockwood Park Farm illustrates how woodlands on farms and estates can be managed cost effectively to deliver woodfuel to heat the owner’s, neighbours’ and/or local business properties. 

Heating oil is becoming ever more expensive and few people realise that a tonne of seasoned wood can deliver as much heat as 350 litres of heating oil and you may be eligible for support from the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive.

Alex Morton at Brockwood Park has carefully considered his options and brought together a package of equipment, infrastructure and skills to help him manage his woods extremely well and supply woodfuel to the adjacent school as well as heat his home. He is now exploring opportunities to extend his forestry management with neighbours.

This event will include:

• First hand experience of a previous grant recipient
• A walking tour of woodfuel processing site

Registration from 9.45am for a 10am start. 

As these are ‘on site’ visits spaces are limited and hence early registration is encouraged. To book please click here.

Bioenergy demonstration project - FREE event

Bredhurst Woodland Action Group (BWAG) - Update and Forthcoming Events October 2014

Latest update from the good people at Bredhurst Hurst (one of Kent's most well run community woodlands).

BWAG Land Purchase

BWAG has now finalised the purchase of their 6th plot in Bredhurst Woods.  In total, BWAG own just under 9 acres of woodland.  Proceeds from all events go towards further purchases to enable BWAG to secure as many plots as possible, ensuring Bredhurst Woods remains a community amenity for generations to come.

Photographs for BWAG 2015 Calendar

If anyone has any photos of the woods and the surrounding area that you would like to be considered for next year’s calendar, please contact Jim Chalmers on 07870 878907.  All entries must be with Jim by Thursday 16th October

Heritage Tree Project

Thursday 16th October - 10am to 1pm (Meet at the allotments, Hurstwood Road)

BWAG are working with The Conservation Volunteers (TCV) and, as part of their Heritage Tree Project, we are holding a study day.  We will measure, record and study the many spectacular big, old and gnarly trees of Bredhurst.  

Please bring your own drink and a packed lunch as well as sturdy shoes and all weather clothing. No booking necessary.  For information please contact - Kevyn Wightman, BWAG Trustee, Tel 07980-611069






Bredhurst Traditional Christmas Market

Sunday 30th November - 1pm - 6pm (Green Court, The Street, Bredhurst ME7 3JY). Admission £1 per person, U16’s Free.

BWAG were very pleased to be asked by The 139 Club (a Bredhurst based baby and children’s charity) to hold a joint event.  On Sunday 30th November, we are holding a Bredhurst Traditional Christmas Market in the garden of Green Court. 

There will be a wide selection of stalls selling quality hand made gifts, locally sourced food and drink, mulled wine, mince pies and say hello to Santa!  
All proceeds to The 139 Club and Bredhurst Woodland Action Group. 

For information call Jo Grant (The 139 Club) on 07549 634090 or Vanessa on 07813 785940 or email bwag@vanessajones.plus.com

The event is kindly supported by The Bell who are happy for you to park in their car park.

BWAG Carol Concert

Thursday 4th December - 7.30pm (St Peter's Church and Green Court, The Street, Bredhurst ME7 3JY). Tickets £7 per person, U16s free.

The Cantium Singers, a 50 strong choir from Rochester, will be performing at St Peter’s Church on Thursday, 4th December at 7.30pm.  

Guests are then invited to take a short walk to Green Court for mulled wine, mince pies and grand Christmas raffle.  There will also be a selection of stalls selling quality hand made gifts.

Tickets - £7 per person, u16s free (includes refreshments).  Tickets must be purchased in advance and are not available on the night. Tickets will be on sale from the end of October.  For further information, please call 07813 785940 (eve/weekends) or email bwag@vanessajones.plus.com

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.