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  Editorial
   Nov/Dec 2005: 

The 'Stegosaurus Pergola' by Organic Furniture (www.organicfurniture.co.uk) seen at Weald WoodFair 2005 providing a spectacular place to rest amongst the 140 exhibitors. The pergola is made from sweet chestnut, oak & ash, all sourced in the South East. 10,000+ people enjoyed WoodFair 2005. Weald WoodFair 2006 will be held on 15–17 September. www.eastsussex.gov.uk/woodfair 

I was delighted to see a report on the BBC 10 o’clock news a few weeks ago specifically about the renewable qualities of wood fuel. I often hear about wind, solar, wave and occasionally biomass, with the term biomass generally referring to fast growing miscanthus grass, etc. Our abundant coppice woodlands and the significant role they play in locking up carbon whilst producing biomass is usually neglected in such reports. Furthermore, the sheer simplicity of burning wood to produce heat is often overlooked in a search for new technologies to resolve global warming. 

About 35% of the fossil fuel 
burnt in this country goes into producing simple heat, rather than power. 

By focusing on wood heat there is enormous potential for making significant reductions in carbon emissions with relatively simple technology, as acknowledged in the recent Biomass Task Force (BTF) Report to Government published in October. With gas and oil prices rising and fossil fuel supply uncertainties, wood fuel offers a secure, safe and home grown option, with the added benefits of stimulating income streams for sustainably managed woodlands and rural employment.

The BTF Report aims to shift the barriers to greater biomass use in England. In his foreword to the report, Sir Ben Gill states that, ‘Biomass is unique as the only widespread source of high-grade renewable heat’. The report notes that there has been ‘a failure to recognise that heat-only systems can deliver efficiencies far in excess of those designed to produce electricity alone’.

Amongst 42 specific recommendations, the Task Force suggests that Government urgently introduce a 40% capital grant for all biomass heating boilers to support the demand-led development of the ‘bio-heat’ industry. Government will respond to the report within 6 months. The potential for wood-fuel as a carbon-neutral heat source has been recognised for many years whilst development of this industry has been frustratingly slow. I hope the BTF report provokes a positive response from Government resulting in genuinely constructive support for the wood-fuel industry.

We will be examining the opportunities for Weald WoodNet to further support the development of the local wood fuel supply over the coming months. And we will report back on the Government’s response to the Biomass Task Force Report in 2006. The full Biomass Task Force Report is available at: www.defra.gov.uk/farm/acu/energy/biomass-taskforce.

To read about the recent Woodland Enterprise Centre Open Day click here.  
To read the latest WoodLots News click here.  Have a cosy wood-fuelled winter!

Jenny Martin
WoodLots Editor