Ignite training course: Managing woods for woodfuel
We are pleased to announce an Ignite training courses to be held at the Sylva Wood Centre on 12th October: Managing woods for woodfuel.
Anglo-Saxon building discovered at the Sylva Wood Centre
An Anglo-Saxon building has been discovered on our land at the Sylva Wood Centre. Timber remained the building material of choice for Anglo-Saxon kings and nobility, even several centuries after stone construction was reintroduced for building churches. Indeed, the word ‘timber’ is an Anglo-Saxon one and was synonymous with the act of building itself. Watch a short TV interview.
UK could double its hardwood timber production and reduce reliance on imports
The UK currently consumes more than 0.5M cubic metres of hardwood timber every year but less than 10% of this is grown in the UK. Yet sustainable home-grown timber production could be doubled by 2050, reducing timber imports by 50 million cubic metres. This would underpin investment in innovation both in the utilisation of or our woodlands and their management.
Help shape the next national woodlands survey
The team behind the next major survey about our woodlands — launching in June 2017 — wants to hear from anyone with an interest in shaping the future of forestry in the UK. This is an opportunity for you to shape the fourth in a series of important national surveys, which will contribute to the development of forestry policy and practice in the UK.
Bags of Help for Future Forest Education
Sylva Foundation calls for votes to bag a share of £12.5million carrier bag charge fund. The charity is bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative. The Big Future Forest Plot Project will see over 300 children from 10 primary schools local to the Sylva Wood Centre in Long Wittenham choose and plant trees on 10 plots this winter. As the Future Forest grows schools will be offered the opportunity to use it to Forest School sessions and children and their families can visit ‘their’ school plot to see its progress and enjoy the new green space.
Woodland owners – have your say in the 2017 Charter
Sylva Foundation is supporting the 2017 Charter for Trees, Woods and People, by capturing the stories of woodland owners. We want to ensure that the Charter speaks for them, and recognises their vital role as custodians of the nation’s woodland heritage.
If you are a woodland owner or custodian please consider taking part. The simple online consultation will take only a few minutes to complete. Your woodland will be registered by county in the 2017 Charter.
Congratulations to Blenheim forester Nick Baimbridge
Congratulations to Blenheim Palace forestry foreman Nick Baimbridge for his recent Long Service Award from the Royal Forestry Society. We worked closely with Nick during the OneOak education project (2009-12).
Welcome to new craftsperson-in-residence
“I’m really pleased to move into the studio at Sylva. It’s great to be surrounded by such a diverse and inspiring group of crafts people, in such a beautiful setting.”
myForest development news
The myForest Service continues to grow and this month the total area of woodlands mapped across the UK surpassed 50,000 ha. We have some exciting plans for the future and are keen to hear from users.
Forest Research in search for Open-Grown Trees
Forest Research are developing a model to predict growth in individual trees in mixed species and/or mixed age stands. The work aims to create tools to use in the management of Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF). Can you help?