NEWS ARCHIVE 2006/7:

 

Money for Planting Trees - Get it while it lasts Quite a few groups and businesses in the North are concerned about the delay in the start up of the new forestry grants scheme.  This scheme is designed to plug this gap for a few projects at least. Whilst this fund will be very competitive, and is very targeted, they will hopefully want to have projects spread around the country (?), not just the central belt?  If you can make the climate change, woodfuel, sustainability, habitat network case as well as the local uniqueness and need for your project, then you should have a fair chance!  Do speak to your local woodland officer about any project you might have that seems to fit.  And NHFT would of course be delighted to help too.  Here’s what’s on offer:   
Forestry and biomass growers are to benefit from a £3 million woodland creation scheme which is aimed specifically to help tackle climate change. The one-off funding measure for woodland creation in the 2007/08 planting season will run on a competitive basis with potential beneficiaries bidding for the funds. Proposals which demonstrate the greatest contribution to climate change action through carbon sequestration, wood fuel supply and in the creation of forest habitat networks are most likely to succeed.  The announcement was made by Environment Minister Michael Russell today when he visited a woodfuel project being developed by Caithness Heat and Power at Pulteney Distillery in Wick. He said: "I'm pleased to be able to announce support for woodland creation at this time. It should help ease the uncertainty for forestry and biomass businesses who need to urgently begin preparations for winter planting. This one-off measure will assist the creation of around 2,000 hectares of woodland to help tackle the impacts of climate change. Successful proposals for woodland planting will take place this winter following the required design, consultation and approval process. By inviting applications now, forestry and biomass growers will have enough time to carry out all the necessary planning and consultation to allow planting this coming winter and spring.   Deadline - 31 August 2007    Details of how to apply are at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/woodlandcreationscheme 

North Highland Forest Trust asks your views - A great many thanks to all of you who were able to contribute to the recent consultation on our new Business Plan.  We have had a tremendous response to this and this has in turn been of great help in developing our Business Plan.  Both the consultation and the plan will be available shortly for comment.  We hope that this plan will shape the future service which NHFT can provide over the coming years.  Thanks again for your help so far in compiling this.

New Director for NHFT - The Board is delighted to welcome new director Douglas Henderson from the Caithness Food for Thought initiative in Spittal, Caithness.  Douglas's background in  horticulture production and management will be invaluable asset to the work of the Trust.

Glencanisp going Green Assynt Foundation are aiming to install a wood chip boiler in Glencanisp lodge as part of total upgrade of the building. This will allow the group to heat the lodge in a virtually carbon-neutral way, moving away from reliance on oil, and saving on heating bills at the same time.  The rest of the lodge will be refurbished to allow open access events and the group will be applying to The Big Lottery and other grant giving bodies for the necessary funds.  The Foundation plan to continue renting out the building for self catering holidays, private conferences, weddings, fishing, deerstalking and residential courses.  If you are interested in renting the lodge, which sleeps up to 20, then get in touch  www.assyntfoundation.org 

Abriachan Forest School Success - Abriachan Forest Trust have been successfully involving Inverness High School in their forest school activities.  Different groups of S3 pupils have signed up for Forest School sessions and have created a site in the school grounds from materials provided by the forest. This has resulted in the creation of a sheltered area round a fire pit and has provided a space the young people can call their own. Feedback from the school and the pupils has been very positive with the groups not wanting to stop after their 6-8 week programme. Activities have included making benches, fences, planting trees, cooking, designing art work from wood, carving whistles and sticks. Careers Scotland have been closely involved in this project as they have seen the benefits of raising the self esteem, improving practical skills and creating a responsible attitude in the young people involved. www.abriachan.org.uk

Community Woodlands Association - Development Officer £22,000 to £25,000 pro rata (22 hours per week) A vacancy now exists for a part time Development Officer for a fixed period until June 2010. This post will involve working from home and travel throughout Scotland as necessary.  Closing date for applications 5pm 20^th July 07. Enquiries and applications to Diane Campbell dianec@community-woods.org.uk Tel/Fax 01854 613737

Sustainable Guitars from Sitka Spruce - Guitar makers Taylor, Gibson, Martin and Fender have joined with Greenpeace and formed the “MusicWood Coalition” to promote sustainable sourcing of wood.  Trees over 250 years old are sought for both aesthetic and tonal reasons, and old-growth Sitka spruce is commonly used as the soundboard for acoustic guitars.  Alaska is a current target of the campaign which is encouraging private landowners to apply for FSC certification of their forests. http://www.soundtech.co.uk/taylor/news/musicwoodcoalition?PHPSESSID=4e5c05489e66e16cf5c785c60e

GalGael branches out - The GalGeal Trust based in Govan in Glasgow, has recently signed a lease with Forestry Commission Scotland for a farmhouse near Loch Awe, Argyll.  The house will be used as a bunkhouse, whilst the adjacent land will, in due course, become a native tree nursery. The house will benefit people in the city as well as more local folk in the wider Argyll area, and it is hoped other interest groups from further field, wishing to get the opportunity to experience the natural environment whilst helping to work on the house or surrounding land.  GalGael see the main advantages as being wide spread for rural and urban people alike, creating a positive and meaningful working urban/rural relationship that is mutually beneficial. This is an exciting opportunity for GalGael to expand its outreach and realize a first step in one of their long-held aims: the securing of West Highland coastal land for the creation of a Rural Skills Centre to compliment the one in Govan.

Laide and Aultbea open up - In celebrating its official opening on Saturday 5^th May Laide and Altbea Community Woodland, has achieved an astounding turnaround in its fortunes.  Ravaged by the storms in January 2005, the forest suffered a terrible loss of timber, one of the worst hit community owned woodlands in Scotland. The group had not long finished clearing paths and opening up access in the woodland when it was hit by the storm and they had to close all access on safety grounds.  A big fundraising effort secured funding to clear the wind blow and build new access routes and also towards their ultimate goal of building an outdoor centre with accommodation.   North Highland Forest Trust were able to divert money they had helped the group raise for footpaths, to a car park.  This area was initially used for timber stacking which helped the initial situation move forward from disaster to success.  Around 100 people turned out to enjoy the opening celebrations on a very windy but thankfully dry day. Wine and refreshments were put on down at the loch.  Many of the community had not had a chance to walk in the woods before and were delighted at this new amenity available to them 

Community Forestry Capacity Building Work NHFT requires a contractor/s to assist our existing team in delivering our capacity building work throughout Caithness and Sutherland over the next six month period. NHFT are interested in tenders either for the entire contract or for individual outputs.  Outputs 1: Annual Forum / Env Fair involving 15+ days work 2: Capacity Building / Training involving 20+ days work 3: Support community led forestry involving 20+ days work. It is anticipated that between 40 & 60 days work is available at a reasonable daily rate. Work can be carried out on part time or full time basis, completion by end October 2007.    Essential Experience: working with communities; training/capacity building &/or organising events; driving licence & access to a vehicle. Very desirable: working with community based woodland & native woodland sectors; Computer literate; report writing.     Download Tender Brief - Further information from steve@nhft.org

Tenders to be submitted to steve@nhft.org.uk by 12noon, Tuesday, 1^st May 2007

If you are unable to meet this deadline, but are still interested in the work, please do still send an expression of interest.

Business Plan Questionnaire  - NHFT has commissioned an independent consultant, David Warnock, to assist in the production of a three year Business Plan to help guide our future progress.  We would very much welcome your help in the development of key priorities for the Trust and in developing ideas for potential projects to deliver these priorities. We would, therefore, be most grateful if you could take a little time to complete this very short questionnaire.  Download Questionnaire

Northern Aspen Woods — a missing link with the Boreal forest    Aspen was once an essential component of the forests that formerly clad the straths and glens of North Scotland.  The survival of this amazing tree, from the cliffs of Dunnethead through all the fertile straths southwards, was the focus of an Aspen Day at Dunbeath last Saturday, organised by Golspie based, North Highland Forest Trust (NHFT).   Thanks to support from the Scottish Agricultural College and the European Social Fund, the day attracted a wide range of Scottish aspen experts.  And, in spite of a minor flu epidemic and dire weather predictions, over 40 local people wandered the aspen woods at Dunbeath in unexpected, but much appreciated, glorious sunshine and learned about this vital link species.            

The day was particularly aimed at showing crofters and other land managers (such as community woodland groups) how and why they might encourage aspen on their land. Participants heard that two key aspects of northern aspen are that: there are very few of them and those there are, rarely produce any seed, spreading instead by suckering from the roots of the parent tree.  A suggested remedy is growing on cuttings taken from these roots and planting them where no aspen exist.  Thanks to local Dunbeath crofters, George and Nan Bethune, the group were provided with a hands-on opportunity to dig up roots and learn some of the techniques employed, in the company of experts such as Mark Banham, from Highland Trees, Dornoch and Ern Emmett from the Highland Aspen Group. Healthy aspen woodlands also play a key role in promoting Biodiversity with several species of insects and lower-plants dependent on them for their survival.  The group, therefore, looked at ways to improve management of existing woodland remnants, with the help of local entomologist, Philip Entwistle, and from Dan Puplett and Jill Hodge from the Trees for Life project in Glen Affric.

NHFT are keen to work with other local groups to develop a project that would include: identifying existing aspen stands; developing a resource of local sourced and grown young trees; and promoting enhanced management of existing woods and habitat networks.  Any one with an interest in contributing to such a project should contact Steve on 01408 633 986 or steve@nhft.org.uk.

Many thanks to the Dunbeath Preservation Trust for hosting the whole day and thanks again to all who helped make it a very worthwhile event.

Northern Aspen project gets go ahead (and volunteer opportunity)One further output from the above Aspen day was that it helped highlight the need to develop an aspen resource in the North using local provenance clones.  Hot off the press (today) we now have the go ahead from Highland Council’s BAP Implementation Programme for a project to develop a small resource of aspen from root cuttings from suitable Caithness and Sutherland plants.  This will allow us to buy a small poly tunnel and mist unit etc and to collect and grow these on, with most of the work being during the period Feb/March 2007.  For further details of how you could contribute (e.g. you know of a good aspen site where we could get permission to remove roots; you would like to dig up roots!; or maybe to look after aspen plants!) contact steve@nhft.org.uk or this office. The Highland BAP Implementation Programme, financed by the European Union under the North and West highland Leader+ 2000-2006 Programmes, Scottish Natural Heritage and the Highland Council.

For anyone interested in helping with sexing aspen and identifying clones see "Sexing Aspen" Information Note.

Invitation to Tender for Contract - NHFT New Business Plan and Funding Plan   Submission of Tenders for this Contract has now closed.  The final submission date was 19th January 2007. The tender brief is available for download, for information only. Download Tender Brief

NHFT’s Annual Forum a success  "Tree Regeneration in the Far North"

Sat 10^th June 2006 at Laid, Loch Eriboll, by Durness

This event was judged to be a great success with 59 people enjoying the sunshine and learning about tree establishment and grant schemes in the far North West. Thanks again to all of the crofters at Laid and all others who helped make this event fun and worthwhile.  Watch out for our Forum report to be published soon and also available via the website.

 

Part Time Arts, Culture and Heritage Coordinator for Community Woods - CWA has secured funding from FCS, SNH and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. This funding is to appoint a part time contractor to coordinate community woodland participation in the forestry and environmental activities planned for Scotland's Year of Highland Culture in 2007.  Although the project is based in the Highlands and events will take place there, it is not just for the Highland based groups, it will involve groups across Scotland

Contact Diane Campbell CWA directly for more details and she will send the tender documents on.  Bids should be submitted by 31st August 06.

 

Bracken day

An excellent Bracken day at Maryburgh organized by John Parrot of Scottish Native Woods (and Forest Research and Butterfly Conservation) which brought together a wide range of information on living with bracken.  For a selection of electronic information on this topic contact the NHFT office (including excellent articles on Bracken for butterflies, Pigs and tree regeneration, to bracken bruising or chemical spraying leaflets).

National Forest Land Scheme The first four projects to use the nation's forests for affordable housing under the National Forest Land Scheme (NFLS) are at Kilmun, by Dunoon, Dalavich, Loch Awe, Strontian, Sunart and Salen, Isle of Mull. Part of the NFLS allows housing organisations, supported by Communities Scotland, to purchase land from Forestry Commission Scotland at a reduced price for affordable housing.

During a visit to Mull, Scottish Forestry Minister Rhona Brankin said, "There is a recognised shortage of affordable housing in many rural areas as the demand for retirement or second homes has pushed prices beyond the means of many local people.  "I am pleased that through the National Forest Land Scheme we have the ability to make land available to housing organisations at a reduced rate so that they can increase the supply of affordable housing in rural areas where the demand is strongest." 

Under the NFLS, all applications to buy land from Forestry Commission Scotland needs to meet certain criteria including:

• maximising the use of timber in the construction of the homes

• community consultation

• assessment of local need to ensure the houses are built in areas of greatest need

• the housing body should keep the new homes in the affordable sector.  

More info at: http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-66re5j

Big Tent in Falkland Scotland's first festival of Stewardship, The Big Tent, was held at Falkland Palace in Fife last weekend. Run by the Falkland Heritage Trust, the event aimed to inspire people to think of easy and effective ways of making a difference to improve our Stewardship of the planet.

North Highland Forest Trust had a small presence as part of the Reforesting Scotland stand and, although a long way from Sutherland and Caithness the event was really worthwhile.  From organic farming to social justice to better use of our woods and wood products it provided a brilliant and inspirational experience for all those who attended or took part.  As with the Treefest events mainly in southern Scotland, it is very, very worthwhile to make an effort to get to one of these weekends if you are at all interest in inspirational tree things.  Hopefully Highland 2007 will help bring similar major event excitement to the North. 

Check out the Big Tent website at http://www.bigtent2006.co.uk/event.php and watch out for next year’s event…

Horse Loggers                                                                             In May the British Horse Loggers launched a Woodland Management Award to raise the professional profile of horse logging in the UK and to improve professional standards, as well as to celebrate the commitment of BHL members to high quality woodland management and care, For more information see www.britishhorseloggers.org or contact Doug on 01531 640236 or doug@heavyhorses.net