CONTENTS


Ray Iles drawknives Mike Abbott - £39.50 8” - £37.50 6” - £33.50


Ray Iles froes


Premium - £39.50 Large - £37.50 Mini - £33.50


Ashley Iles Pole-lathe set £86.00


You


could have a wood of your own


s.ads.indd 6 TREE-JACK by Reipal 14 02/01/2014 12:11


► Ensure trees fall away from obstacles, such as roads, powerlines and buildings ► Safely fell a leaning tree


oldtoolstore.1/4.indd 1 13/12/2012 14:03


ON THE COVER 08 Land of Giants Patrick Baldwin discovers ancient pollards on a holiday to Spain


14 Clearing Rhodo Robert Priddle reports on a management plan & grants aimed at removing invasive species


17 Planning Nightmare Maureen Chaffe recounts the horror of dealing with a local council


18 Winching Trunks We test the PCW5000 Portable Winch for moving logs around a woodland


Smallwoods Editorial


Nick Gibbs nickgibbs@smallwoods.org.uk 01285 850481


01279 813591 at OrionHeating.co.uk


Woodland > Woodburner


SHOP - Close to Stansted Airport Essex see website.


Advertising Sarah Ellis ads@freshwoodpublishing.com 01285 850225


Printed by Buxton Press www.smallwoods.org.uk


22 Making Rakes Paul Thornton goes on a course to learn how to make rakes for the woods


FEATURES & REGULARS 04 Small Woods News Updates on courses and a host of events run by SWA this spring


10 Woodland News Latest news about woodlands


24 Letters Comments and feedback


27 Classified Adverts Free advertising for Small Woods Members


The Small Woods Association aims to promote the sustainable management of woodlands, for benefits now and into the future. Members are woodland owners or managers and the SWA offers advice and guidance for anyone with such responsibilities. SWA is a registered charity


(No. 1081874), and Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee (No. 3919849)


20


Small Woods Association Green Wood Centre Station Road, Coalbrookdale Shropshire TF8 7DR 01952 432769 www.smallwoods.org.uk


Membership Enquiries Phil Tidey, Membership Services Manager, 01952 435854, philtidey@smallwoods.org.uk


Contents New Year 2014 18


08 12


WELCOME


Welcome A


s we start the new year there is mixed news about Chalara in the media. Just before Christmas


there were the usual reports that the scientists had over-reacted and that the 'predicted' woodland Armageddon had failed to materialise. It is true that the disease has not spread very much outside the hotspots in the South and East, but it was never the case that we were going to see ash trees dying suddenly all over the country. Speaking to foresters in East Anglia, it is plain that the disease is now far more widespread within this region than the official figures might indicate. Now that tree diseases have risen up the table of priorities for government, I hope that now the sky has not fallen quite as fast as some had assumed the powers that be do not become complacent. Thanks again to all those who


22


completed our survey this autumn. It is reassuring to know that by and large most members are happy with most of the things we do. We can always improve, though, and we'll be thinking hard over the coming weeks of ways in which we can make membership even more attractive. With more members we can do more, and our influence rises, so please get your friends to join! Recently in the office we had a lively


chat about markets for timber and timber miles. A new business has been launched buying small numbers of ash stems, picking them up from owners at roadside over a wide area, then shipping them in containers to China for milling into architrave and skirting board for their building boom. Lots of interesting issues here - lots of timber miles, shouldn't we be milling the ash here to keep the added value in the UK? Is it better to get a little more than firewood prices and sell half way round the world than sell as firewood locally? What do you think? It is a busy time ahead for woodland


managers, as Natural Resources Wales becomes established, the new land management grants come in in England and Phytothphora and Chalara continue to spread. We'll keep you informed..


Phil Tidey Membership Services Manager philtidey@smallwoods.org.uk


Joining the SWA You can join Small Woods as an individual, a family, as a woodland worker or as a corporate member.


Membership rate (Direct Debit) Individual


Woodland Worker Family


£33.00 £25.00 £46.00


Corporate/company £94.00 Community Woodlands £33.00


New Year 2014 Smallwoods 03


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