Beaming
Sweet Chestnut
The
roof trusses in this warehouse are made from Ashdown Forest sweet chestnut
brought down in the ‘87 storm. Designed by Nigel Braden of Inwood
Developments, the warehouse was built at EC Forest Products at
Whitesmith.
Click on the following
links
or simply
scroll down the page:
Building
a Sustainable Future:
Launching
the TimberBuild
Network
Win Ben Law's book:
The
Woodland Way: A permaculture approach to woodland managment
Enhancing Woodland
Enterprise:
The
Woodland Enterprise Centre has been busy
throughout the autumn
Swinging
Mobility:
Tom Ottaway
demonstrates his mobile circular swing saw
New
English Woodland Grant Scheme
Your
opportunity to influence the future of the
English Woodland Grant Scheme.
The
Future of WoodNet
Your opportunity to contribute
Building
a Sustainable Future
The launch of the TimberBuild Network at WoodFair 2003 drew great interest
from an enthusiastic public and members of the construction industry
seeking information about the suitability and availability of local
timbers for building. Project Chairman, Steve Johnson (Architecture
Ensemble) and Project Co-ordinator Stewart Henton (Chartered Architect
based in Hove) were kept extremely busy for the 3 days, taking full
advantage of the networking opportunities provided by WoodFair (www.eastsussexcc.gov.uk/env/events).
The
TimberBuild Network (TBN), a SEEDA sponsored initiative, is a
network of companies and individuals connected to the timber industry in
the southeast. Their commitment is to bring about an increased use of
locally grown timber within the construction industry, thus benefiting
sustainability and the local economy.
TBN will research suitable markets and promote local timber
products to the construction industry.
Timber suppliers, users and specifiers of building grade timbers
are invited to register with the TimberBuild Network to ensure that they
maximize the opportunities available in this developing market.
Contact: Stewart Henton, 01580 879552,
Email: info@timberbuild.org.uk
Website: www.timberbuild.org.uk
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We are seeking your response to suggestions
for the future development
of WoodNet and WoodLots. To read about these suggestions please click
here. You will also find a link to an online response form. By
submitting this you will automatically be entered
into the prize draw for Ben Law’s inspirational book ‘The Woodland
Way: A Permaculture Approach to Sustainable Woodland Management’ kindly
offered by the author. The result will be announced in the January 2004
issue of WoodLots.
To
find out more about Ben's book go to: www.permaculture.co.uk,
email: info@permaculture.co.uk.
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Enhancing
Woodland
Enterprise
The
Woodland Enterprise Centre has been busy throughout the autumn as a venue
for the timber industry in the Southeast. Early October saw the Forestry Commission hosting their Harvesting
in Ancient Woodlands seminars in the building and the surrounding
woodland, with well over 160 participants. A large proportion of attendees
resulted from the publicity in WoodLots, proving the networking capacity
of this free service.
Later
in the month, over 300 people attended the Woodland Enterprise Centre Open
Day to see the innovative architecture and experience the wood-fuelled
heating. The Centre provided an appropriately ‘chestnutty’ venue for
Ben Law’s presentation to over 90 people in early November outlining his
approach to sustainable woodland management and dwelling. More recently
the Small Woods Association hosted a seminar exploring the issue of
spiraling insurance costs within the forestry industry attended by 45
contractors and woodland owners.
The
Centre is available as a venue for small or large meetings, conferences
and exhibitions, offering 150 square metres of exhibition and conference
space, including a small meeting room, all within 22 hectares of
demonstration woodland. For bookings throughout 2004 please contact:
Weald WoodNet, Tel: 01580 879552, Email: info@woodnet.org.uk
Tom Ottaway, left, demonstrating his mobile sawmill featuring a circular swing saw designed to cut both horizontally and vertically in two sweeps. Tom was inspired when watching a similar saw at WoodFair 2002. With funding and business support from the Prince’s Trust, Tom now has his own saw.
New
English Woodland Grant Scheme
Calling all woodland owners, managers, foresters and contractors – your opportunity to draw upon your experience and influence the future of the English Woodland Grant Scheme.
The Forestry Commission is currently
exploring future incentives (ie. grants) for the sustainable management
and creation of woodlands and is seeking your comments and views on the
current proposals outlined in their 29 page public consultation
document.
The consultation document is available at www.forestry.gov.uk/ewgs; hard
copies are available from Forestry Commission England, Tel: 01223 314546,
Email: fcengland@forestry.gsi.gov.uk,
www.forestry.gov.uk. Responses
must be received by the 14th
January 2004 at the very latest.