Woodfuel Quality Standards - new course available

Ignite is an innovative training programme of practical seminars and interactive workshops with a focus on woodfuel. 

Ignite is designed for those wanting to know more about woodfuel and to equip new and existing woodfuel businesses with the skills and knowledge required to meet the increasing demand from this growing market. Ignite courses have been developed and are run by RDI Associates Limited, a registered training provider with Lantra Awards and all courses are delivered by experienced and accredited trainers.

Woodfuel Quality Standards

This one day course introduces woodfuel suppliers and users to the full range of standards and quality assurance schemes in use in the supply chain and how to produce and specify the correct type of fuel. 

It looks at how to ensure your woodfuel is compliant with the Timber Standard for Heat and Electricity covering the legal and sustainability criteria and the requirements of the Biomass Suppliers List. 

The course also looks at how woodfuel properties can affect compliance with standards, how to specify and test fuel, and match fuel specifications to combustion systems. 

An introduction to BS EN solid biofuels standards will be provided, as will a review of the various woodfuel quality assurance schemes and the relevance these may have to your business. 

Finally, the course involves a practical sampling demonstration at a working woodfuel supply depot. 

Course attendees will also receive a copy of our Woodfuel Quality Standards Handbook and a Lantra Awards certificate of attendance.

Cost

1 day course - £140+ VAT

A 10% discount is offered to members of the Woodfuel Suppliers Group and Wood Heat Association. Please confirm your membership on booking. Prices include all course materials, refreshments, lunch and course registration and certification fees.

This course is being run in partnership with Forest Advisory Consortium England partners Woodnet and the Kent Downs AONB Woodfuel Pathfinder and the High Weald AONB.

How to book:

Phone : 01765 609355
Email : Erica.spencer@ruraldevelopment.org.uk
Post: Rural Development Initiatives Ltd
Unit 9
Sycamore Business Park
Dishforth Road
Copt Hewick
Ripon
HG4 5DF

Further details from www.ruraldevelopment.org.uk/events

Game Management in Woodlands - FREE event

The good people at the High Weald AONB have organised a seminar on game management in woodland.  

This free event will take place on Tuesday 7th October (10:15 to 2:00 pm).

Places are limited - please book using this link.  For more information please contact Matt Pitts at the High Weald AONB.

Tractor Based Harvesting - Free Demonstration Event

To book online click here.

Alternatively email Matthew or call 01303 815 171.

Free seminar - Game Management in Woodlands

High Weald AONB will deliver a free seminar on game management in woodlands on March 6th (see details below).

Game management can form part of a multi-functional approach to woodland management.  With good planning it can be compatible with management for conservation and wood fuels (such as wood chip for on-estate biomass boilers and firewood).

Traditionally small-scale felling and harvesting of timber tends to be fitted around the shooting calendar.  This is fine, but often the wider opportunity creating wood fuels for an estate is overlooked.

Given that the Renewable Heat Incentive continues to offer an excellent subsidy for heat generated by biomass boilers game managers should consider  other options for woodland management.

The Kent Downs Woodfuel Pathfinder can provide free support for those interested in woodland management for wood fuels, including free biomass heating feasibility studies.  Please contact matthew.morris@kentdowns.org.uk for more details.

Kent Tree Health Information Day

Status at 11/12/2012

Over 200 people attended the Forestry Commission's Tree Health Information Day on December 18th where a detailed briefing on Ash dieback (Chalara Fraxinea) was delivered to forestry professionals from Kent and the wider South East.

The detailed presentations from a range of tree experts included an update on the scientific understanding of Chalara, the current status of the outbreak in the UK and the control plan that was recently introduced by Defra.

The full list of presentations, which can be found on the Forestry Commission website, were as follows:

• Simon Hodgson - Introduction
• Dr Joan Webber - Science Update
• Bruce Rothnie - Chalara, where we are now
• Martin Ward - Tree Health & Plant Biosecurity
• Andrew Smith - The Chalara control plan
• Dr Gary Kerr - Trees in the Landscape, silvicultural guidance on adapting to chalara
• Jim Quaife - Trees in the built environment

This event was one of two information days delivered by the Forestry Commission during December, the other being in East Anglia where the other significant outbreaks of Chalara are located.

The event provided a chance for forestry professionals to engage with tree health experts and seek guidance on managing affected woodlands.

The Kent event also included an exhibition involving a range of related organisations, including:

• Country Land and Business Association
• Oakover Nurseries
• English Woodlands
• The Deer Initiative
• Forest Research
• High Weald AONB
• Kent Downs AONB

Deer management - FREE workshop