Countryside Jobs Service       CJS Weekly Special Edition Supplement: November 2007.  Trees & Hedges   You are here> Jobs > Special Editions Information> Trees & Hedges 07

 Tree Wardens prove a growing presence in UK towns and cities

National Tree Week, originally a response to the dramatic loss of trees from Dutch elm disease, took on new significance in 1987 when the Great Storm destroyed 15 million more across southern and eastern England.

Although woodlands proved good at regenerating themselves naturally, it was a different matter for gardens, school grounds, streets, parks and other public green spaces. To get more trees where people live, work or go to school, it’s often necessary to plant them – and that’s where this annual winter festival comes into its own.

As the UK’s largest celebration of trees and woods, The Tree Council’s National Tree Week  – from 21 November to 2 December – highlights the benefits trees bring to a community. So it’s no surprise that St Albans District Council has chosen 27 November to launch Hertfordshire’s third urban community-based network of volunteer Tree Wardens – with a fourth, Dacorum to follow soon. They will join the 138 other local networks in town and countryside across the UK that form the national Tree Warden Scheme.

The Tree Council started the scheme in the aftermath of that Great Storm of 20 years ago, which highlighted the value of local volunteer tree champions. With support from National Grid, this highly motivated army has grown to nearly 8,000.

It now includes increasing numbers of urban volunteers, as The Tree Council – backed by additional funding from Communities and Local Government – works with local authorities and others to develop more networks in towns and cities. Newport, Plymouth, Torbay, Wakefield, Walsall, Manchester and Welwyn Hatfield are among the newest.

“Tree Wardens are doing a really great job, volunteering their time and energy to protect and promote trees in our towns and cities,” said Baroness Andrews, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at Communities and Local Government.

A recent survey revealed that Tree Wardens have doubled the proportion of time spent checking Tree Preservation Orders are not violated. This, together with monitoring planning applications and felling licences, amounts to 10 per cent of the 2 million volunteer hours a year they collectively devote to trees.

“We know from talking to Tree Wardens that there is growing dismay about what has been dubbed ‘the chainsaw massacre’ – the tendency to fell trees that some people perceive as a nuisance, dangerous or potentially damaging to buildings,” said Margaret Lipscombe, The Tree Council’s Director of Urban Programmes. “So often this is not the case, but the trees get cut down anyway. The monitoring carried out by Tree Wardens is extremely valuable.”

For National Tree Week events and more about Tree Wardening, visit www.treecouncil.org.uk

SPECIAL OFFER

As Tree Wardens move within their communities, there are questions about trees that they are always being asked. So the Tree Council has published these FAQs in a handy colourful guide for anyone interested in trees. The book, Why Are Leaves Green? A Tree Miscellany (£9.99), is available at a special price of £7.99 including p&p. Please send a cheque to The Tree Council, 71 Newcomen Street, London SE1 1YT, marking the envelope Why Are Leaves Green? special offer TM8 and enclosing your full name and address. All proceeds go to The Tree Council, a registered charity.

Wherever you see this symbol against an advert or article it means that the organisation is a member of The Tree Council. An environmental charity, The Tree Council is an umbrella body for 150 organisations working together for more trees, of the right kind, in the right places; for better care for all trees; and to inspire effective action for trees. Its goal is to make trees matter to everyone. Members range from professional, non-governmental, specialist and trade organisations, including other environmental charities, to local authorities and government bodies

Organisations:

The Great Storm of 1987 was the worst to hit England in nearly three hundred years. 

The 100mph winds that battered the south and east of the country on October 16 left a trail of devastation in their wake claiming 19 lives, destroying buildings and infrastructure and blowing down15 million trees.

The Forestry Commission played a major role in the storm clear-up operation both on the public forest estate and by offering advice and support to other woodland owners. Now twenty years on, we can look back and assess the impact on the country's trees and woodlands.

Much of the worst damage occurred in the timber forests, where conifer plantations did not have the root system to stand up to the extreme winds.

In Suffolk, an unprecedented challenge faced foresters, and with much of the timber being pine the race was on to recover the wood before it was damaged by bark beetles and fungi, which would make it unsaleable. At Rendlesham there were 400,000 felled trees, at Tunstall 300,000 and 260,000 at Dunwich - 475,000 cubic metres all requiring clearing - equivalent to 13 years wood supply all at once - enough to fill 130 Olympic swimming pools.

One of the remarkable stories of the Great Storm was the creation of a massive wet timber storage facility in Norfolk. A disused gravel pit near Thetford became home to 70,000 cubic metres of pine logs stored between March 1988 and July 1992. This storage enabled the timber to be saved from deterioration, and also allowed timber markets to stabilise before releasing the timber flow onto the market.

While damage to trees on the public forest estate was considerable, it was only 25% of the total damage. Three quarters of the impact directly hit other woodland owners, from farmers and private estates, to larger organisations like the National Trust, and local authorities.

Within a few days of the Storm the Forestry Commission established a Forest Windblow Action Committee, which brought together Timber Growers UK, the British Timber Merchants Association, the UK Wood Processors Association. The Committee developed an action plan to deal with the effects of the storm on woodlands. A Task Force was also set up at the Forest Research station at Alice Holt to provide a comprehensive information and advisory service to woodland owners and the timber trade. www.forestry.gov.uk/thegreatstorm

Why urban trees are beneficial: Trees play an important part in our natural life support system: their role is vital in developing the sustainability of cities, and it is so important to take care of them both now and in the future.   It has been widely recognised that trees and woodlands make a positive contribution to environmental, social and economic sustainability. Urban trees and woodlands help to enhance the quality of life for the millions of people who live and work in urban areas. Not only have they been shown to improve city dwellers’ health, they can also moderate the impact of climate change at a local level, whilst boosting urban wildlife, beautifying streets, parks, as well as austere or built up urban spaces. The benefits are many.

Trees and woodlands help tackle climate change by taking carbon dioxide out the atmosphere as they grow, absorbing it into their trunk, branches, roots and leaves. When situated around buildings, they reduce energy usage by moderating the local climate (keeping temperatures cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter), and this is particularly relevant for trees in towns and cities. The canopy of trees is highly effective in moderating rainstorm impact, thereby reducing the energy usage associated with flood control systems – this will be increasingly important if, as predicted, global warming brings more extreme weather. 

Moreover, trees help us lead healthier lives. Whilst stress, a lack of physical activity, polluted air and ultra violet solar radiation all cause significant damage to the nation’s health, urban trees and woodlands can considerably help reduce these problems. Their leaves act as a filter for the airborne pollutants that aggravate asthma and other respiratory diseases. Woodland belts can reduce noise pollution, whilst trees provide shade and act as a natural barrier to harmful ultra-violet radiation. Research has shown that they have a calming effect leading to better emotional well being, and they encourage people to take physical exercise by providing a more stimulating outdoor environment. Trees also help to stimulate a more successful local and regional economy, encouraging inward investment. Research has shown that tree lined streets and an attractive green setting can increase property values by up to 18%*. Finally, urban trees and woodlands add an aesthetic beauty, bringing out the best in an area’s local character; they provide a powerful sense of long-term stability and a living link between the past, the present and the future. By doing so, they encourage a stronger sense of community cohesion, particularly as communities come together to plant out new landscapes.   City trees and woodlands therefore make a hugely positive contribution to urban living. They deliver long lasting and valuable benefits, which will keep on growing for years to come.

* For further information, please visit www.treesforcities.org and download the Trees Matter report, produced by the National Urban Forestry Unit and in partnership with Trees for Cities (available online).

Urban Trees Under Threat

It would be fair to say that our urban trees are under threat as never before. A recent inquiry and report by the London Assembly Environment Committee “Chainsaw Massacre” highlighted the loss of street trees in London indicating that more trees are being cut down than are replaced or newly planted. Particular victims are the larger structural trees, such as the London Plane, which contribute to London’s international reputation as a green, tree-filled capital. What is happening in London appears to be happening in many other urban centres throughout the United Kingdom.

Many groups and official bodies are fighting back on behalf of the tree which should be recognised as one of the urban realm’s greatest allies and has been shown, among other qualities, to improve health and well-being, to mitigate the effects of urban micro-climates and pollution and to increase real estate values.

In many ways our urban trees are taken for granted…until they are gone and the full impact of their loss is exposed. We must seriously plan now to ensure a legacy of urban trees for future generations. However, there are a series of contradictions that need to be resolved such as underground services. Why have underground services and access to them been allowed to expand to such an extent under our urban roads and footways that there are increasingly few opportunities for finding space to plant larger structural trees? Why has so much pavement width been lost to roads, that there is not sufficient room along many streets for trees and pedestrians? Not only do we have difficulty in understanding our three –dimensional urban spaces in terms of space underground, but we do not appear to understand the space needed for tree canopies to spread above ground and, of course, the fourth dimension which is that trees are living elements which grow and increase in size over time both above and below ground!

One London tree officer explained that “for every tree lover, there is a tree hater” by which he meant that people can like trees in principle,  but do not always like the effects of trees such as leaves in gutters and on the pavements in autumn or sticky residue on car windscreens and paintwork.

The Trees and Design Action Group (TDAG) was initiated by Lovejoy London early in 2007 and it is a multi-disciplinary body of professionals and organisations who have come together under the London Trees and Woodland Framework to help to guide all those involved in urban design and development so that trees, especially large trees, can be planted successfully in conditions under which they will thrive and mature and are not, for example just shown in all their "greenery" on planning applications raising expectations of urban greening, but subsequently often value-engineered out of final schemes.

If anyone would like to contribute or know more about the TDAG please contact: Jim Smith, London Tree and Woodland Framework Manager (jim.c.smith@forestry.gsi.gov.uk) or Martin Kelly, Managing Director at Lovejoy London (mkelly@lovejoylondon.uk.com). Martin Kelly, Managing Director, Lovejoy London

Belfast’s Urban Oasis

By Biodiversity Officer, Andy Smith (Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland)

When it comes to trees, Northern Ireland doesn’t compare well with the rest of Europe – only 8% is covered with trees compared with a European Union average of around 40%. Little of what exists here is native, and just 1.7% of Northern Ireland is broadleaved woodland.

In June 1997, I visited St. Malachy’s Primary School in Belfast city centre. At the back of the school was an area of grass surrounded by a narrow border of non-native trees and shrubs that had been planted when the school was built. The area is dissected by a small car park and covers about 40m x 40m in total. It possessed great potential to enhance its appeal to the local wildlife as well as being turned into a valuable learning resource for the children.

The children were involved from the beginning, as it would ultimately be their garden. They drew up a design and, in March 1998, planted 650 native trees. Every child in the school took part. The newly planted woodland and hedges were mulched with bark chippings to keep down weeds and keep in moisture.

A living willow dome was constructed. A team of volunteers and teachers dug a pond, which was planted by the children. Another team of volunteers built a pond-dipping platform. Most of the remaining non-native trees and shrubs were removed and an untidy border was turned into a ‘service station’ for passing wildlife, containing mostly nectar plants. A path was added through the woodland and wildflowers were planted on the woodland floor.

The project has involved over 500 children from the area, many parents and teachers and another 30 volunteers from all corners of Europe and beyond, recruited on their days off from the ranks of Conservation Volunteers!

In May 2006, eight years after the trees were planted, the school now employs an “Eco-assistant” to help the teachers help the children to use their new outdoor classroom to its full potential. Each class spends one lesson a week in the garden, and autumn has seen the children collecting leaves and fruits, planting bulbs and making bird boxes.

The enthusiasm within the community and the children’s desire to learn and understand the world around them has been channeled into the garden that we have created together. As development accelerates following the return of normality to Northern Ireland, Belfast’s skyline gets ever taller, and the garden at St. Malachy’s and its maturing mini-woodland has definitely become an oasis in an increasingly urban environment, not only for the wildlife of the area, but also for the people.

Conservation Volunteers Northern Ireland (CVNI) has been working for 25 years, providing practical conservation opportunities to help anyone to improve their local environment. A healthy environment and improved biodiversity is at the heart of all our activities.

We own no land, our goal is simply to enable individuals and communities to work to their own, locally appropriate agendas for conservation and environmental improvement. We believe that the biggest threat to the UK’s biodiversity is if the conservation movement fails to engage with the general public. www.cvni.org     Tel: 028 9185 2817

 Consultancies and Contractors:

Ancient trees – in a town near you

Urban trees reaching notable, veteran or ancient status may have survived hundreds of years of dramatic changes to the townscape. Huge domestic and social changes, the growth of the urban population, two world wars and the invasion of a creeping layer of tarmac have all taken their toll on Britain’s population of ancient trees.

Such has been the public’s interest in the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Hunt project that over 10,000 trees have already been logged on the website www.ancienttreehunt.org.uk. The Woodland Trust’s volunteer verifiers have authenticated more than 3,800 of these, urban and rural, across the country and sightings are pouring in.

As well as still-living trees, the website allows for the recording of dead trees posthumously assessed as ancient, such as the stump of a beech tree with a girth of 4.4 metres in a cemetery in Treeton, just south of Rotherham (tree number 182) which was damaged in a storm and felled in March 2007.

More happily, tree number 2810, an ancient sweet chestnut on the A41 Solihull by-pass, has so far defied development and urbanisation to reach a girth of 6.76m.

The demand for new homes and increasing traffic levels threatens urban trees, whether ancient or not, in parks, gardens and on roadsides. The Woodland Trust is therefore calling for a root and branch overhaul of the existing Tree Preservation Order (TPO) system – almost 20 years after reforms were first proposed. In particular the Trust would like a system in which developers notify local authorities before any felling or cutting of trees takes place and in advance of a planning application. The Trust would also like to see changes so that dead and dying trees – which are currently exempt – may be protected, and the oldest and most prestigious trees can no longer fall through the system.

Arborists are proposing new ways of managing ancient trees which allow them to be retained in built up areas where there may be concerns about the loss of limbs as they age. These new techniques mimic the natural way tree canopies become lower as the trees age, and represent a departure from conventional arboricultural practice. This requires phased programmes of long-term treatment that may span several decades.

So as the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Hunt reveals the true number of ancient, notable and veteran trees across the UK and enthuses the population to look out for these living monuments, the Trust is also seeking to raise awareness of their importance, and to lobby for effective legislation to make sure they are expertly conserved with the respect and affection they deserve.

Woodland Trust, Autumn Park, Dysart Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 6LL Tel: 01476 581111 More info is available at www.woodland-trust.org.uk/ancient-tree-forum/atfnews/news

A new threat: Oak Processionary Moth (Thaumetopoea processionea), a native of southern and central Europe, has been found on oaks in London.  The moth was first noticed in the UK during the summer of 2006 breeding on oak trees in several west-London locations.

The caterpillars of the moth pose two problems. Firstly, their feeding can cause serious defoliation of oaks and secondly, they readily release tiny barbed hairs containing a toxin that causes severe skin irritation and allergic reactions in some people.

It is thought very likely that the moths were introduced as eggs on imported, semi-mature fastigate oaks used in a landscaping project.  The eggs are extremely difficult to spot and on hatching, the young caterpillars or larvae have a ready food source on the very trees with which they were imported. Larvae may be found between April and July, feeding during the day in groups and congregating at night in communal nests.  The common name of the moth is derived from the larval habit of forming a single-file ‘procession’ between nest and feeding place. Nests are made of silk webbing hanging under a branch or spun on the trunk, variable in size and form.  New nests are white and rather flimsy, while older larvae create larger, more solid looking structures, which darken as shed larval skins and hairs accumulate inside.  Empty nests remain a toxic hazard for a considerable time and should be treated with caution. Larvae pupate in July and adult moths fly during August and September. Oak processionary moth is not the only web-producer to be found in the UK. Apart from the brown tail moth, Euproctis chrysorrhoea, our native species do not cause any problems.

Further information and photographs of the oak processionary moth can be found on Forest Research website http://www.forestresearch.gov.uk/fr/INFD-6URJCF

Product & Service Suppliers:

Supporting woodfuel development   Woodfuel is not new — wood has been used as a fuel since humans first learned how to make fire. It has always been a major source of energy, providing warmth and light. Now woodfuel is news again, attracting fresh attention as a means of replacing fossil fuels with a clean and sustainable source of renewable energy that can help to cut greenhouse gases and other emissions.

Woodfuel is a renewable, ‘carbon lean’ energy source as growing more trees absorbs carbon that is released into the atmosphere by burning the fuel. As well as cutting carbon and producing renewable energy, woodfuel benefits biodiversity through sustainable management of neglected woodlands and boosts the rural economy.
Many countries are well ahead of the UK in their use of woodfuel and other renewable energy technologies. The Woodfuel Information Pack - the result of several years’ development work by Forest Research, the research agency of the Forestry Commission – helps to bring the UK up-to-speed and provides a resource to help deal with increasing demand for information and support.

The pack clearly outlines the benefits of using wood as fuel including details of renewable energy targets and policy, sources, conversion, end users and systems. Also available is the booklet Woodfuel Meets the Challenge – a basic guide to woodfuel. Both publications can be downloaded from www.forestresearch.gov.uk/woodfuel

Practical advice on using woodfuel and other forms of biomass is available from the Biomass Energy Centre (BEC), owned and managed by Forest Research. BEC draws together information from existing sources into one easy to use website and enquiry service at www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk

The Forestry Commission’s Woodfuel Strategy for England (www.forestry.gov.uk/england-woodfuel), published in March, aims to boost the woodfuel market with an extra two million tonnes of wood a year by 2020, saving 400,000 tonnes of carbon annually.

A priority for Forestry Commission England is raising awareness of woodfuel. As well as highlighting the benefits at renewable energy exhibitions and regional shows, it provided information to music fans at this summer’s Glastonbury Festival about the environmental benefits of woodfuel.

Recent key energy policy initiatives in Scotland include the Biomass Action Plan for Scotland (launched March 2007), the development of the Renewable Heat Strategy and the launch of the Woodfuel Task Force in July to respond to the growing demand for biomass information in Scotland.

Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) has also delivered a number of biomass grant schemes, most recently the Scottish Government’s £10.5 million Scottish Biomass Support Scheme, which is supporting 76 installation projects and supply chains across the country. This is supported by the network of FCS Woodfuel Information Officers who provide advice and information and work at a regional level to develop strategies to support biomass development. FCS also provides a one stop shop for woodfuel information through its Woodenergy Scotland website, www.usewoodfuel.co.uk.

The Wood Energy Business Scheme (WEBS) in Wales has been providing grant support to assist small enterprises to set up fuel supply businesses and it has grant funded the installation of over 60 woodfuel boilers in a range of sites including schools, hospitals, accommodation providers and wood working businesses. FC Wales hopes to launch a new round of WEBS in 2008. FC Wales has also been working closely with the Welsh Assembly Government to help develop targets for future biomass development for heat, CHP and electricity generation. 

Ignite – Developing the Woodfuel Supply Chain The Ignite woodfuel training programme started small, the initial spark originating from the same place that almost all our projects come from - a need or desire of the forestry businesses of the North East of England which was then matched up with what the public sector were looking to fund in the Region.  In this case, a questionnaire at the end of 2003’s Forestry Forward Northumberland training programme revealed that a large number of businesses in the North East wanted to learn more about woodfuel, particularly wood chip, and the alternate market opportunity it presented. As a result we developed and now deliver an integrated programme of woodfuel training.

One thing we set out to do from the start was to provide meaningful training for those taking the course, and this included an assessment and a qualification from the outset.  We wanted our trainees to get some real benefit from attending and set out to focus the 3 day core of Ignite on giving people the fundamental knowledge they needed to enter the woodfuel supply chain, with additional modules available depending on peoples’ existing knowledge and the direction they wanted to take their business.

I’ve been asked many times “why does it have to be a qualification”, and I always give the same answers.  The woodfuel market, for chips at least, is immature at best and non-existent at worst.  This presents a number of challenges for our sector, and these need to be addressed if we’re to make the most of the opportunity that woodfuel presents us.  By having a qualification we’re showing the customer, 99.9% of whom have never bought woodfuel before, that we’re taking things seriously.  It also enables the holder to demonstrate knowledge and competence without the customer having to know all the ins and outs of fuel-chip production.  Don’t believe me, then ask yourself the question: “would I have a gas boiler installed by a non-Corgi registered installer?”.  If you’re sane, then the answer should be “no”. Like it or not, qualifications can play a key part in reassuring that customer that the fuel is going to be there on time, in the right quantity, at the right moisture content and within the size tolerances of the boiler feed system.

Qualifications can also play another role in making money for your business – by reassuring government funding bodies that, once again, you’re taking things seriously.

With the Scottish Biomass Support Scheme recently closed to new applications, and with over £10m worth of  grants sought, most of which were for boilers, the Scottish woodfuel market is set to explode in 2007.  England, you’ll be pleased to hear, seems to be going the same way without the incentive of installation subsidies.

Ignite is being run by Rural Development Initiatives, a specialist not-for-profit company working in support of forestry and other rural businesses. To find out more, please visit www.northwoods.org.uk, www.yorwoods.org.uk,  www.ruraldevelopment.org.uk or call 0845 226 2890. By: Will Richardson, October 2007

Events:

Campbell Palmer Woodchip Fuel Calculators As woodchip heating becomes more well known consumers want to know the financial implications. While the costs of installing the boilers for burning woodchips are easily obtained, determining a cost for the fuel is more difficult because of the variables involved.  Representing a link between engineering and forestry, The Campbell Palmer Partnership Ltd has produced three Woodchip Fuel Calculators

The Campbell Palmer Woodchip Fuel Cost Calculator: Produced in 2002, marks the first attempt at providing a means of comparing the cost of woodchip for heating with the cost of other fuels. The aim is to provide a quick and easy to use 'ready reckoner' for a cost of softwood woodchip calculated per kilowatt-hour

The Campbell Palmer Woodchip Fuel Calculator: Calculates woodfuel consumption and woodchip fuel storage requirements.  It also allows the cost of heat into and out of the boiler to be calculated (in pence per kWh) for different fuel moisture contents and the fuel cost per tonne.

The Campbell Palmer Woodchip Emissions Calculator : Allows the CO2 produced as a result of the harvesting, felling, and transporting of timber, and the chipping and delivery of woodchips to be calculated. This calculator demonstrates that, typically, the CO2 emissions from producing woodchips are 5% of those of burning natural gas.

The calculators are designed for end users and care must be exercised when using them for economic assessments.  There are many issues which have to be considered, and these calculators are designed to give the user an idea of the costs involved. As with any piece of computer software it is only as good and as accurate as the information used as input data.

The Woodchip Fuel Cost Calculator was originally developed with the North Highland Forest Trust www.nhft.org.uk

The calculators are distributed free by e-mail from: The Campbell Palmer Partnership Ltd, Lennoxtown Enterprise Centre, 12 Railway Court, Lennoxtown, Glasgow, G66 7LL.  Tel: 01360 312000  E: consultants@campbellpalmer.com .

Training courses and providers:

Ignite Woodfuel Training Courses. 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 woof fuel businesses with the skills and knowledge required to meet the increasing demand from this growing alternative market. Ignite will provide you with : • Essential background to the woodfuel industry; • Running an efficient and profitable woodfuel business; • How, where and when to start out in woodfuel; • Lantra Technical Award with registered instructors. Courses are being run across the UK in 2007 and 2008. For booking details please contact Rural Development Initiatives tel: 0845 226 2890 e-mail pam.baker@ruraldevelopment.org.uk  or book on line at www.ruraldevelopment.org.uk

Professional Tree Related Courses:  All one day courses unless specified. Details of all these events and much more are available on our website at: countryside-jobs.com/Training/Training_Courses.htm

NOVEMBER

Wed 21: Woodland Archaeology the Law & Planning  by Hallam Environmental Consultants Ltd in Sheffield, for details: 0114 2724227 / 0114 2738436 info@hallamec.plus.com

Native Tree Species in Winter IEEM run course in Edinburgh. Booking details: 01962 868626, workshops@ieem.net www.ieem.net

Fri 23 Arboriculture & Bats: A Guide for Practitioners at Hinchingbrooke Country Park run by Cambs Bat Conservation Trust, for information:  020 75013638, mfray@bats.org.uk www.bats.org.uk

Getting to Know Conifers 2 days at FSC Juniper Hall. Enquiries to: 0845 4583507  enquiries.jh@field-studies-council.org www.field-studies-council.org/professional

Building with Timber 3 days by the Low Impact Living Initiative in Winslow.  Contact: 01296 714184 lili@lowimpact.org www.lowimpact.org

Bishops Wood Centre in Stourport is running: Forest Skills Course (27/11) and Advanced Forest Skills (28/11). For information contact the centre on 01299 250513, bishopswoodcourses@worcestershire.gov.uk www.bishopswoodcentre.org.uk

DECEMBER

Sat 1 OCN Introduction to Small Woodlands Management Planning 2 days at the Green Wood centre (see later for details)

Mon 3 Forest Schools Level 2 Award Week long (5 days) by Forest Schools in Sheffield.  To book or for information contact: 0114 2855534, info@archimedes-training.co.uk http://www.archimedes-training.co.uk/dates.html

Tue 11 Sustainable Woodland Management Harper Adams University College (see later)

JANUARY 2008

Wed 9 Small Woodland & Hedgerow Management at and by Merrist Wood campus Guildford College. Details from:  01483 884040, mwinfo@guildford.ac.uk www.guildford.ac.uk

12/01 and 19/1 Renovation Pruning of Old Fruit Trees  by Brighton Permaculture Trust, 2 days. Information at:    www.brightonpermaculture.co.uk

Sun 20 Identifying Trees Without Leaves at and by Epping Forest Field Studies Centre. Enquiries to:  020 85028502, enquiries.ef@field-studies-council.org www.field-studies-council.org/eppingforest

MARCH

Sat 1: Green Architecture Day by Brighton Permaculture Trust  as before

Sat 8 OCN Introduction to Small Woodlands Management Planning with Jim Waterson 2 days and  Sat 29 Fruit Tree Pruning with Larry Jones both at The Green Wood Centre (see later)

APRIL

Sat 26 Woodland House Open Days  Ben Law's Woodland. For information contact: 0845 4584150 tony@permaculture.co.uk www.ben-law.co.uk (also see last year's Special Edition for more about Ben's wonderful house and woodland)

Green Wood Working with Jo Alexander 2 days at The Green Wood Centre (see later)

Tue 29 Sustainable Woodland Management at & by Harper Adams University College  (see later)

MAY

Sat 3 Assessing a Woodland  Ben Law's Woodland as before.

Sat 10 Natural History of Veteran Trees at and by Epping Forest Field Studies Centre, as before

Fri 16 Roundwood Timber Framing 4 days, also Woodlands & Permaculture (7 June) &  I've Bought a Woodland, What do I do Now? (13 Sept) all at Ben Law's Woodland, contact details as above.

SEPTEMBER

Sat 13 Tree & Shrub Identification 2 days & Sun 14 Identifying Trees in Leaf, both at & by Epping Forest Field Studies Centre. Contact as above.

Hedgelaying and coppicing skills

December

Saturday 1: Practical Coppicing  one day at: Yonsea Farm, Woodchurch  run by AJS Crafts, for details and booking:  01233 820461, info@ajscrafts.co.uk www.ajscrafts.co.uk   

Saturday 8: Hedgelaying for Beginners run by Herts & Middlesex Wildlife Trust  at Beech Farm, St Albans for details: 01727 858901, info@hmwt.org www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/herts   

Practical Coppicing at  Ben Law's Woodland, West Sussex  information from:  0845 4584150 tony@permaculture.co.uk www.ben-law.co.uk   

Hedgelaying Course 2 day course at Fedw Hir Eco Centre, nr Merthyr Tydfil contact Groundwork at 01685 883880 richard.phipps@groundwork.org.uk    

Monday 17:  Hedgelaying  2 day course at Tamar Valley organised by  Lynher Training  admin@lynher.com www.lynher.com   

12/4/2008 Wattle Fencing  in Ben Law's Woodland. Info as above.

27/11/2008 Hedgelaying 2 days at and by  Epping Forest Field Studies Centre, enquiries to: 020 85028502 enquiries.ef@field-studies-council.org www.field-studies-council.org/eppingforest   

The Green Wood Centre in Coalbrookdale runs several courses:

3/12/2007 OCN Coppicing  5 days.  Coppicing with Larry Jones a 2 day course starting on 2/2/08 and again on 15/3/08. Hedgelaying with Karl Liebscher on 12/1/2008 or 23/2/08 both for 2 days or 21/1/08  for a longer 5 days. 

For information or to book contact the Centre on 01952 432769, courses@greenwoodcentre.org.uk www.greenwoodcentre.org.uk   

Practical skills:

05/02/2008 Managing Trees & Potential Legal Liabilities - A Practical Guide and 11/02/2008 Forestry & Woodland Management - Competency T034 both are one day course at Harper Adams University College in Newport. For details contact: 01952 815300, lchapman@harper-adams.ac.uk or www.harper-adams.ac.uk/shortcourses

Shuttleworth College near Biggleswade runs a wide range of practical courses:

Lantra Basic Felling Techniques is a two day course. Starting dates are: 16/1/08, 16/4/08 & 9/7/08

Lantra Chainsaw Maintenance & Crosscutting is also a two course, starting dates are: 14/1/08, 14/4/08 & 7/7/08

NPTC Climb Trees & Perform Aerial Rescue (CS38) is a five day course and assessment, start dates: 10/12/07, 11/02/08, 21/4/08 & 2/6/08

NPTC Fell Medium Trees (CS2), two days including assessment on 25/2/08 & 19/5/08

NPTC Fell Smart Trees (CS31) including assessment runs for three days once a month. Start dates are: 5/12/07, 9/1/08, 6/2, 12/3, 9/4, 14/5, 18/6 & 16/7

22/2/08 for one day: NPTC Hedge Trimmers (+ assessment)

There are three different chainsaw courses all with assessment.  NPTC Maintain & Operate a Chainsaw (CS30) takes 2 days & is run once a month starting 3/12/07, 7/1/08, 4/2, 20/2, 10/3, 7/4, 12/5, 16/6 & 14/7

NPTC Operate a Chainsaw from a MEWP (CS47) is a one day course running on 28/11/07, 27/3/08 & 24/7/08

NPTC Operate a Chainsaw from a Rope & Harness (CS39) covers two days starting on: 17/12/07, 18/2/08, 28/4 & 9/7

Other one day courses include:20/3/08: NPTC Powered Pole-Pruners (CS48) (+ assessment)

18/1/08 Strimmers & Brushcutters, also on 19/3 & 11/7; 18/4/08 stump grinders and finally on  21/7/08 wood chippers.

For information or to book your place call 01767 626248 or email: enquiries@shuttleworth.ac.uk

Capel Manor College also run Practical Skills training in an ad hoc basis, please contact them for details. Tel: 020 8366 4442, email:  andrew.lederer@capel.ac.uk  Typical courses include: Chainsaw Pruning Operations; Arboricultural Groundworker; Tree Planting & Individual Tree Protection; Chainsaw - Dismantling Operations; Certificate - Stump Grinding & Brushcutting

Wood fuel:  Southwest Woodfuel Training, run by Forest Fuels Ltd on 27/11/07 at Hartpurty Collge, on 11/12/07 in Bristol, on 29/1/08 at Bicton College and at the Eden Project on 18/2. Information on these events can be found at: www.southwestwoodshed.co.uk

Many skills once common in woodland management are now becoming lost, the following courses will introduce you to traditional crafts using wood.

Mallinson Ltd based in Bridport, Dorset run four different craft courses, all two days in length.

Carving a Wooden Bowl - Dates: 17/1/08, 20/2, 13/3, 24/2, 22/5,26/6,24/7,4/9,2/10,30/10 & 27/11

Green Wood Foot Stool – Dates: 22/11/07, 28/2/08, 1/5, 7/8 & 6/11

Kitchen & Garden Pole Lathe Turning – Dates: 24/1/08, 3/4, 8/5, 17/7, 28/8, 16/10 & 20/11

Totem Pole Carving – Dates: 17/4/08, 31/7 & 23/10.

For more information orto book please contact: 01308 485111, guy@mallinson.co.uk or visit: www.mallinson.co.uk

The Green Wood Centre in Coalbrookdale also run several courses featuring traditional crafts.

Basket Making on 23 November and on 14 March there is an advanced course Basket Making: Advanced course in fitching with Jenny Crisp, both are three days long. Another three day course starting on 29 Feb is Oak Swill Baskets with Owen Jones. Larry Jones demonstrates Living Willow After Care on 5 April; and finally on 12 April a two day course Making Sussex Trugs with Bill Sanders.  Contact the Centre on 01952 432769 or courses@greenwoodcentre.org.uk

24/11/2007 Hedgerow Baskets at the Four Winds Inspiration Centre in Edinburgh. For details: 0131 3322229 info@four-winds.org.uk www.four-winds.org.uk

24/11/2007 Pole Lathe Turning & Charcoal Making  and on 1 December Greendays Big Weekend: Woodland Crafts & Rural Skills both are two day events run by Groundwork at the Fedw Hir Eco Centre, nr Merthyr Tydfil information from: 01685 883880, richard.phipps@groundwork.org.uk

31/01/2008 Working with Living Willow Workshop with Mick Petts 2 days at the Bishops Wood Centre, Stourport  Information from:  01299 250513, bishopswoodcourses@worcestershire.gov.uk www.bishopswoodcentre.org.uk

Details believed correct but given without prejudice.  A4 side this Special Edition: 11