Year: 2013

  • Coping with Deer in Areas of High Population

    Deer numbers are at their all time high in many parts of the country.  Managing a coppice in one of these areas is hard work and can be extremely frustrating.  Groups like the Deer Initiative are being proactive in educating woodland owners and the public about the issues involved.  The main problem being that deer…

  • December Newsletter 2013

    The December newsletter is here! We have news of an award from the Royal Forestry Society and a request for woodland owners to respond to a Forestry Commission squirrel survey. Articles include: The Vigilant – restoring a Thames barge All I want for Christmas – SWOG members reveal their ideal Christmas gifts Making hay rakes…

  • Deer Management Course – Plumpton College

    Plumpton college are running a Deer Management course over four days between December and February next year.  It is being taught by Jamie Cordery of the ‘Deer Initiative’ . It covers a lot of ground including. Population dynamics Deer impact assessments Landowners/Deer stalker agreements Landscape scale management Risks and liability Deer economics For more information…

  • November 2013 Newsletter

    As the nights draw in, sit back and enjoy the latest SWOG newsletter. With several interesting reports about how owners use their woods and the sustainability of Britain’s woodlands, we also have features on Log cabins for the birds – make a bird box from just one log Our friends in the north – managing…

  • Making a Log into a Birdbox

    There’s nothing more satisfying than making something for the wood from the wood. Anything from a teaspoon to a log cabin can be fashioned from the materials you find growing or lying around.  It keeps our 21st century plastic clutter out of sight and means everything is low impact and will eventually return to where…

  • See the woods from the trees at Plumpton College

    The Wood Enterprise Centre is hosting a free day of information and advice around the subject of woodfuel on Tuesday 29th October at at Plumpton College at Woodland Enterprise Centre, Flimwell, East Sussex,TN5 7PR. There will be speakers from the woodfuel industry, and advice on how to apply for grants, as well as demonstrations of…

  • Firewood – burning secrets

    Most woodland owners quickly find that they generate more firewood than they know what to do with. It makes sense, environmentally and economically use it to heat your own home – and maybe that of their neighbours and friends, too.

  • October Newsletter 2013

    A big welcome to all our new SWOG members! The October newsletter is available to read or download  here. This month we have advice from the Forestry Commission about planting to cope with climate change, and news of a Facebook game which will help scientists combat ash dieback (really!) Features include: Horse-logging in the Weald…

  • September Newsletter 2013

    The September newsletter is available here. This month Rich discusses effective and efficient firewood management. Sean Harrison of the Surrey Hills AONB explains how expert help can make woodland management a little easier. We also have news of several woodfairs and a discount voucher for the Bentley Woodfair on 21-22 September. Don’t miss Rich’s pictures…

  • SWOG at Westonbirt

    SWOG was once again at the Treefest which is becoming a well attended and established celebration of all things ‘Woodie’.  The event which takes place every year over the August bank holiday at the national arboretum at Westonbirt  attracts exhibitors and the general public  from all over the country.  This year the weather stayed fine…

  • Chalara fraxinea — dieback of ash Advisory Note

    A further update concerning Chalara fraxinea, ash dieback is available from the Forestry Commision.  It includes a warning about trees which may have been imported up to 20 years ago, symptoms and how to report suspected outbreaks. Download the document here.

  • August Newsletter 2013

    As it’s holiday time, the August newsletter includes a couple of family-friendly articles. We hope you enjoy it! Features this month: Building rope bridges in the woods Woodlands.co.uk new photo library The Treezilla project – mapping trees throughout the country.