WoodFair 2001

Preparations continue for the sixth annual WoodFair at Bentley Wildfowl & Motor Museum 21, 22 & 23 September.

Originally set up in 1996 to help woodland owners add value to their timber and to provide a networking opportunity for the local timber & wood use industry, WoodFair now attracts over 7000 visitors over the three-day event.  WoodFair offers a break from the usual routine for the forestry & wood use industry and an opportunity to meet each other face to face.  Spreading throughout the extensive grounds of Bentley, including the 4.5 hectares of mixed woodland, WoodFair provides an overview of the whole industry from ‘forest to final form’ - timber extraction through to end use, from the traditional to high-tech.

New for this year at WoodFair:  Workshop for Woodland Owners: ‘Opening Your Woods to the Public – Advantages & Practicalities’ with various speakers covering health & safety, grants, risk assessment, case studies, refreshments provided. 10.30am-12.30pm Friday 21 September at Bentley House. £10 (including entrance to WoodFair). Booking is essential as places are limited.  For further details please contact:  David Saunders, East Sussex County Council, County Hall, St Anne’s Crescent, Lewes, BN7 1UE.  Tel: 01273 481563 Email: david.saunders@eastsussexcc.gov.uk 

The Forestry Commission will be offering the following demonstrations at the south end of the wood

·    Special range of forestry equipment used as small attachments to existing farm machinery.

·    Construction of a track way through the woodland

·    Efficient felling of chestnut coppice

The National Energy Foundation are bringing their energy bus and providing information about wood-fuel.  They are developing a wood-fuel buyers network to maximise bulk purchasing power and ensure continuous supply of good timber.

 Local firm WoodCut Trading Co will be bringing a wide range of woodworking power tools & sharpening shop.

With a particular focus on small-scale extraction and firewood processing, there will be more forestry machinery & equipment than ever before offering a wider choice for prospective buyers.  See you there.

How Local Is Local? The Office National des Forêts, Dieppe are holding an auction of standing timber on 3rd October. 192 lots totalling 92,000 cubic metres including oak & beech.  Catalogue available.
Contact M Costnard Tel: 0033 232 144020

Visit WoodNet Online www.woodnet.org.uk  View WoodLots, submit adverts, register with WoodNet, join in the discussion forum, browse through our useful links and latest news items. If you don’t have internet access try your local library.  Since September 2000 most East Sussex County Libraries have offered free internet access, as part of a national push to make the internet available to all.

Christmas Marketing Opportunity for Kent Wood Products The successful exhibition of products made from timber grown in Kent is to be repeated for the month of November 2001.  Held at the National Trust/SAGA Gateway to the White Cliffs, overlooking Dover Harbour, it will be open every day from 11am to 4pm.  All exhibits will be for sale (prices at the last event ranged from 85p to £4000) so come along and buy your Christmas presents.  If you would like to exhibit anything – as long as it is made from timber grown in Kent - contact Debbie Bartlett on 01622 221565 or 07974 162045 by 14 September.

Calling all Kent Coppice Workers
Kent Coppice Management Survey 2000 –2001 Many of Kent’s woodlands have traditionally been managed by coppicing, a practice that has declined recently and there is little known about the current situation.  A pilot survey was carried out by the Parish Tree Warden network which revealed about 76 hectares in 48 parishes (out of a total of 314) was coppiced between 1 Sept1999–31 Aug 2000. We know this is an underestimate and so are repeating the survey.  Please could you let us know about any coppicing that has taken place in Kent between 1 Sept 2000 and 31 Aug 2001.  Contact Virginia Hodge, Kent BTCV, Sidelands Farm, Wye, Ashford, Kent, TN25 5DQ. E-mail: Kent@btcv.org.uk

Query: Protecting exposed oak beam  (from the discussion forum at www.woodnet.org.uk )
We're restoring a Victorian stables to its original shape (i.e. we've knocked off a 1960s breezeblock extension!) and we now have a particularly nice old oak upright post which has been exposed to the elements for the first time in forty years.  The post is in great condition, considering it's 120 years old, and it's supporting a roof load of maybe two tons with no problems. It was built from green oak, which means that there are deep cracks running through it - but this is normal for green oak, I gather.  Should we be doing something now to protect it against the elements. Soak it in timber preservative? Cuprinol Five Star? Bitumen? All advice gratefully received.  Thanks, Mike Mike Wilson (mw@michaelwilson.co.uk )

Response (from Charles Willment, Treespanner Timber) If it survived 80 years before the extension, it should be good for another 80 or so on its own.  If it is a restoration, compare with any other exposed timbers and treat accordingly - oil based is good, but make sure it goes well into the cracks or you will seal in pockets of moisture which is not so good.