West Sussex Count Council in conjunction with the Forestry Commission are holding a series of ‘woodfuel’ events.  Aimed at  woodland and land owners in West Sussex, these meetings are for those interested in learning more about the industry, the government incentives and what support is on offer to help develop the industry.

There are three different locations across West Sussex taking place in the first half of February.  You can download more details from the flier.

The new SEWAF website

David Brown from SEWAF, that’s the South East Archaeology Forum has written to us with news of their  updated website.  There’s now lots of new material, videos, places to visit, help with surveying, diary of events, the latest newsletter – it’s all there, visit www.sewaf.org.uk

He continues:
…and while you’re there, if you can you make it to a meeting we’re having in north Kent on 29th January 2012 you will pick up some useful tips from us and local woodland owners. We’re running a day course in the village of Bredhurst for a group who have taken on their local woodland. They’ve invited SEWAF members to join them for the day. Full details are on the website.

On the home page click on TRAINING DAY AT BREDHURST (under Upcoming Events) and there you can download a pdf of the day’s programme.
To keep in touch with events or find out more about the group, get in touch via the  ‘contact‘ page of their website.

Here’s a great idea from Rod & Heather, instead of spending a small fortune on a christmas tree, they’ve decorated one of there own.  Rod was cutting some birch so it was probably headed for the brash pile anyway.  They  think it must have been an old tradition in Sussex as one of their friends remembered her father always brought  birch in to decorate at Christmas.

Petra Billings had sent us the  Autumn edition of the West Weald Landscape Partnership newsletter.  This will obvioiusly be of particular interest for those in the south east, but there are still plenty  of interesting articles.

Please get in touch with her direct if you have any thoughts or ideas about the  newsletter or the project itself,  she would be  particularly pleased to hear from any farmers who might be interested in  habitat creation schemes this winter.

Petra Billings – Landscape Projects Officer
West Weald Landscape Project
Direct Line: 01273 497515   Mobile: 07884 496808

Download the Newsletter directly from here.

Annabel Harrison from the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s has written to us with news of a project which aims to track the numbers of red and Grey Squirrels.

This week is Red Squirrel Week and to celebrate we are running our
Text-a-Squirrel Campaign once more.

Over Red Squirrel Week (1st- 9th Oct) and for a week afterwards until the
17th Oct, you can report your sightings in ABERDEEN via text message using
your mobile phone. Text 88802 stating either RED or GREY then it’s location
and your first initial and surname.

To report sightings please visit our new sightings website
http://www.scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/what-we-do/scotlands-red-squirrels/squirrel-sightings/

If you would like to find out more about the project please visit
http://www.scottishsquirrels.org.uk/

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee, registered in
Scotland (registered number SC040247) having its registered office at
Cramond House, 3 Kirk Cramond, Edinburgh EH4 6HZ. It is also a Scottish
registered charity (charity number SC005792).

SWOG was at the  Bentley Woodfair again which took place last weekend.  It is one of the biggest and best shows in the country and could take you the whole weekend to go round.

The highlight for me was as always was the woodland.  In a slightly chillier and damper woodland this year were many of the county’s craftsmen and women, Sussex and Surrey Coppice Group was well represented and there was a strong contingent of ‘Bushcrafty’ types, all eager to explain their particular craft or expertise.

It was good to see a lot of SWOG members make it to the stand and a special thanks to those that helped set up and break camp, brought interesting items to show or sell and helped on the stand.

Bernie and Theresa turned up with a novel idea for getting rid of that Rhododendron….turn it into to Tea and Soft Drinks!  Bernie had just returned from India where it makes a nice cuppa and thirst quencher, maybe it will catch on here too and rid us of this unwelcome invader.

Still a few more woodfairs to go so check out the woodfairs site for one in your area!

Theresa with her Rhododendrun 'wares'!

Fly Tipping

The leaflet – A Guide to Dealing with Woodland Crime in Wales – is in response to rising levels of crime and anti-social activities in woodlands and is supported by all four Welsh police forces.

This support will be endorsed at the event by Chief Superintendent Gwyn Thomas, the chair of the All Wales Wildlife Crime Enforcement Group.

He said, “This guide will help woodland owners and managers to deal with the effects of crime and anti-social behaviour and also identifies steps that can be taken to work with others to address and reduce the problems.”

The guide contains information on what to do if you find evidence of crime and offers useful tips on how to help identify culprits who use our woodlands as an illegal dumping ground.

Peter Cloke, FC Wales Deputy Forest District Manager in South Wales, said, “Crime and anti-social activities affect woodland owners and managers and those who work in or use woodlands for recreation.

“Our woods define the special landscape character of Wales but the people who perpetrate these acts have no thought for the damage they cause to the countryside.”

Woodland owners and managers and members of community woodland groups sometimes find themselves dealing with the aftermath of crime or may witness people committing crimes.

Problems include fly-tipping, illegal use of motor vehicles, theft and criminal damage. When such incidents occur, the guide clarifies how to deal with them and the procedures for gathering evidence to assist in identifying and, hopefully, prosecuting offenders.

It also identifies when woodland can be classified as a public place where the police, Environment Agency Wales and local authorities have powers to deal with criminal and antisocial activities.

There is also a list of people to contact in the event of a crime and advice on how woodland owners and managers can work with the police and other agencies.

Peter added, “We have found that working with other organisations such as Environment Agency Wales has made a real difference to dealing with and preventing crime in the woodlands we manage.

“This way of working is brought out in the guide and, by following it, we’re confident other woodland owners and managers will see an improvement.”

The guide was drawn up in association with a number of groups including ConFor, Llais y Goedwig, Coed Cymru, the Wales Forest Business Partnership and Coed Cadw (the Woodland Trust in Wales).

Kath McNulty of Confor said, “Crime is a problem for many woodland owners and managers and this guide will be of real value to anyone who has to deal with it.”

Download a copy here

This A4 softback colour book aimed at landowners and land management professionals gives the information you need to implement effective woodland management for wildlife, focusing on the requirements of woodland butterflies and moths.

The illustrated guide includes key principles of woodland management for biodiversity, with up-to-date management advice in species-specific pages with threats, requirements and management advice for key declining species.

More information including the special introductory offer can be had on the flyer.

The Kent High Weald Partnership’s summer newsletter if available to download here.  There’s lots of information in it and a list of upcoming Events is also available here.

Lots more information on their website

Please make sure you stay up to date with the Phytophthora ramorum situation, it is important even if you are not near an outbreak in Wales.

Update

Here are the links to the most relevent FC pages

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pramorum General information
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6dcd69 EWGS guidance on regeneration grants
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/forestry.nsf/byunique/infd-868egu Felling guidance

Download the Forestry Commission’s update here in pdf format.