Heartwoods Newsletter Sept 2014
Welcome to the Heartwoods Newsletter Sept 2014 and I hope that this run of favourable weather carries on well into the autumn, allowing unhindered work in the woods for as long as possible. A bit of dust is always preferable to mud!
Timber prices and strong demand are holding up, and in some cases continue to rise. Hardwood firewood lengths suitable for firewood processors are now being advertised nationally at £60/tonne at roadside. Standing conifer crops with good sawlog content are regularly fetching well over £30/tonne.
I think timber prices, the good weather and a general upsurge in activity explains the positive and buoyant mood evident amongst the majority of exhibitors and attendees at the recent APF demo event held at Ragley Estate in Warwickshire. The Small Woods Association had a stand at the show, in conjunction with the Deer Initiative, promoting the benefits of consuming more wild venison as a measure to help encourage deer control.
As an aside, if you hear of a life-size willow sculpture of a deer being offered for sale please let us know – someone stole it from our stand on the Friday evening, with witnesses even reporting they saw site staff helping to carry it on the understanding it had been purchased! Equally, if you hear anyone offering a second hand IW tipping trailer with cage sides please get in touch – we had one of these stolen from the Greenwood Centre a few weeks ago.
As a reaction to the growing risk of equipment theft the Arbtalk website has launched the industry’s first asset management and stolen equipment register. An intuitive user interface makes it possible for anyone to register and add any manner of equipment within minutes. The secure new website allows provision for managing business assets privately, as well as displaying your stolen assets publicly. Check it out: www.arbtalk.co.uk
I look forward to meeting many of you at our next event on October 24th or at the Wyre forest event on 17th October (see page 3). Please also remember we still have capacity to conduct woodland advisory visits so do get in touch with Will Tomkins or Harriet Wood on 01952 435860 if you would like to arrange a free visit.
Mike Bentley
Heartwoods Project Manager