http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ SWOG Forum: Recent Topics en Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:41:38 +0000 http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=724#post-4305 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:55:45 +0000 JohnH 4305@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Hello<br /> Im a new member good to see such an active site .<br /> Just come accross the Incas 'Terra preta '( black earth) they produced by incorporating charcoal into the soil and this is still in place apparently, it improves the qaulity of the soil and resulting crops .As this ties away carbon for thousands of years it is an effective carbon sink It seems that if waste timber chiped onto roadsides or coppice could be made into biochar it seems like a no brainer ,I would like to make a double skin retort to produce some biochar (see Utube ) to trial it's use in reducing soil acidity anyone any experiance of this.<br /> JohnH </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=725#post-4312 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 14:29:11 +0000 Sussexboy 4312@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Just to introduce myself. I am a near neighbour of Tracy and Mike. I don't own a woodland but do help manage one for game. I have also been known to get my hands dirty in Mike and Tracy's wood now and again. </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=326#post-1709 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:54:38 +0000 tracy 1709@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Answers to the question....</p> <p><a href="http://www.swog.org.uk/news/who-has-been-eating-my-tree-by-rich-and-penny/" rel="nofollow">http://www.swog.org.uk/news/who-has-been-eating-my-tree-by-rich-and-penny/</a> </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=719#post-4255 Sat, 28 Aug 2010 22:39:08 +0000 collie jock 4255@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Hello all,<br /> just to say hi and hope to learn from all you woodlanders.<br /> i have 98 acres of mixed woodland in aberdeenshire<br /> approx 20 years old,needs a good thinning,which is great from a firewood<br /> point of view.<br /> the woods had been set up as a shoot i think as i found old reliese<br /> pens etc,althogh there are very few pheasants remaining.<br /> i am hoping to encourage some back with feeders etc.<br /> wildlife wise there is alot more than i first thought.<br /> badgers,tawny owls,buzzards,sparrowhawks,jays,foxes,and all the usual smaller birds<br /> are there,i put up 25 nest boxes in the spring time and with a quick check<br /> most have been used which was great and had alot of fun with the kids putting the<br /> boxes up,mostly at my expence trying to get back down the tree. </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=727#post-4320 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:21:52 +0000 John H 4320@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>I have just found this link in amongst my favourites, hopefully it has not been posted here before.<br /> <a href="http://drivelink.blogspot.com/2010/07/new-video-is-out-now.html" rel="nofollow">http://drivelink.blogspot.com/2010/07/new-video-is-out-now.html</a> </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=269#post-1278 Tue, 19 May 2009 16:42:21 +0000 John H 1278@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>For those of you who don't visit the Arbtalk forum and with thanks to "Splitter" who posted it there.</p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2XhcyvGwQ8" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2XhcyvGwQ8</a> </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=709#post-4189 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 13:35:44 +0000 Kentish Man 4189@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>I listened to the BBC World at One today and Andy Burnham, Labour leader hopeful was discussing his new manifesto for a fairer Britain. </p> <p>One thing that came up was a land tax which Martha Kearney, the presenter, posed would impact pensioners with big gardens, but who do not necessarily have the big income to go with it to pay any of the proposed taxes. This led me to wonder how woodland owners would be treated if such a pledge became a reality further down the line...</p> <p>Just thought I'd throw that spanner into discussion! </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=726#post-4315 Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:30:55 +0000 The Barrowers 4315@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Hello<br /> I do not have a use for honey but could I help bees to exist by encouraging them with hives in the woods? </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=728#post-4330 Fri, 03 Sep 2010 08:34:25 +0000 Meadowcopse 4330@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Hello,<br /> A day after reading the 'Unfortunate Incident' post I was strolling along the green lane that is access to a few fields and my own plot and discovered about 20 tyres dumped in the edge of the brook at the side of the trackway.<br /> Most of them have been cut with a disc saw, which would suggest someone changing tyres or removing them from rims without using a tyre-house...</p> <p>The local Council have an on-line report form, so I've filled one in - as I can't just take them en-masse to my local waste transfer station as they are classed as specialist / trade waste.</p> <p>The NFU, Farmers Weekly, Farmers Guardian and a few other groups are all trying to highlight the problems and blight of fly-tipping and a few councils use legislation to tackle persons involved if they can be identified.</p> <p>For folks in Cheshire (Other Councils will have similar):<br /> <a href="http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/community/community_safety/streetscene/flytipping.aspx" rel="nofollow">http://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/community/community_safety/streetscene/flytipping.aspx</a></p> <p>Daniel </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=721#post-4269 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 19:21:10 +0000 Nigel L 4269@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>I have a small shed in my wood which I store some forest tools, handtools,- bowsaw etc., camping gaz stove, tea &#38; coffee.</p> <p>You can imagine my disbelief and anger to find it broken it to. There is a very good article on here covering security which I have read since. Oh well price experience I suppose, at least I always take my strimmer and chainsaw home :)</p> <p>I thought I would like to remind some of the newer members to take suitable precautions. </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=670#post-3982 Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:04:30 +0000 MartinD 3982@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>A man has been prosecuted and ordered to pay over £1,500 in fines and costs for drowning a squirrel he caught in a trap. (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/man-fined-for-drowning-squirrel-2030149.html) </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=712#post-4211 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:08:43 +0000 old smithy 4211@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Hi all, I am based on the Welsh/English border just outside Bishops Castle - any members near me? </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=723#post-4294 Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:33:31 +0000 Nomada 4294@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Can anyone suggest what would be necessary and what is optional? My solicitor is offering lots of optional bits, eg. parish liability. Did you all do a land search? What do you all recommend? </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=722#post-4273 Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:18:10 +0000 julio 4273@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Hello,</p> <p>I am carrying out a study on sustainable housing, and I am looking into a project hat uses an area of coppiced woodland to provide all the space heating and hot water for a two bedroom cottage in Wales. I was wondering if anyone knew how much woodland would be required for there to be an effective and sustainable amount of coppiced wood for the dwelling to use. My email is <a href="mailto:julianscottbolton@yahoo.co.uk.">julianscottbolton@yahoo.co.uk.</a> I would really appreciate a quick response. Thank you</p> <p>Best wishes </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=686#post-4079 Mon, 02 Aug 2010 12:01:55 +0000 Nomada 4079@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Hi all, I'm currently considering buying an area of wet woodland. I've been to view the site and it's beautiful. The flora is very diverse too. I think it would make an ideal conservation project. </p> <p>However, I was wondering if anyone on here had experience of managing a wet woodland and if it came with any particular problems that I've not forseen. Ideally I'd like to camp here too but obviously the ground gets rather boggy. That's one fo the few things that might put me off, although I've camped in worse! </p> <p>Any comments or opinions would be appreciated. Thanks in advance. </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=657#post-3887 Mon, 21 Jun 2010 19:43:58 +0000 Rich 3887@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Penny Phillips from the climate change team at the Forestry Commission is currently conducting a piece of research and wondered if any of us could help her with this?</p> <p>She writes: </p> <p>"The Forestry Commission is currently developing a 'Code of Good Practice' for forest carbon projects, to ensure that woodland creation for the specific purpose of carbon sequestration follows internationally accepted standards of sustainability and integrity. It will ensure all projects are verified to third-party standards and will provide confidence in forest carbon projects to the voluntary carbon market in the UK.</p> <p>My question is, if a private woodland owner signs up to the Code and becomes verified as an approved project, do you know of any routes that they might take in order to sell this carbon on (to a carbon broker/aggregator, for example)?</p> <p>For example, have any companies in the UK, or internationally, contacted you displaying interest in purchasing carbon credits to re-sell into the larger voluntary market?</p> <p>Any thoughts of information would be most gratefully received."</p> <p>If you can help with the question, I'm sure she would be grateful if you contacted her directly</p> <p>07785 772223<br /> 0131 314 6210 VOIP 6210</p> <p>Email: <a href="mailto:penny.phillips@forestry.gsi.gov.uk">penny.phillips@forestry.gsi.gov.uk</a> </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=713#post-4222 Wed, 25 Aug 2010 07:55:29 +0000 Rich 4222@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>I wonder if it would be a good idea to have a bit of a brainstorm and come up with a few guidelines for posting to our forum. I am sure this would help iron out misunderstandings and encourage people to post who may be reluctant to for fear of breaking some kind of unwritten etiquette.</p> <p>So I'll make a start with one which has already been pointed out:</p> <p>If it's your first time, a brief introduction would be nice - Who you are, where you live, if you have a wood, it's type etc.</p> <p>Be polite, disagree, but respect other people's rights to hold differing views.</p> <p>If a thread starts to go 'off topic', start a new one with a new title, makes it easier to find again.</p> <p>sure there's lots of others..... </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=718#post-4247 Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:46:37 +0000 Twybill 4247@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>This looks like a good year for acorns. The Oaks in our wood are all Sessile with just one Pedunculate (the one with the long stalked acorns). I have noticed that virtually all the acorns on the Pedunculate Oak have turned into monstrosities, called Knopper Galls, but so far I have not found any of these galls on the Sessile Oaks.</p> <p>The gall wasp which causes this spoilation of the acorns only arrived in this country from Europe in the 1950's and reached the North of England in the 1990's. It would not survive here if the Turkey Oak had not been introduced in 1735, as the gall wasp needs to have part of its life cycle in this tree. There are a good number of 19thC Turkey Oaks near our woodland which clearly will be the 'host' trees.</p> <p>I am curious why the wasp prefers mainly Pedunculate acorns. Do they have a different chemical makeup or smell? Looking at the near total destruction of the acorns on our single tree, I would imagine this wasp is threatening the long term survival of the English Oak in some areas. Should we be worried? I doubt anyone is proposing felling Turkey Oaks nationally but it self-seeds prolifically and appears to survive harsher conditions and poorer soils. </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=720#post-4259 Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:06:07 +0000 collie jock 4259@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>I joined up last nite,i like the look of this forum.<br /> 98 acres of mixed woodland in aberdeenshire. </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=695#post-4133 Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:41:43 +0000 MartreCycle 4133@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Spent an afternoon pruning oaks - 4-7ft in height - trying to give them some "form"<br /> plus pruning off branches from birch - to increase access / give "form" and let some light in.</p> <p>From 'jungle' to order in an afternoon.</p> <p>Anyone else pruning ? </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=701#post-4160 Tue, 17 Aug 2010 21:27:08 +0000 Toby Allen 4160@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Good website for marketing products and services,<br /> <a href="http://www.sylva.org.uk/myforest/index.php" rel="nofollow">http://www.sylva.org.uk/myforest/index.php</a><br /> Looks like it could be usefull, have a section to link woodland owners with standing timber to workers and contractors looking to buy it. </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=716#post-4240 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 18:47:40 +0000 Twybill 4240@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>I wonder if anyone else regrets planting certain species of trees. </p> <p>A good number of years ago I planted Aspen, Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) and Wild Service (Sorbus torminalis) as added interest in my Oak wood. Now I find all these are sending up suckers everywhere and quite an amazing distance from the main trees. Aspen is probably the worst culprit, although it does prefer the clearings as it needs plenty of light. If anyone wishes to quickly cover an area with trees very cheaply, choose the above species and another which I have just remembered planting, Grey Alder (Alnus incana). This also suckers but not as widely and comes into leaf and catkins weeks before the native Alder. At least I now have plenty of sticks for the garden!<br /> I understood that Aspen will not coppice but I find that most cut stems send out strong shoots.</p> <p>Has anyone else planted things that are now doing just that bit too well? </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=717#post-4241 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:55:45 +0000 Rich 4241@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>The FC together with the Deer Initiative are organising a Deer management workshop for land owners and managers on September 21st. The event is a half day that includes a brief indoor session from Jamie Cordery of the Deer Initiative, followed by an outdoor session looking at some of the practical aspects of how deer affect woodlands and how the damage they cause can be prevented.</p> <p>Details of how to book a place can downloaded from the link below.</p> <p><a href="http://www.swog.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/DeerWorkshop.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.swog.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/DeerWorkshop.pdf</a> </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=714#post-4230 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:36:30 +0000 MartinD 4230@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>I have lots of sycamore, which I have stacked, off the ground, within the woodland, intending to use it as firewood. Most of the stacked wood is now about 12-18 months old. I have noticed that over the last couple of months a fungus has developed on some of the wood, the outward indicator of which is lots of bright orange dots, about 5mm across. There are smaller quantities of other wood, such as oak, ash and elm, but these do not appear to affected by the fungus.<br /> My questions are 1) is this wood going to be any good as firewood; and 2) should I separate the affected sycamore from 'good' sycamore. </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=715#post-4238 Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:18:16 +0000 Rich 4238@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Alison Evans from the FC Wales has posted us some important information regarding funding of larch in BWW grant schemes</p> <p>You can download the document from the link below</p> <p><a href="http://www.swog.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IN14_Stocking_with_larch.pdf" rel="nofollow">http://www.swog.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/IN14_Stocking_with_larch.pdf</a> </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=711#post-4203 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:33:35 +0000 old smithy 4203@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Hi all, can anyone tell me if there is any free advice available for someone who has half an acre of woodland and an acre of meadow (with quite a few trees on) and wants to know more about what we can do with it? </p> <p>I guess I just want some advice on how to best make sure it is looked after and managed correctly. </p> <p>Thanks. </p> <p>Old Smithy. </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=705#post-4173 Fri, 20 Aug 2010 15:24:11 +0000 Forestry_Commission 4173@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>The Forestry Commission is about to test a new quality assurance scheme for tree planting projects designed to sequester carbon.</p> <p>The market for such projects is increasing but, until now, there have been no standards to measure their claims against, or to ensure that real benefits will accrue. </p> <p>The new Woodland Carbon Code will encourage a consistent approach to projects and provide clarity and transparency to potential customers and investors about what their contributions should achieve.</p> <p>The Commission developed the code in conjunction with a wide range of interests and it was subject to consultation earlier this year before being finalised.</p> <p>To comply with the code projects must: be responsibly and sustainably managed to national standards; use standard methods for estimating the carbon that will be sequestered or locked up; be independently verified; and must meet transparent criteria and standards to ensure that real carbon benefits are made.</p> <p>Project providers must register with the Forestry Commission, stating the exact location and long-term objectives of their project. Once approved, projects will then appear in a national online register.</p> <p>Forestry Commission Director General, Tim Rollinson said:</p> <p>“Increasingly, people and companies are realising the valuable potential that tree planting schemes have to soak up CO2 from the atmosphere. There are now many commercial schemes that encourage individuals and businesses to contribute to tree planting to help compensate for their carbon footprint. But before investing in projects people want to know that schemes will actually deliver what they claim. The Woodland Carbon Code will provide that reassurance and will encourage more investment in tree planting in the UK.” </p> <p>The six-month pilot phase will test the scheme with around a dozen pilot projects throughout the UK. This experience will help to refine the code and its associated guidance before it is launched early in 2011.</p> <p>Visit <a href="http://www.forestry.gov.uk/carboncode" rel="nofollow">www.forestry.gov.uk/carboncode</a> for more details. </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=706#post-4184 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:31:08 +0000 tracy 4184@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Anyone had any trees come down in the wind yet? </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=710#post-4201 Tue, 24 Aug 2010 08:51:02 +0000 Rich 4201@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Hello All,<br /> We've been doing a bit of housekeeping on the forum membership. For some reason there are spamsters operating robots on the internet which automatically register on forums such as ours. So with some expert help from Nigel L, we have taken steps to try and delete as many of these as we can. It is possible that one or two legitimate members may have been deleted during this process so if this is the case and you are having problems logging in, please accept my apologies and re register. It is still quick and easy to do this, all you need is a user name and email address but also now there is a simple question you must answer to prove you are human.<br /> Many thanks for your patience with this.</p> <p>Rich </p> http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/topic.php?id=708#post-4188 Mon, 23 Aug 2010 12:17:02 +0000 coppiceer 4188@http://www.swog.org.uk/forum/ <p>Can anyone recommend a good pair of gloves for coppice work?</p> <p>I am looking for a pair that are waterproof, insulated, hardwearing and flexible. I need them particularly for those first couple of hours on a winter's morning when everything is wet through and freezing cold to the touch.</p> <p>I have seen a pair of HELD K2 Everest gloves from Getgeared but at £74 I thought it prudent to ask others' opinions first.</p> <p>Alan. </p>