Good Woods – Free Woodland Advice for Landowners and Managers

There are more than 3 million hectares of woodland in the UK, however in England alone it is estimated that more than 45% of our woodlands are either unmanaged or under-managed.

This has contributed to a decline in biodiversity, loss of amenity and skills, and poor routes to market for wood products. 

The Good Woods project will tackle these issues. This project is being delivered in Kent by the Kent Downs AONB Unit (except the High Weald area where the project is being delivered by the High Weald AONB Unit).

Woodland owners will receive a free visit from an experienced woodland management advisor who will help them understand the opportunities for their woodland, the steps they need to go through to get it into management and establish the first steps on the ‘myForest’ management system.

The ‘myForest’ website has been developed by The Sylva Foundation and helps to produce a Forestry Commission approved management plan simply and easily.

All advice is free and provided by experienced officers from the Countryside Partnerships in Kent.

If you would like to make the most of the woodland on your land, whether it is by selling timber, logs or chipwood to the local market, increasing its biodiversity or even investigating the potential for claiming Renewable Heat Incentive by installing a biomass boiler on your property then this could be the perfect first step. 

To find out more and whether you are eligible for a visit please contact:

Mike Phillips
01303 815170
mike.phillips@kentdowns.org.uk 

Good Woods is a groundbreaking project aiming to breathe new life into UK woodlands. B&Q has teamed up with sustainability charity BioRegional and forestry charity The Sylva Foundation to revive woodlands to provide environmental, social and economic benefits. 

For more information please visit the Sylva foundation website. 

Surrey Hills Wood Fuel Conference - Fri Oct 5th 2012

Practical workshop on woodland management planning and stakeholder engagement

Making the most of woodlands: Practical workshop on woodland management planning and stakeholder engagement

The Sylva Foundation, BioRegional and the Forestry Commission warmly invite you to attend this free event which aims to help you identify and realise the opportunities which exist from managing your woodlands. 

This event will take place in the following locations:

• Surrey Hills AONB on Thursday 31st May 2012,  9.30am to 3pm, lunch included
• The National Trust’s Ashridge Estate on Tuesday 19th June 2012, 9.30am to 3pm, lunch included

If you would like to register for your free place at either one of these events, please so do by following the relevant link below:

Surrey Hills AONB event
Ashridge Estate event

Event details:

Well-managed  woodlands can potentially provide you with a host of benefits and opportunities. This event will support you in working with your woodland by:

• Identifying  possible markets for your woodland products with a session on producing for the woodfuel market.
• Introducing free tools and resources to help you manage your woodlands.
• A practical interactive session in the afternoon to demonstrate their use.

Experts will be on hand to advise you on aspects of management such as surveying and increasing the productivity of your woodlands.

The day will include the launch of a new resource to help in your engagement with your local community and other stakeholders who you may need to deal with through your woodland work, and as part of the process of developing an UK Woodland Assurance Standard management plan.

The new guidance pack and free promotional materials will help to guide you through this process, and a local woodland owner will be there to offer their first hand experience.