WoodLots News September 2002 - Special WoodFair Issue
Contents:
Bio-Energy
Conference: The potential for Bio-Energy in Sussex
Parish Tree Wardens
Mobile
Sawmilling
You,
Trees and Carbon
Dioxide
|
‘Wood is … an elaborate and complex material
that comes in many forms with a superb
range of performance characteristics.’ |
Bio-Energy
Conference: The potential for Bio-Energy in Sussex
Bio-energy is the technology for using crops and waste from farms and
woodland to produce useable energy. Bio-energy
reduces the quantity of fossil fuel required for the country's energy needs
and provides a potential additional income stream for the farming community.
Sussex Rural Community Council, in conjunction with British Biogen, is
holding a conference at Plumpton, East Sussex on Thursday, 7th November
2002, bringing together those currently involved in local bio-energy
projects to explore and share problems and opportunities. The conference
will be of interest to farmers, landowners and foresters with
representatives from local councils and industry.
For further information please contact: Michele Condon, Tel:
01273 407325 Email: michele.condon@srcc.org.uk
|
'Wood
is a material which will come of age in this next decade as it is
increasingly recognised as an environmentally compatible material with
a great potential to solve many of the problems of our society. But
only if it comes from well-managed forests.' |
Parish Tree
Wardens
are volunteers, appointed by Parish Councils, to care for trees in the
neighbourhood on both private and public land.
Tree Wardens are the lynchpin that brings together Parish Councils,
tree owners, members of the public, expert advice and sources of grant aid.
They have no specific duties or powers but become involved in
organising planting schemes, tree and woodland surveys and planning issues
that affect protected trees. A
number of parishes are in need of a Tree Warden.
Aspiring wardens do not need any special knowledge of trees as Kent,
Surrey, East and West Sussex County Councils provide training, technical
back-up, arrange visits to places of tree interest and provide updates on
the law and other issues that affect trees.
If you are interested in becoming involved in the protection and
care of your local trees or you simply want to know who your Parish Tree
Warden is please contact:
East Sussex: Mary Parker, Tel: 01273 482652
Kent: Virginia Hodge, BTCV Kent, Tel: 01233 812033
Surrey: Nigel Blandford, Tel: 0208541 9436
West Sussex: Julie Bolton, Tel: 01243 756888
Mobile
Sawmilling An option for Woodland owners is to have their timber
converted by mobile sawmill on site. Timber for fencing, gates, signposts,
benches, cladding, beams and planks can be produced economically from your
own trees, and you get the slabwood / offcuts as firewood or 'character'
cladding. Mobile sawmills can
be hired with an operator and can saw in the region of 200 to 300 cubic feet
(5-7 cubic metres) per day. This avoids costly haulage to and from a static
sawmill, and you have a certain amount of control over what is produced from
which tree. Costs are from £2
to £3 per cubic foot - finest homegrown Oak for under £5 per cubic foot.
Support UK forestry and use your own timber. For your nearest mobile
sawmiller see adverts under Timber Services.
You,
Trees and Carbon
Dioxide
In
the UK, transport accounts for about 35% of all carbon dioxide emissions.
Predictions suggest that this will rise to 45% by 2010. The average
UK car produces 4000kg of CO2 per year. Given that trees remove
carbon from the atmosphere by absorbing and storing carbon as they grow,
the average UK car needs about two-thirds of a hectare (about 2 acres) of
deciduous woodland to absorb and store its emissions each year. We
need to reduce our emissions by 90% for East Sussex woodlands to provide
an adequate carbon store for the county. Going by bus or train cuts
emissions for each journey by 50%. To calculate your personal carbon
dioxide footprint go to www.carboncalculator.org.