WOODLANDS FOR WALES STRATEGY REVIEW (01/09/08)

Responding to the Consultation Briefing and Discussion, Forestry Commission Wales launched the consultation on the new draft WOODLANDS FOR WALES (the Welsh Assembly's strategy for woodland) at the Royal Welsh Show in July. The consultation will close on 14th October.

ROYAL WELSH ATTRACTS 236,284 VISITORS (23/08/08)

A near record attendance of 236,284 confirmed yet again the supremacy of the Royal Welsh Show as the biggest attraction of its kind in Britain. The success of the four-day event also demonstrated its resilience as it bounced back from the depressing results of the 2007 show, staged in the worst weather conditions for nearly 50 years and which produced a loss for the first time since 1974.

FOREST HEALTH SEMINARS TO EXAMINE PESTS & DISEASES (07/08/08)

Forestry Commission Wales and Forest Research are holding two one-day Forest Health seminars looking at some of the pests and diseases affecting trees and woodlands in Wales.

WOODS CONSIDERED MOST CRIME-RIDDEN IN UK (16/06/08)

Forests in South Wales play host to more criminal activity than woodland areas in any other part of the UK.

ONE MAN'S MISSION TO FIND THE HIDDEN TREASURES OF THE MARCHES (09/06/08)

Rob McBride, a volunteer for the Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Hunt, is to walk the entire length of Offa’s Dyke in an attempt to discover and record as many ancient trees as he can along the remains of this 8th century embankment.

ROUTE CHANGES PROPOSED FOR 2008 WALES RALLY GB (26/05/08)

The organisers of the Wales Rally GB have proposed a revised route for this year’s event, which includes stages in the forests of mid Wales for the first time in eight years.

FORESTRY ADVICE ON SHOW (20/05/08)

Visitors to this year’s Smallholders Show at the Royal Welsh Showground on Saturday, 17 May, and Sunday, 18 May, will be able to get free forestry advice from Forestry Commission Wales staff.

WOODFEST WALES 2008 - MAY 30, 31 & JUNE 01

For details of the UK Loggers Competition, please use the link above.

IGNITE WOODFUEL TRAINING COURSES (30/01/08)

Two Ignite Wood Fuel training courses are planned for Wales in 2008.
The award winning, Lantra accredited, 3-day, Ignite courses are intended for those who are seriously contemplating becoming wood fuel suppliers or specifiers.
Costs have been reduced to a minimum thanks to support from the CAE fund in the Snowdonia National Park and the Sustainable Development Fund of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

If anyone would like more information about the courses please click on the above link or contact Phil Potter on 01654 782268 and dyfitrees@enterprise.net.

VIEWS SOUGHT ON NEWBOROUGH FOREST PLANS (16/01/08)

Forestry Commission Wales is seeking the public’s views on its plans for the future of Newborough Forest on Anglesey.
It has set up three drop-in sessions next week to present its plans for the forest and invite comment on the proposals, which were drawn up in line with the recommendations put forward by the Newborough Forest Liaison Partnership.

The first two events will be held at Llangefni library on Friday, January 25 from 2pm till 7pm and on Saturday, January 26 between 9.30am and 11.45am.
The third drop-in session will be held at Eglwys Bach, Newborough on Monday, January 28 from 12 to 7pm.

FC Wales manages the 700-hectare forest, which forms part of the internationally-renowned Newborough Warren / Ynys Llanddwyn Special Area of Conservation, on the Assembly’s behalf.

BRITAIN TO BUILD THE WORLD'S BIGGEST BIOMASS PLANT (21/11/07)

Hutton green lights Port Talbot renewable energy project

FCA MEMBERS' AUTUMN / WINTER MEETINGS (09/11/07)

The next FCA Members' Meeting will be held in Pembrokeshire at the Nantyffin Motel, Llandissilio at 7.30pm on Tuesday 13th November 2007.

Gareth Price will be providing an overview of Wales Forest Business Partnership, Wales / UK timber market and PMG.
Iwan Parry will discuss opportunities for foresters and farmers and Coed Cymru / Pembrokeshire initiatives and Simon Mead will discuss Betterwoods grants and the /FC approach to added value.

Should you wish to attend either event, please ring Alun Jones on 07889 353694.

Our December Meeting is planned for 10th December 2007 and will be held at Caerfagu Products Ltd, Nantmel, Llandrindod Wells Powys, LD1 6EF.

This will be an All-Day event with Stihl products. We will cover their new chainsaws, brushcutters, clearing saws, pole pruners, strimmers, hedgecutters and this will be HANDS ON for people with PPE.

FARMING CONNECT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT AVAILABLE (21/08/07)

Farming Connect Skills Development support is available once more.
The summary of the support available through Farming Connect can be viewed here: SUMMARY
A guide on how interested business can access support can be viewed here: GUIDE
A wide variety of training courses are available including assessments to gain technical certificates of competence (including those required by legislation).
If you require more information on this support, please call the Builth Wells office on 01982 552646 or email: wales@lantra.co.uk

THE WELSH FORESTRY SECTOR – AT THE CUTTING EDGE (08/02/2007)

There’s more to forestry than just trees – that’s the message Wales will be giving the rest of Europe when more than 80 overseas delegates arrive in north Wales for what promises to be the most important international woodland conference in the UK this year.

WOOD PELLET BUSINESS IS ON TRACK AS ALTERNATIVE ENERGY GETS SET TO TAKE OFF (22/12/2006)

Former Blues and Royals tank driver Peter Armishaw is on the front line of the burgeoning Welsh wood fuel market – and his new pellet making business is already making things hot for the foreign imports.

NEW FORESTRY COMMISSIONERS FOR WALES APPOINTED (22/12/2006)

Her Majesty the Queen has approved the appointment of Jon Owen Jones and Judith Webb as non-executive Forestry Commissioners for Wales.

GROUNDBREAKING AGREEMENT WITH FORESTRY COMMISSION TO FELL AND MARKET LOCAL TIMBER (30/11/2006)

A unique partnership project is paying dividends in mid Wales where the local community are working alongside Forestry Commission Wales staff and helping to re-create an ancient broadleaf woodland.

VILLAGE EYESORE IS ABOUT TO BECOME WALK-TO-WORK WILDLIFE HAVEN (14/11/2006)

A derelict site in the centre of a village in the Rhymney Valley is about to be given a £150,000 make-over – and turned into a stunning wild woodland with a walk-way that links homes with the Penallta industrial estate.

ROLL YOUR SLEEVES UP – IT’S TIME TO BUILD A BRAND NEW URBAN WOODLAND (14/11/2006)

People living at Neath Abbey, are rolling up their sleeves – ready to bring a piece of the countryside into their town by building a brand new urban woodland the whole community can enjoy. Dyffryn Clydach Environmental Group has been awarded a £50,000 grant from Cydcoed – Woods for All, the Forestry Commission Wales programme which promotes Welsh forestry for community development, to make its local woods more accessible to all.

UNIVERSITY OF WALES, BANGOR (24/07/06)

HUNT CONTINUES FOR TREE DISEASES (29/06/06)

NEW TEAM IMPROVES LINKS BETWEEN SCIENTIST AND FORESTER (16/05/06)

FURTHER APPOINTMENTS TO BOARD OF FORESTRY COMMISSIONERS (07/04/2006)

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/news1/7C6332A93C1FEEC480257149004AD1A