Wednesday 29th February 2012 at Uncllys Farm, Worcestershire

The growing demand for firewood provides economic opportunities to manage native woodlands for income and to bring previously under managed woodland into sustainable management.

This half day event will demonstrate multi purpose woodland management for woodfuel and biodiversity and show how woodfuel can have wider environmental benefits beyond just being a renewable heating fuel.   The event is aimed at woodland owners and managers and will be held at Uncllys Farm, Bewdley in the Wyre Forest . The event will be based in the woodland with a discussion session with lunch and refreshments back at Uncllys Farm.

The event will focus on the following aspects:

• Practical low impact machinery demonstration including tractor based forwarding, mini forwarder and tractor and winch options.
• Discussion on managing woodlands for Biodiversity and income
• Timber species and properties and markets
• Firewood Markets
• Access and Harvesting Considerations
• Heartwoods—Woodland Support Schemes Available

The event costs £5.00 which includes refreshments and is targeted at Woodland Owners and Managers.

For more information or to book your place please contact the Heartwoods office on 01952 435860

or alternatively email info@heartwoods.co.uk

For more information click here

Thursday 23rd February 2012 at the Carpenters Shop, Whitfield Estate, Wormbridge, Herefordshire

This half day event, held in conjunction with Pryor & Rickett will be a practical demonstration in Woodland Management at  the Whitfield Estate at Wormbridge, Herefordshire. The event  is designed to inform the woodland owner how woodlands can be managed economically for wood fuel.

It will focus on the following aspects:

• Harvesting and Marketing
• Practical Machinery Demonstration
• Woodland Access Issues
• Timber Species and Properties
• Markets for Wood Fuel
• Practical Estate Woodland Management
• Woodfuel and self supply
• Funding support available
• How Heartwoods can assist West Midlands Woodland Owners

Graham Taylor from Pryor and Rickett Silviculture will lead the day with opportunities to network with other woodland owners and organisations.

The event costs £7.00 which includes lunch and refreshments and is targeted at woodland owners and contractors based within the West Midlands.

For more information or to book your place please contact the Heartwoods office on 01952 435860

or alternatively email info@heartwoods.co.uk

Wednesday 15th February 2012 Wood Farm, Staffordshire

This half day event will demonstrate to woodland owners and managers the options available for small scale and low impact timber extraction methods along with considerations such as timber presentation for extraction.

The event provides an excellent opportunity to meet industry experts to discuss opportunities for your woodlands and network with other landowners and woodland managers along with practical demonstration of all the equipment in a woodland environment.

There will be demonstrations of the following equipment:

• Alstor 8×8 mini forwarder
• Compact tractor and skidding winch
• ATV and logging arch
• Horse logging
• Firewood processor
• Tractor mounted tree planter
• Advice on practical timber extraction
• Discuss access and harvesting considerations
• Provide information on available support schemes

The event costs £5.00 which includes refreshments and lunch and is targeted at woodland owners and managers within the West Midlands.

For more information or to book your place please contact the Heartwoods office on 01952 435860

or alternatively email info@heartwoods.co.uk

metnet the (Marches Environmental Technology Network) provided an event for Farmers and Landowners in Herefordshire on Wednesday 7 December at the Hereford Racecourse: 12 noon – 7.30pm.

This was an ideal opportunity for farmers and landowners to find out more about the range of alternative technologies available to them for energy production, subsequent cost savings and potential for income generation.

Sir Ben Gill CBE opened and chaired the event. Former president of the NFU, Sir Ben is actively involved on the Marches LEP Board, works with a range of FSTE 100 companies,  and in 2005 chaired the Government’s Biomass Task Force producing a comprehensive set of recommendations to improve the uptake of biomass as a renewable energy source.

Delivered in association with Heartwoods the event featured presentations covering hydro power, biomass, solar and wind power and anaerobic digestion.   The presentations can be viewed by clicking on the links below:

Hydropower – David Williams, British Hydropower

Planning Considerations – Debby Klein, Herefordshire Council (Presentation available upon request)

Biomass & Renewable Heat Incentive – Nick Maskery, Heartwoods

Anaerobic Digestion – John Davies, E & J Solutions

Community Cooperative Financing Projects – Jon Halle, Sharenergy

Renewable Heat Incentives & Tariff Tax Implications – Whittingham Riddell

Solar & Wind – Caplor Energy Ltd

This half day event, being held in conjunction with the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) will provide an opportunity for woodland owners to find out about the new Forestry Commission Woodfuel Woodland Improvement Grant.  It will provide detail on how the grant can be used to support woodland planning and infrastructure costs and advise woodland owners on the financial viability of the harvesting process.

For further information please click here.

To book a place please contact the Heartwoods office on 01952 435860 or email info@heartwoods.co.uk

The event is aimed at woodland owners based within the West Midlands.