£8m Community Renewable Heat Scheme Opens

The successful Renewable Heat Premium Payment (RHPP) scheme has been extended to include an £8m fund for community led projects.

Community groups up and down the nation will be able to bid for a share of the fund to install low carbon heating technologies including solar thermal panels, biomass boilers and heat pumps into homes in their local area. 


Community-based organisations including community co-operatives, voluntary groups, social enterprises and development trusts will be eligible to apply.


Community groups will need to submit a first stage application to the Energy Saving Trust by 7 September 2012. 


Applications will be judged on a range of criteria, including the project’s vision, potential benefits for the local area, potential partners and any relevant experience of delivering similar projects.


The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) expects to support between 50 and 100  projects with the £8million fund and will announce the winners in December this year.


Full details can be found on the Energy Saving Trust website.


The Kent Downs Woodfuel Pathfinder can provide free support for communities interested in biomass heating, both domestic and commercial. Please contact Matthew Morris on 01303 815 171 or matthew.morris@kentdowns.org.uk for more details.

Make your woodland pay its way

Over ambitious horse logging?

A step by step guide to applying for grant funding for roads projects or help with bringing woodland back into management.



Don’t miss out on a government funded scheme designed to turn pockets of unproductive woodland into well-managed money earners just because you are unsure of the process.


Mike Furness, Project Manager from Ngage Solutions for the Woodfuel Woodland Improvement Grant,  has written a helpful blog with a step by step guide for potential grant applicants. It is published on the Ngage website.


Mike is keen to assist woodland owners, to take advantage of this opportunity to make their woods more productive. There is money available for ‘Roads’ or ‘Timber’ projects, and Mike will be happy to talk through proposals even before an application is submitted, helping candidates maximise their  chances of success.


Ngage Solutions is administering the Woodfuel Woodland Improvement Grant (WFWIG) on behalf of the Forestry Commission in three regions: Cumbria, the South West and the South East. This grant is time limited, so act now to find out more about the scheme.


To find out more about Woodfuel WIG come and see the Forestry Commission at the APF show 13 1- 5 September stand G4.


Contact Mike Furness, Project Manager Ngage Solutions Ltd,  on 01494 568970 or 07795 515 413, or by emailing mike.furness@ngagesolutions.co.uk.

LC Energy - job vacancy

LC Energy is a leading UK renewable energy company based in the South East of England. 


The company provides premium grade biomass solutions to commercial and public sector organisations including Heathrow and Stansted Airports, Hilton Hotel Group, Universities, hospitals, schools, care homes and private client estates.


LC Energy is looking for an experienced and self-motivated site supervisor with an HGV Class 1 driving licence for a full time position with the company.


Based around the Heathrow Airport area, the role requires site management skills, and the confidence and professionalism to communicate with the company’s clients and sub-contractors.


Experience of operating and maintaining a range of vehicles including tractor & trailers, articulated bulkers, hook lift systems, skip vehicles and telehandlers is an advantage for this role.


In return, we offer a competitive package with benefits and excellent career development potential in a fast growing business.


To be considered for the position, please send your CV together with an introductory letter to Nicola Hopkins on info@LCEnergy.co.uk.


Closing date for applications is 31st July 2012.

Woodland Jobs: 3 Day Taster Event at Flimwell

RHI Update: New guidance for Applicants

Ofgem's latest update on  the RHI reports the scheme has received over 600 applications and has resulted in  payments for over 13,000 MWh of heat.  Of interest is the extremely high application acceptance rate (95%) with only three schemes having been rejected due to the receipt of capital grants (which are not compatible with the RHI).


Based on these figures it appears that only around 57 applications have been successfully processed and are receiving payments (which hints at a huge backlog of around 543 applications, the majority of which are for biomass).


Ofgem acknowledge the popularity of the scheme and the fact that it is taking longer to process applications than anticipated.  Most importantly Ofgem have highlighted the issues they  have found with heat metering under the scheme.  In response a range of new guidance materials have been made available (see below).


Heat metering issues


Ofgem has conducted a series of early site audits of RHI installations which have revealed significant problems with most installations having errors in their metering arrangements (which need to be rectified before installations can be accredited to the scheme.  Common issues identified include:

• Meters are not installed according to manufacturers’ guidance (e.g. the meter orientation is incorrect; the meter is installed too close to a bend; or the meter is installed in the flow pipe when it should have been installed in the return pipe etc).
• More installations qualify as ‘complex’ than as ‘simple’ for the purposes of RHI (meaning often more meters are required than applicants and their advisers might have anticipated).
• Schematics provided for systems to date often lack clarity or fail to adequately reflect the situation on site. This means that it can be difficult for Ofgem to decide whether the heat metering strategy is appropriate for the installation. This results in a need for further clarifications and work for both applicants and Ofgem.
• There are errors and omissions in Independent Reports on Metering Arrangements as well as inconsistencies with other documentation.

In addition to the new guides below Ofgem offers the following key advice:

• Be clear about the triggers which make an installation ‘complex’ for the purposes of the RHI before making an application.
• Ensure that meters can be and are actually installed in accordance with their manufacturers’ instructions.
• Ensure that appropriate documentation is obtained from manufacturers or suppliers and retained by the owner of the installation.
• Provide a schematic which accurately reflects the situation on site, to allow Ofgem to rely upon the meter readings it receives.
• Ensure that Independent Reports on Metering Arrangements are proof-read and checked against other documentation by their authors before submission to Ofgem.
• Ensure that the application is well made, by providing sufficient detail against answers and including all supporting documentation at the outset.

New guidance

• The Renewable Heat Incentive Application Process – An Overview and Key Guidance: Applicant Guidance Note 3 – a 10 page document which provides an overview of the key application steps for the RHI. We strongly advise applicants to review this document, alongside Applicant Guidance Note 2, before starting your application to assist you to submit a full and properly made application.  To go direct to the document, use the following link:
• Ofgem E-Serve’s Guide to the RHI Application Form: Applicant Guidance Note 2 – a list of all the questions asked in an RHI application. This will allow applicants to assemble all the information they will need to answer the application questions, before they begin an application.
• Heat Metering Frequently Asked Questions – guidance for applicants and other stakeholders on how to avoid common errors on metering.
• Biomethane presentation to UK Biomethane Day 2012 – a short powerpoint presentation for biomethane producers detailing how they should register for the RHI.
• The heat industry is also shortly to launch a Guide to good practice on heat meters. More information can be accessed via the B & ES website.

Sustainable forestry strong in England

Latest figures published by Forestry Commission England show our woodlands are incredibly well protected and sustainable forestry remains strong.

According to records, just 0.4 per cent of trees felled in England were done illegally without a felling licence. Conservation habitats, such as heathland, have been restored from commercial plantations whilst keeping a slowly expanding wooded area overall. A thriving timber industry has increased domestic supply as imports have fallen.

Simon Hodgson, Forestry Commission England Chief Executive said:

“For the first time we have been able to publish a suite of new statistics to show what is happening to woods and forests in England and how Forestry Commission England is performing.

“The overall picture is great news for us. Protection of our woods and forests is strong with miniscule amounts of illegal felling. The general public are very much our eyes and ears on the ground and we are always heartened at the public’s willingness to report suspected illegal activity and we are developing an online system to make this quicker, easier and more accurate.

“We see domestic timber supplies increasing while imports shrink and a growing woodfuel network all of which boosts the local green economy. Commitments to restore and recreate conservation habitats from private and public plantations are being met while we see the overall area of woodland expanding."

The Forestry Commission remains a leader as a significant land manager in the care of the Engalnd’s best wildlife conservation sites - Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) – with 99.6% in target condition.

“All that said significant challenges remain. Everyone agrees we need much greater growth in creating new woodlands and we are working to significantly increase long term investment from the private sector. We are working to mitigate the threats from a changing climate to trees in the future from new pests and diseases and poor growing conditions. Last, but most certainly not least, is the appalling record of Health and Safety in the forestry sector: skills and training are high but the number of fatalities in a small industry must be tackled."

Castle Head FSC - Tree Planting - Feb 2009

“We are already working with the sector to implement recommendations from the Forestry Regulation Task Force and look forward to receiving the Independent Forestry Panel’s final report to Government.”

27 June 2012

Forestry Commission News release 15523

RHI cost control mechanism announced

The Government consulted on how it might apply cost control mechanisms to the RHI in May.  The results have now been published and a summary is provided below.

The mechanism will work as follows:

• The RHI would be suspended for the remainder of the financial year if the budget forecast suggests that the budget could be breached.  For 2012/13 no more than £70m should be spent on the RHI.  Spending more would be likely to exhaust next year’s budget through the cost of installations already receiving RHI funding, leading to a boom and bust approach.
• Given the £70m cap, the cost control mechanism should suspend the scheme at 97% of the annual budget (£67.9m) with one week’s notice.
• A weekly update will be provided on the DECC website setting out progress towards the suspension trigger, alongside a methodology used to calculate the forecast.  This will allow the market to make informed judgements about the likelihood of suspension.
• Those installations that have already been approved will not be affected.
• Applications made before the notice period will be processed as normal.
• Applications made during the notice period will be processed if the installation has been commissioned before the suspension date.
• Applications made after the suspension date will not be processed.

DECC currently estimates that RHI expenditure in 2012/13 will be around £42m.  While this amount could vary, weekly RHI application rates would need to increase by around 500% by the end of the year to reach £70m. Therefore, DECC sees the likelihood of suspending the scheme as low.

However, DECC acknowledges the high degree of uncertainty about how the market will respond to the RHI and has therefore introduced cost control procedures so it is prepared for unexpected changes in application rates (which is unlikely given that rapid cost reductions are unlikely in renewable heat technologies and also because there are significantly more barriers to the deployment of renewable heat).

As of 27 May 2012 Ofgem had received 533 applications (43 preliminary), had accredited 88 installations and rejected two (on account of these installations having received a grant).  There are concerns about the current backlog of applications for accreditation and Ofgem is working to resolve the delays via reallocation of staff resources and by reviewing approval processes.

A summary of the milestones for the RHI is shown below.

Woodland Creation Grant 2012 - up to £4,800 per hectare

A giant sequoia log, Sequoia National Park, California, undated, c1910

The Forestry Commission has issued some details of the Woodland Creation Grant 2012.

Expansion is a key priority of the Forestry Commission. Grant rates have increased, allowing a maximum of £4,800 per hectare, to provide greater incentive to achieve this.

All applications meeting UK Forestry Standard will be considered as eligible.  Further details on eligibility are provided in this year's Woodland Creation Grant (WCG) Guidance.

Grant rates

The basic planting grant for both broadleaves and conifers has increased by £1,000 per ha, providing a basic planting rate of £2,800 for broadleaves and £2,200 for conifers per ha. 

The overarching England Woodland Grant Scheme (EWGS) for new woodland has three elements that can be applied for, depending on the eligibility of both site and applicant: 

• Woodland Creation Grant (WCG): This is the main grant that contributes to the costs of establishing new woodland.
• Additional Contributions (AC): ACs increase the contribution towards the cost of establishing new woodlands that deliver specific priorities.
• Farm Woodland Payments (FWP): These are compensation payments for agricultural income forgone when creating new woodlands on agricultural land.

Key priorities for the scheme relate to the value that trees and woodlands can play in support of:

• Water Framework Directive (WFD)
• The aims of Nature Improvement Areas (NIAs)
• Offering permissive access in Priority Places
• Creating, connecting or expanding native woodlands to 5 ha or more
• Creating new conifer woodlands up to 3 times greater than previously restored native habitat.

For more details on the Woodland Creation Grant and associated grants please visit the relevant Forestry Commission web page here.

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.

Invitation to view Econergy biomass installation

Econergy will be holding a seminar at the Valley Park Community School on the 8th June to discuss wood heating solutions and demonstrate the Froling wood chip boiler installed at the venue.

Learn how this installation has provided four years of sophisticated low carbon heating for the school, visit a working wood boiler and learn how to progress your own wood heating project with an Econergy advisor.

• 9.30-10.00 Arrive with coffee
• 10.00-10.20 Econergy introduction to wood heating and the Renewable Heat Incentive
• 10.20-10.40 From idea to completion – how to develop your wood heating project
• 10.40-11.00 Questions and Answers
• 11.00-11.30 Tour of the boiler
• 11.30-13.00 lunch and finish

Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.  Send an email to confirm if you wish to attend to dawn.riggett@econergy.ltd.uk.  

The school is located at Huntsman Lane, Maidstone, ME14 5DT.

More details on Froling boilers and Econergy installations using this product can be found here.

Froling Turbomat

IMPORTANT NOTICE - STOLEN CHAINSAWS & HEDGE CUTTERS

Please be alert for anyone selling any CHAINSAWS or HEDGE CUTTERS in the mid/east Kent area.  These items have been STOLEN.  They were taken from the Dover/Canterbury area.

It is believed the thief may be driving a BLUE/PURPLE VAUXHALL CORSA.  He has been spotted in the ASHFORD area trying to sell the stolen items.  Please remain vigilant and obtain any details possible should you see/come across this individual (Vehicle Registration, visual description, age etc...).

If you have any information or details relating to this theft please contact the police.  I would also be grateful if you could let me know directly.

Please also circulate this information to anyone else who may be able to help catch this thief.

I gratefully appreciate your help on this.

Many thanks,

Kent Downs and Marshes LEADER Project

01622 221389

Farming and Forestry Improvement Scheme (FFIS)

The FFIS is part of the Rural Development Programme forEngland (RDPE) and is a scheme of support, developed to help farming, forestry and horticultural businesses in England to become more efficient at using resources.

This scheme aims to help make your business more profitable and resilient whilst reducing the impact of farming on the environment.

There is £20m available under FFIS until December 2013. The grants are for capital items and the grant rate available is up to 40% in non upland areas, and up to 50% in upland areas and the maximum grant allowable per project is £25 000. The minimum grant is £2,500.

What can be funded under FFIS?

To be eligible for funding under FFIS the project must fall within one of the following key areas of activity:

• Forestry: Projects which improve the economic value of forests through the efficiencies of improved processing and adding value. Eligible items include timber processors, forwarders, forestry trailers, tractor mounted forestry grabs. 
• Nutrient Management: Improvements in use of farm manures and slurries so as to improve soil quality and reduce reliance on artificial fertiliser.  Eligible items include slurry injectors, mechanical slurry separation systems and Global Positioning Systems.
• Energy Efficiency: Projects to reduce or recover energy use on farm resulting in a reduction of farm energy bills and carbon dioxide emissions.  Eligible items include heat exchangers, gel coolers and ice builders.
• Water Resource Management: Rainwater harvesting, recycling and reuse systems to reduce reliance on mains water.  Eligible items include pipework specifically to intercept and divert roof water to a storage facility, rainwater harvesting equipment.
• Animal Health and Welfare: Projects which bring about significant improvements in farm animal health and welfare.

Who can Apply?

Farmers, foresters, contractors and horticulturalists across England are eligible to apply

How to apply

The application form will go live on the 16th November when the first round opens. In the meantime you are strongly advised to read the guidance in the handbook as there is some preparatory work you will need to do before you can apply.

If you wish to discuss your proposal before completing the forms or if the item you are applying for is not listed in the guidance then please contact your local Defra RDPE Delivery Team. (0300 numbers are charged at a local rate)

Completed application forms will only be accepted if submitted during an open round. The 1st round of the scheme is open from 16 November 2011 until 17 January 2012.

The selection process for FFIS is competitive and applications will be appraised against one another. This means that there is no guarantee of success and not all projects which are eligible will be awarded a grant.

Fuelwood open days

Fuelwood are holding two open days (May 25th and 26th at Claywood, Warwickshire) to demonstrate their full range of machinery, which includes:

• New Sami – Autochopper
• New Splitta 400
• Woodcutta & Splitta Fuelwood Factory logs & kindling
• Transaw 350 XL – Firewood Processor
• KindletPro & Kindlet – kindling machine
• LucasMill Mobile Sawmill
• New 2012 Japa Firewood processors models
• Full range of log splitters
• Plus accessories - log decks, bagging chutes etc
• New X-Frame Bagga for 1m3 Log bags

Fuelwood are also distributors of Heizohack chippers.

To register please visit Fuelwood's website.

To read a report from Fuelwood's recent event in Kent at Berscoe Engineering, who are a local distributor of Fuelwood's products, please click here.

Massive jobs and business boost for East Kent

Local businesses will be able to apply for interest-free loans provided they have plans to grow their company and employ more people, after Kent County Council launched a massive £40 million Government-backed scheme to boost the East Kent economy.

Kent County Council will lead the delivery of ‘Expansion East Kent’ – with the aim of creating 5,000 new jobs by offering local firms in Thanet, Dover, Shepway and Canterbury £35 million in loans. The project is supported by the Government's Regional Growth Fund.

The remaining £5 million will be invested in rail line speed enhancements to reduce travel times from London to Ramsgate to around 1 hour, further benefitting business and tourism in the area and placing Manston airport on the map.

An audience of business leaders and entrepreneurs on Friday (27 April) packed the Winter Gardens, in Margate, to learn more about Expansion East Kent.

Leader of Kent County Council, Paul Carter, said:

“This is a tremendous boost for the East Kent economy. Expansion East Kent is an ambitious programme to create thousands of new jobs by developing the private sector business base, counteracting the effects of recent economic shocks in the area.

“The programme also aims to unlock private sector finance, stimulating more than £300 million in associated investment over the course of the next four years and creating a major driver for the East Kent economy.

“Since Pfizer’s announcement to exit from its site last year, we’ve left no stone unturned trying to support current business, develop new opportunities and lay down a solid foundation for growth.

“Expansion East Kent will provide financial support to firms as interest free loans. This intelligent use of funding means we can recycle the money to provide vital business support on an on-going basis, benefitting local firms and creating local jobs for years to come.

“Expansion East Kent is being delivered by Kent County Council. We will bear the administration costs, which means it will be run at zero cost to business.”

Almost all business sectors in East Kent – and those locating or looking to expand into the area – can potentially benefit from the scheme.

Mr Carter added:

“We want to encourage applications from sectors where new investment is particularly important and can yield significant economic benefits, for example manufacturing, advanced engineering, tourism, life sciences and greentech industries. This significantly builds on our work to help market and promote the Discovery Park Enterprise Zone in Sandwich and will have an impact across the whole of East Kent.”

South Thanet MP, Laura Sandys, said:

“The Regional Growth Fund offers unrivalled opportunities for East Kent. Unlike previous Government backed schemes, £35 million of the Fund will go directly into supporting businesses to expand, create new local jobs and recruit staff. By providing interest free loans, it is not a quick cash injection but a long term sustainable solution to ensure our local business community and jobs market thrives into the future. Securing the Regional Growth Fund is a huge victory – particularly for the Thanet and Sandwich corridor.”

To find out more about Expansion East Kent and for full details of the application process, please visit: www.kent.gov.uk/expansion.

Moving towards low carbon farming

To book your place or for more information please call the Soil Association 0117 314 5127 or email pjohnson@soilassociation.org.

The Kent Downs Woodfuel Pathfinder would be happy to assist anyone considering biomass heating as a way of reducing on farm energy use. 

For free advice and support please contact Matthew Morris on 01303 815 171 or matthew.morris@kentdowns.org.uk.

Kent Wildlife Trust - free courses

Please find below details of some free courses for landowners which are being organised by the Kent Wildlife Trust over the next few months.

Management of Small Woodlands
16th May – Sandling, Maidstone and Bredhurst Woods – 10am to 3.30pm

Bredhurst Woods is one of the largest blocks of ancient woodland in the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Similarly to Boxley, it has suffered considerable neglect and misuse in the past, but has been much improved in recent years. 

More details can be found on the Mid Kent Downs Countryside Project and the Bredhurst Woodland Action Group (BWAG) websites. 

BWAG are also now offering firewood for sale for people within 6 miles of the woods - see the logs section on their website.

As a guide to the incredible work that has already been done within these woods please take a look at the gallery section on the BWAG website...a picture paints a thousand words!

Management of Chalk Grassland
12th June – Kemsing, near Sevenoaks and Kemsing Nature Reserve – 10am to 3.30pm

Management of Small Pastures
27th July – Tyland Barn, near Maidstone and a local farm. 10am to 3.30pm

For further information about these courses and to book, please email tania.avard@kentwildlife.org.uk or camilla.blackburn@kentwildlife.org.uk.

Lincolnshire farming estate could use its crops to fuel £200k biomass heater

William Cracroft-Eley of Hackthorn Hall

A Lincolnshire farming estate could use crops grown on its land to fuel its own £200,000 biomass heating system.

The owner of Hackthorn Hall, north of Lincoln, hopes to build multiple mini-district heating systems in the grounds.

An application for the technology is currently being considered by West Lindsey District Council.

The installation is being handled by Cedar Farm Developments.

This is an interesting case study for the Pathfinder project which has supported several estates in Kent that appear to be a similar scale to Hackthorn Hall.

What is also of interest is the use of multiple biomass systems, three in total, that will serve seven different buildings on the estate.  The fuel will be pelletised miscanthus, a well-established biomass fuel crop on the estate that extends to around 300 acres.

Tree planting good for cereal yields



Picture courtesy of Mike Townsend

A new report commissioned by the Woodland Trust and written by Harper Adams University highlights the value of tree shelter belts to farmers in combating the effects of drought.

The report, Managing the drought - A review of the evidence of the benefits of native trees species for shelter on the water regime of pasture and arable crops, pulls together studies from UK and other temperate agriculture systems to show how trees planted as shelter belts help to reduce wind speeds, meaning water loss through evapotranspiration is slowed. This allows the sheltered crop to retain more water and use it efficiently.

In the UK such shelter belts are relatively uncommon, but studies have shown cereal yields of sheltered crops can be higher than that for unsheltered crops, particularly in years when the weather is hot and dry.

Mike Townsend, Woodland Trust Conservation Advisor said, "This report makes it clear that tree shelter belts could be of real value in the development of sustainable agriculture, especially as we face a changing climate and growing demand for food.

"Naturally, trees will compete for water and nutrients, reducing crop yields directly adjacent to the shelter belt. However, these reductions typically only occur up to a distance of one to two tree heights away. Any loss after that point is significantly outweighed by the increase in yield achieved by more efficient water use.

"More research is needed, but this is promising start and shows that good farmers should indeed consider planting more trees." 

Read Mike Townsend's blog for more detail on the report.

Royal Forestry Society - Hucking Estate free event

Bersco Engineering Open Day

Bersco Engineering, based on the Lympne Industrial Estate near Hythe, is an engineering company specialising in diesel and hydraulic servicing for a range of vehicles, including agricultural and forestry equipment.

The latest addition to their portfolio of services is a new partnership with Fuelwood (Warwick) Ltd which acts as a national importer/distributor of specialised woodfuel processing equipment.

As a result of this new relationship there is now a local supplier of high quality equipment, including Heizohack (chippers), Japa and Sami (log processors), Woodline (log splitters), LucasMill (portable saw mills), MOWI (trailers and cranes) and Fuelwoods own range of British manufactured kindling and log machines (Transaw, Splitta and Kindlet).

I attended Bersco's recent open day and met with owner Robert who was pleased with the good turn out.  There was a good mix of existing customers as well as some seasoned woodsmen who paid close attention to the demonstrations led by Jeremy from Fuelwood Ltd.  The hog roast also helped proceedings, as did the umpteen cups of tea provided by Leanne's team!

Fuelwood's Jeremy discussing kindling during a tea break

The Sami log processor was certainly an impressive piece of kit.  The model being demonstrated, the S185-TEC440, is not cheap at almost £30,000, but it made short work of some fairly large pieces of timber.  What was most impressive was the automatic sensors that scan the timer dimensions as it enters the machine and alters the cutting length and height of the splitter blade automatically.  This means that timer with a variety of dimensions can be fed into the machine without the operator having to alter the set-up each time.  The hydraulic log lift was another feature that was new to me.

The Kindlet machine was more familiar to me but I was impressed again at the ease with which it produces a consistent product.  According to Jeremy the PTO version can process up to 100 bags an hour...not bad considering the average price of a bag of kindling these days!

The SAMI log processor (PTO or 3-phase)

Also good for leaning on

The NET result...ahem

The Kindlet - Made in Britain

The SAMI log conveyor