Application help

RHI fact sheet

RHI leaflet

Supporting information for applicants

The presentations from the speakers are available to view and download.  Please click on the relevant links below:

Woodland Insurance Overview –  David Hewitt, Lycetts

Rights and Responsibilities of having Rights of Way near or in your Woodland – paths, roads, permissive access and other designations – Richard Preston, Worcestershire County Council

Roadside Trees – The new guidance and what this means to you! – Justin Mumford, Lockhart Garratt

Safety Aspects of Practical Woodland Management – working with contractors and your responsibilities – Graham Taylor, Pryor & Rickett Silviculture

Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only the Landowner – Bringing groups into your woodland: forest schools, social forestry, school visits and similar: Your responsibilities – Alex Argyropulo, Consultant

Multi-Purpose Woodland Management and Safety – Ross Murray, CLA

Copies of the National Tree Safety Group Common Sense Risk Management of Trees can be downloaded, free of charge, from the Forestry Commission – http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/publications.nsf/$$Search

Britain’s trees, woodlands and gardens have been under attack before, but new and more sinister diseases are threatening the existence of some of our most familiar and best loved trees. Heartwoods invites you to a workshop to find out about the latest research in how to manage this urgent problem. You will learn how to recognise a variety of tree diseases and how to manage them to reduce losses, and contact and prevent their spread.

A leading professional from Forest Research will be looking at current concerns and future threats, covering, oak declines, phytophthora diseases, red-band needle blight, bleeding cankers, and likely new diseases that may arrive in the UK.
FERA will be providing a detailed insight into what we have learned from the impact of phytophthora ramorum in the South-West and Wales and what the implications are for the West Midlands. The workshop includes indoor presentations followed by tours of local woodlands to see trees and plants where disease is now evident.

Event costs £10.00 (which includes lunch and refreshments) and is aimed at those employed within the woodland industry and woodland owners within the West Midlands region.

To book your place please contact the Heartwoods office on 01952 435860 or alternatively emailinfo@heartwoods.co.uk

Thursday 24th May at The Chalet Pavilion, Carding Mill Valley, Church Stretton

Britain’s trees, woodlands and gardens have been under attack before, but new and more sinister diseases are threatening the existence of some of our most familiar and best loved trees. Heartwoods invites you to a workshop to find out about the latest research in how to manage this urgent problem. For more information, click here

Britain’s trees, woodlands and gardens have been under attack before, but new and more sinister diseases are threatening the existence of some of our most familiar and best loved trees. Heartwoods invites you to a workshop to find out about the latest research in how to manage this urgent problem. You will learn how to recognise a variety of tree diseases and how to manage them to reduce losses, and contact and prevent their spread.
A leading professional from Forest Research will be looking at current concerns and future threats, covering, oak declines, phytophthora diseases, red-band needle blight, bleeding cankers, and likely new diseases that may arrive in the UK.
FERA will be providing a detailed insight into what we have learned from the impact of phytophthora ramorum in the South-West and Wales and what the implications are for the West Midlands. The workshop includes indoor presentations followed by tours of local woodlands to see trees and plants where disease is now evident.

Event costs £10.00 (which includes lunch and refreshments) and is aimed at those employed within the woodland industry and woodland owners within the West Midlands region.

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

Wednesday 23rd May at Mortimer Park, Kingsland, Herefordshire

Britain’s trees, woodlands and gardens have been under attack before, but new and more sinister diseases are threatening the existence of some of our most familiar and best loved trees. Heartwoods invites you to a workshop to find out about the latest research in how to manage this urgent problem. For more information, click here.

Primarily produced to contribute to the fundamental forestry debate ongoing in England, where it is clear that opinion has not always been well informed, it is timed to brief the forestry panel and others involved, but is applicable across the UK.  It highlights some basic points, including:

• The low level of woodland cover in England;
• Around 45% of which is unmanaged;
• Restructuring plantations and sustainable forest management;
• Management brings diverse environmental and social benefits;
• The need for financial sustainability to underpin the environmental and social;
• The need for long-term policy, beyond the Westminster political cycle;
• Growing trees absorb carbon, which is stored even when used in timber products;
• The greater the economic activity, the greater the environmental benefit;
• Appropriate use of woodfuel for renewable energy;
• Green jobs, especially valuable in rural areas, and the supply chain, with case studies;
• The need for increased softwood planting and production of raw material for industry.

Confor’s head of policy, Rupert Pigot, commented, “This report is a useful source of basic information for all those taking an interest in the future of forestry, especially in England, but also across the UK.  I hope it will increase understanding and awareness of this uniquely valuable sector.  Everyone is encouraged to take a look and think of people they know who would be interested in reading it.

A pdf of the report is available here.

click here for full article

Click here for Pdf of report

for the full article by Joy Fox, please click here

More than 20 farmers and landowners were given a practical tour of “The Big Wood” showing the opportunities of coppicing, regeneration, pure oak stands and thinning, while discussing the commercial markets, usage and returns.

All woodland management involves assessing the woodland and the “suite of opportunities” available; woodfuel is just one of those opportunities.

The order of importance of these opportunities will depend on the priorities of the woodland owner. However according to Graham Taylor of Pryor and Rickett Silviculture, woodfuel should not be a priority – “to manage woodland specifically for woodfuel, would be for the tail to wag the dog.”

Nick Maskery – of Heartwoods described the process of producing a “woodland inventory,” which would be followed by a full “woodland management plan.” Once both these are in place long term objectives are in place and the option to apply for grant funding, from replanting to capital investment becomes live.

Land agent for the Whitfield Estate, William Shuttleworth of Balfours with Berringtons, who were joint sponsors of the event, told how the estate has utilised woodfuel to provide sustainable energy for the estate, through woodchip and biomass burners. He explained: “The lead in time is one of the most critical factors in providing dry wood to ensure maximum efficiency in the burning process.”

Pictured: Wood chip processing is seen behind, from left, Nick Salt, of the Forestry Commission; William Shuttleworth of Balfours with Berringtons; Graham Taylor of Pryor Ricketts Silviculture and Nick Maskery of Heartwoods.

Issued by Joy Fox Pr