Small Woodland Owners' Group (SWOG)

News & Events

  • New Forest Land Advice Service Working Woodlands Project

    Tom Murphy has been in touch, he is the  project co-ordinator for the Working Woodlands Project which is run by the New Forest Land Advice Service  part of the bigger, forest-wide “Our Past Our Future” initiative.

  • November 2016 Newsletter

    Inside a packed November newsletter, there are butterflies dormice tree tales words of advice for new owners links a free tree ID app. We hope you enjoy it!

  • Grown in Britain Week Special Offer

    There is a 10% discount to anyone placing a booking on a Grown in Britain training course this week. Places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. The aim of the course is to provide potential applicants and/or auditors of the Grown in Britain Standard with an introduction to the Standard, its general requirements…

  • October 2016 Newsletter

    Squirrels, birds and the State of Nature 2016 – it’s all in the October SWOG newsletter, along with a report from the APF show,  forthcoming autumnal events and our usual list of fascinating blogs and links to woodland news.

  • Oak Processionary Moth – research

    We have been contacted by Dr. John Fellenor who is part of a project team looking at the public perception of risk with regard to specific tree pests and pathogens, one of which is the oak processionary moth (OPM). Their project webpage provides an overview of what the work aims to achieve https://www.imperial.ac.uk/unpick/

  • September 2016 Newsletter

    September has arrived and we’re in the middle of the woodfair season. The SWOG newsletter includes: Discounted entry details for APF and Bentley Welcome news that forestry grants will be honoured The value of using local timber over imported products Events, courses and surveys – join in !

  • Reasons to adapt to Climate Change

    Dr Suzanne Martin,  Research Liaison Officer with the Forestry Commission at Alice Holt has written to us with news of the recently published LWEC Report Card covering forestry.  The card provides an accessible and authoritative summary of the latest scientific evidence about the impact and future risks/opportunities of climate change for forestry in the UK.  It…

  • August 2016 Newsletter

    With the arrival of the lazy days of summer comes the August Newsletter. Read about The benefits of using horse to extract timber from woodlands The Big Butterfly Count What to look for in a cross-cut saw SWOG meeting in Shropshire RFS Courses for woodland owners Discounted entry to the APF Show and the Bentley Woodfair  

  • July 2016 Newsletter

    Enjoy the summer with the July newsletter. Sign up for the SWOG meeting in Shropshire Small woodland owners have a vital role as custodian of the nation’s woodland heritage. The Sylva Foundation wants to capture the hopes and fears of woodland owners for the future to incorporate them into the Charter for Trees, Woods and…

  • Permaculture wood fuel and home heating workshop

    The Brighton Permaculture Trust is putting on a one day wood fuel and home heatingworkshop. Suitable for beginners, it will cover the basics of wood fuel home heating. The course will include the possible benefits of fuel autonomy, carbon, local economies, and sustainability. These topics are woven into the fabric of the course in such…

  • Tree Disease Research Project – Survey

    We have had a request from Oleg Sheremet who is a research fellow at the University of St. Andrews.  He is working on a project to find out how woodland owners and managers arrive at decisions, based on their knowledge of tree disease risks.  They have a short online survey which I have taken, it…

  • Forest Charter – unique opportunity for small woodland owners

    More than 50 organisations, co-ordinated by the Woodland Trust, are leading UK society in a call for a charter that will ensure that people and trees can stand stronger together in the future. This charter, strengthened by support from all corners of society, will provide guidelines and principles for policy, decision-makers, businesses, communities and individuals.…