Small Woods News SWA at No.10


News of events and courses for SWA members Small Woods is invited to Downing Street Wood flora


SWA joins forces with Flora Locale to promote wildflowers in woods


Graeme McVittie (far right), Chairman of the Small Woods Association, recently represented SWA at a Downing Street reception to mark the launch of Sir David Read's (right) report, Combatting Climate Change - A Role for UK Forests. A key recommendation is to raise woodland cover from 12% to 16%, with other suggestions close to SWA hearts. Guidelines recommending an increase in woodland management and low-carbon products and services place SWA in a very strong position for the future. "That we were invited to such an auspicious event attended by UK and Commonwealth heads of forestry and leading NGOs like IUCN and the Green Alliance, means we are well regarded and seen as important players with influence at the highest levels," said Graeme afterwards.


Networking Wyre


Event for members at a Sussex wood with mixed history


In November, Diana Colvin, our new co-ordinator in East Sussex, invited local members to a walk in her woodland followed by tea and cakes at the nearby home of member Ian Wagstaffe. Diana's woodland, near Newick, covers 5ha, and began as a disused strawberry farm in the 1960s. After being denied planning permission, the previous owner planted it (rather haphazardly) with oak and some other broadleaves and essentially did nothing until Diana bought the site a couple of years ago. She now has a patchwork of overgrown hazel, willow and birch, with a lot of squirrel- damaged branchy oaks. Much of the discussion during the day centred on


future management of the woodland, with the consensus being to fell a significant proportion of the oak, restocking through natural regeneration or planting where there are insufficient seed sources. Some areas of hazel could be coppiced and preserved, and the gaps filled through layering or planting. Diana is very fortunate in that the woodland includes a barn with electricity, water and even a phone where she can store her tools and machinery. Many thanks to Diana and Ian for an informative, enjoyable day.


04 Smallwoods Spring 2010


Members of Small Woods can now benefit from an alliance with Flora Locale (www.floralocale.org), a charity that aims to promote wildflower establishment in new woodlands and the conservation of ground flora in a range of habitats. Small Woods has arranged a day course (10am-4pm) with Flora Locale near Hungerford, Berkshire, which will cover wildflower identification and conservation in existing mature woodland, and how to introduce woodland ground flora to new woodlands. The cost of this training event will be £50 per person, which is a considerable saving on Flora Locale's normal day course rate. For more details contact Phil Tidey at SWA on 01952 435854 or email Phil at philtidey@smallwoods.org.uk.


Courses


plan Four forestry apprentices have been appointed by the FC and Small Woods Association to help deliver ambitious plans to conserve the built and natural features of the Wyre Forest, Worcs. During their two- year training schemes, the apprentices will work with many of the partners involved to learn all the practical skills needed to become forest craftsmen, including planting, felling and extracting timber.


Join the Small Woods Association The SWA aims to support and champion the management of woodlands, with sustainability, biodiversity and the enhancement of our heritage in mind. We are also pioneers in social forestry, helping to pilot projects that benefit both woodlands and the population's health and wellbeing. Call 01952 432769 or visit www.smallwoods.org.uk to join.


SWA NEWS & E V ENTS


SWA Member Events Discount New courses at GWC


There are a host of courses at the Green Wood Centre coming up soon. You can find out more by visiting www.greenwoodcentre.org.uk. There are coppicing and hedgelaying courses in February and March, plus ITC Outdoor First Aid for Forest School Leaders from 24-25th March and Fruit Tree Pruning on 27th March. From 17-18th April there is an Open College Network Introduction to Small Woodland Management. For details and to book contact 01952 432769.


Small Woods is a partner in the Lantra Woodworks II programme which offers 50% discount on training courses for woodland sector workers in the West Midlands. Phone Fran on 01952 435853 or email franfowkes@ smallwoods.org. uk for further information.


Coppice Restoration


The National Coppice Restoration Project, which is run by Small Woods, is organising courses to promote good practice for woodland owners and to encourage new entrants into the coppice sector. First up is an Introduction to Coppice Management


(1st Feb) at the Sustainability Centre, East Meon, Hants. Assisted and subsidised places are available. On the 17th February there's also a course on hurdle making at the Sustainability Centre. For more details of these courses contact Toni Brannon on 02392 580988 or email brannon@ntlworld.com. From 6-7th March the Countryside Education Trust is running a course on charcoal making at their base at Beaulieu, Hants. Contact Viv Drake on 01590 612401 or email vivdrake@cet.org.uk for details. There are assisted and subsidised places available on the course.


Contact Phil Tidey at the SWA on 01952 435854 or by email philtidey@ smallwoods.org.uk, if you wish to attend any of the forthcoming events for members. Events are free to members, unless otherwise stated, with a £3 charge for guests.


Sunday 13th February, One-day Introduction to Coppicing Experienced woodsman, Matt Beech will be presenting an introductory day on coppicing hazel. After a morning with presentations on ecology, management and the history of coppice woodlands, Matt will lead a practical session in local woods. The event runs from 10am-4pm at the Green Wood Centre, Coalbrookdale, Telford TF8 7DR.


More events


Opportunities to visit woods and learn about management


Phil Tidey at Small Woods has arranged a series of woodland visits for SWA members this spring to inspire and inform. The aim is to provide woodland visits at which members can share experiences and learn lessons from other owners. The visits include one to Malcolm and Trixie Cooper's woodland in Shropshire, where the couple have used larch for building and process firewood (above). There is also a special coppicing course (right) at the GWC and a visit to Richard King's woodland in East Sussex. More details in box on right.


www.smallwoods.org.uk


Sunday 18th April, Bradfield Woods, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk An important woodland managed by the Suffolk Wildlife Trust, much studied and familiar to those who have read the works of Oliver Rackham. The 70ha site has been managed as hazel coppice with oak standards for many centuries, and today is still providing a valuable crop of firewood, beanpoles and other coppice products to the local community. The visit will be lead by Pete Fordham, site manager. The event runs from 2-5pm.


Sunday 9th May, Old Woods Coppice, Bomere Heath, Shrewsbury Old Woods Coppice is a 6ha mixed woodland owned by members Malcolm and Trixie Cooper. They are removing rhododendron, slowly removing a crop of larch, grand fir and hybrid poplar, and replacing it with hazel coppice with a mix of standards. They produce charcoal and firewood, and have built a garage at their house using sawn timber from the woodland. The event runs from 2-5pm.


Sunday 16th May, Three Springs Wood, Robertsbridge, East Sussex Richard King bought his 7.5ha mixed woodland from Woodlands for Sale and it is a good example of how smaller woodlands can be managed traditionally for woodfuel and other produce. He is restoring areas of neglected chestnut coppice and plans to remove more conifers. The event runs from 2-5pm.


Sunday 22nd May, Peat Pits Wood, Matlock, Derbyshire John Wiltshire bought Peat Pits Wood, a 29ha mixed woodland on the slopes of the Derwent Valley from the Forestry Commission a year ago. The site was planted on scrub and moorland in the 1960s and consists of Corsican pine, larch and some other conifers with significant areas of broadleaves. John is currently clearfelling some areas of conifer prior to restocking with broadleaves using natural regeneration, and thinning other areas, favouring better quality conifers for future harvesting. The visit will look at working with contractors, managing public access and encouraging natural regeneration.


Spring 2010 Smallwoods 05


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