Free Buying & selling local timber & wood products from South East

Issue 65, December 2006

Free Classified Advertising: Round Timber for Sale Round Timber Wanted Sawn Timber Timber Processing Services Sustainable Wood Fuel Fencing, Horticultural & Garden Furniture & Finished Products Timber Buildings & Architecture Coppice/Woodland Management Equipment & Machinery Courses & Training Jobs & Opportunities Events & Meetings Publications & Websites

WEALD

Promoting the sustainable production and use of hardwood The interior ceiling of the Savill Building Visitor Centre at , Winner of Winners at the Wood Awards timbers in South East England 2006. West Sussex based Green Oak Carpentry, design consultants and builders of the Savill Building’s larch © Woodnet 2006 gridshell, won Best Use of British Timber and Katie Walker won both Furniture & Innovation. See p.5. Photo J Martin

Deadline for next issue: 26th January 2007 www.woodlots.org.uk WoodLots: Welcome to the ‘new look’ WoodLots. When the cost of posting A4 Promoting the sustainable envelopes increased dramatically earlier this year redesigning WoodLots management of woodlands in the into a smaller format became a necessity. We’ve aimed to achieve this with South East and the use of local minimal change - I hope you find the new layout easy to get around. Feel timber. Available in East Sussex, West Sussex, Kent, , , free to offer your feedback. Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and at www.woodlots.org.uk We’ve increased page numbers and, with space to fill, we can encourage more display advertising to help pay for the free service. Equally, I Information & networking for local timber producers, wood users and all encourage you to contribute your ideas, letters, feedback, news items, related organisations & businesses.

editor’s comment photos etc. Our contact details are shown in the column to the right and Editorial, articles & news items from on the back page of the magazine and you’ll find a simple subscription previous issues, subscription and advertising information available at form and information about placing new advertisements on p.31 (the inside www.woodlots.org.uk back page). Display Advertising: available at The seasonal search for gifts is upon us - I encourage you to take a fresh competitive rates in both full colour and black & white. Please contact the look at WoodLots and aim to find some if not all of your Christmas gifts from Editor for further information these pages. In particular, Garden & Horticulture, Fine Furniture & Finished 1600+ copies distributed throughout Products, Courses & Training, Events and Publications all contain potential the South East 5 times a year gifts that support the local rural economy, celebrate the versatility and Send your advertisements renewability of wood and have a relatively high novelty factor. Books and requests for WoodLots to about wood, products crafted from local wood, creative experiences with the Editor: Jenny Martin, Weald wood or in woodlands - this is the stuff of WoodLots! WoodNet, The Woodland Enterprise Centre, Hastings Road, Flimwell, This issue includes news about developments at the Woodland Enterprise East Sussex, TN5 7PR Centre, an update on the Forestry Commissions pilot Woodland Harvesting, Tel: 01580 879552 Email: [email protected] Processing & Marketing Grant, news from the Wood Awards 2006, updates Web: www.woodlots.org.uk on WoodNet’s activities and of course lots of timber related advertisements. Deadline for next issue: 26th January 2007 Jenny Martin, WoodLots Editor 3 Printed by Beard Digital, Brighton

2 always wanted,pleasecalltodiscuss timber, forestry &arboriculturalarisings Supplying woodfuelthroughoutUK.Round HOMEGROWN TIMBER - Japanese Knotweed specialists Knotweed Japanese - Contractors Herbicide - Hedgelaying & Clearance Ride - specialists Environment & Ecology - Restoration Heathland & Pond - Contractor Approved - Surgery Tree - Contractors Landscape & Fencing - Management Woodland & Forest - Contractors Forestry - sawmillers & merchants Timber - energy green for Woodchip - Faygate, Horsham,West SussexRH124SJ Website: www.homegrowntimber.com Email: [email protected] Cherry Tree Sawmills,Faygate Lane Mobile: 07774 447956 Fax: 01293852701 Tel: 01293852700

LTD www.westsussex.gov.uk request a copy tel: 01243 642119. An online version is available at those who are considering switching to this sustainable fuel. information on woodfuel and wood burning stove suppliers, for firewood merchants across the county, including useful West Sussex County Council have produced a leaflet listing West SussexLogList www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk on biomass, you can now find the Biomass Energy Centre onlineTaskforce at: Report earlier this year to create a single pointFollowing of contact the Government’s pledge in their response to theNew BiomassEnergyCentre Biomass 879552, email: [email protected], For booking information please contact Jenny Martin, T: 01580 16 seatedatdesksor32withoutdesks. for meetings,training,seminars,weeklygroups,etc.Suitable for Woodland EnterpriseCentrenearFlimwellwillbeavailable tohire As ofJanuary2007theWoodNetSeminarRoomat New WoodlandClassroom Plumpton College,Tel: WEC pleasecontact:TheProfessionalDevelopmentOfficeat venue. climbing, brushcutterandsawmillingfromthewoodlandbased January 2007,PlumptonCollegewillbeofferingchainsaw,felling, Woodland EnterpriseCentreontheSussex/Kentborder.Asof deliver aprogrammeoftrainingandadvicebasedatthe WoodNet &PlumptonCollegeareworkinginpartnershipto Training OpportuntiesattheWEC For moreinformationaboutPlumpton’sactivitiesatthe 01273890454, , type ‘Log List’ into search option www.plumpton.ac.uk www.woodnet.org.uk To

3 Local Timber News 4 Local Timber News w h a d 24/10/06 e-mail:[email protected] www.woodlandheritage.org.uk WOODLAND HERITAGEWOODLAND For readable, clear Forreadable, technical advice... technical 11 ...use our widely acclaimed, widely our ...use waterproof durable leaflets. durable waterproof : 1 5 Page Arundell House, Haslemere, GU27 1NE GU27 Haslemere, House, Arundell 1 Please send SAE for 32p to: 32p for SAE send Please Tel/Fax:01428 652159 growing marketsforsustainable timberinconstruction. better waysforsmall-scaleproducers toaccessthe local supplychainmayhelp to unlockfundingdevelop Woodlands Partnership.Abetterunderstandingofthe Framework beingcarriedoutbytheForestryand forthcoming reviewoftheSouthEastRegionalForestry The outcomesofthisworkwillintegratewiththe about theircurrentcapacityandspecialistinterests. merchant businessintheregiontogatherinformation approaching anumberofwoodprocessingandtimber During thecourseofstudyWealdWoodNetwillbe a lowembodiedenergybuildingmaterial. aim ofmarketingthebenefitslocally-suppliedtimberas development ofmoreeffectiveindustryclusterswiththe in theSERegion.Theresearchisintendedtoassist home-grown timberusedintheconstructionindustry of theBuiltEnvironment,toinvestigateamount with theUniversityofBrighton,CentreforSustainability Weald WoodNethaveembarkedonaresearchproject in SouthEastEngland for theWoodProcessingSector Market Research Tel: 01580879552 Email:[email protected] David Saunders atWoodlandEnterpriseCentre interest inparticipating intheresearch,please contact For furtherinformation,andto register anyexpressionsof Winning South East ways at the Wood Awards 2006

5 South East Award Winners The Green Oak Carpentry Company won Best The Wood Awards provide a unique and Use of British Timber at the Wood Awards 2006 exciting opportunity to see some of the best in for their consistent high quality work in British today’s buildings and furniture and to celebrate wood, which can be seen in projects such as the our only renewable and sustainable building Weald & Downland Gridshell, Chithurst Buddhist material. These annual awards have helped to Monastery and The Savill Building on the Crown raise the profile of wood in construction and Estate at Windsor. furniture-making by recognising, encouraging and promoting outstanding design, crafts- The Savill Building utilises larch from the Crown Estate manship and installation in wood. in a highly engineered gridshell form resulting in an Originally established 30 years ago as impressively undulating roof that ‘appears to float the Carpenters Award to celebrate fine above the ground, like a magic carpet’ (Michael woodworking in buildings, the event was Buckley, FIWSc, World Hardwoods). The Green relaunched in 2003 as The Wood Awards. Oak Carpentry Company were both consultant With the help of the Forestry Commission a designers and builders of The Savill Building Visitors’ new category, Best Use of British Timber was Centre, the design taking inspiration from the Weald added in 2004 and this year has seen the and Downland oak gridshell (also built by Green addition of the Furniture category. Oak), a previous Wood Awards winner (2003). For information on all the 2006 winners and The Savill Building won the Commercial & Public entry into The Wood Awards 2007 please go Access category, the Structural category and to: www.woodawards.com, the Gold Award for the best winner from the email: [email protected], architectural-based categories. T: 07957 730707. For Wood Awards Press & PR queries, email: For more information on The Green Oak Carpentry [email protected] Company go to: www.greenoakcarpentry.co.uk 6 Katie Walker’s Ribbon Katie Walker’s elegant ‘Ribbon’ Rocking Chair Rocking Chair, winner in both won both the Furniture category and the Innovation the Furniture and Innovation category at the Wood Awards 2006. The form of the chair was inspired by a sculpture by Naum Gabo. A categories light structure both visually and physically; none of the three component parts - the laminated ash ribbon, the stainless steel rod framework and the leather covered ply seating - are independently strong, yet together they work to produce a rigid structure which can withstand the required weight without distorting or fracturing.

The band is formed of 1.5mm ash veneers chosen for their strength and suitability for the laminating process. The ash laminates were laid up on a mould constructed from a continuous steel band, an idea that came from using an old band-saw blade.

The first ‘Ribbon’ rocking chair made is currently on display at Katie’s showroom - Showroom 53, 53 Warwick Way, Pimlico, London (5 minutes walk from Victoria Station).

To find out more about Katie Walker’s work go to: www.katiewalkerfurniture.com, T:+44 1403 211323, E: [email protected]

Photos page 5: Savill Building gridshell (photo: W Sweeney), Katie Walker’s ‘Ribbon Rocking Chair’, Chithurst Buddhist Monastry, Savill Building (W Sweeney). Page left: Savill gridshell during construction ‘A clever, graceful, innovative design’, (W Sweeney), Crown Estate oak forests and Head Forester Derek The Wood Awards 2006 judging panel Stickler (D Saunders), Laurie Braden, Inwood Developments Ltd, finger-jointing larch for the Savill Building (W Sweeney). This page: Katie Walker’s rippled ash ‘Ribbon Rocking Chair’. 7 WoodFair again attracted over 10,000 visitors to this well established celebration of wood & woodlands in the South East Some highlights: The huge circular saw (top) is powered by a steam engine running on wood fuel, neatly demonstrating the versatility of wood. Homegrown Timber, exhibiting for the first time this year, drew large crowds and were delighted with the response from the public during their wood chipping for WOODYARD wood fuel demonstrations. The Sussex Surrey Coppice TO LET Group, keeping tradition alive, with pimps, faggots & benders, alongside charcoal making, West Grinstead, West Sussex basket weaving, hurdle making Range of forestry buildings and yard and lots more! Andrew King is suitable for operating a woodyard available pictured left splitting hazel for his immediately. Good access off A272. woven hurdles. Potential to purchase standing timber from WoodFair 2007: 21st-23rd adjacent woods. Landlord willing to invest in September, for exhibitor information phone: 01825 840870 premises to upgrade over time or see: www.bentley.org.uk. Contact: Jason Emrich (Estate Manager) Do you have photos capturing the T: 01403 741235 spirit of WoodFair 2006? Email to: [email protected] and we’ll E: [email protected] 8 post them at www.woodlots.org.uk. GREEN ARCHITECTURE DAY Saturday HAMPSHIRE COPPICE GROUP GREEN DRAGON CO-OP 2nd hand 17 March 2007, date confrmed but details www.hampshirecoppice.org.uk books sold for project funding: community to be announced. Stalls, exhibitions and tree nurseries, woodland & hedgerow illustrated talks by designers, practitioners regeneration. www.greendragonwoods.org.uk and professionals. Publications Contact: Green Dragon Woods Contact: Brighton Permaculture Trust T: 01273 387223 E: [email protected] CHRISTMAS IDEA book signed by author, E: [email protected] Julian Evans, ‘Badgers, Beeches & Blisters’ SUSSEX & SURREY COPPICE GROUP £8.95; ‘What Happened to Our Wood’ EDITOR’S CHOICE: Regular meetings, new members welcome, £19.95. Both books £23.90. Cheques ‘OAK, THE FRAME OF CIVILIZATION’ by quarterly newsletter, info, networking, support ‘Patula Books’, Box 6674, Basingstoke William Bryant Logan, professional arborist Contact: Ian White, SSCG Secretary RG24 4DP. www.patulabooks.co.uk & award-winning nature writer, putting his T: 01256 397919 Contact: Julian Evans love for oak to paper relating the delightful, E: [email protected] T: 01420 86240 intimate history of the relationship between E: [email protected] humans and oak trees since time immemorial. WOODS & WOODLANDS SEMINAR, 13 & ‘This is a dazzling book, full of knowledge and 14 April 2007. No.5 in the “Sense of Place: rare wisdom’, Thomas Pakenham author of Land, Landscape & Livelihood in West The Pole Lathe Plans Book Remarkable Trees of the World. Sussex” series at West Dean College. Fully illustrated & detailed ISBN 0-393-04773-3

Contact: West Dean College instructions for making a traditional Events & Meetings / Publications T: 01243 818293 pole lathe. ISBN 0-9546189-3-9, E: [email protected] pp40, £8.50. SEARCH FOR BEST OAK W: www.westdean.org.uk Tel: 01825 722668 Following the success of our appeal in E: [email protected] the last issue of WoodLots for information TREE SPIRIT PARTY suit 5-10 yr olds. Make about plus Sweet Chestnut trees in the tree spirits to take home. Materials supplied + South East, the search is still on for tree I.D, flower-fairy & greenman face painting. WIDE RANGE OF PUBLICATIONS Ben outstanding examples of Oak. CRB checked & insured. All SE Law, Mike Abbott, Oliver Rackham, Julian Contact: Max Brownrigg Information sheet available from Karen Evans, Charcoal production to Timber Russell, Woodland & Forestry Specialist, T: 01323 815722 Structures & more! E: [email protected] East Malling Research, Tel: 01732 843833, Contact: Permanent Publications M: 07951 258805, F: 01732 849067, T: 01730 823311 E: [email protected]. JAM GALLERY every Saturday 10am-1pm, E: [email protected] showing work by sculptor/tree surgeon + work by 20+ other local artists, nr Hastings. Contact: Joc Hare, Logjam T: 01424 434848 E: [email protected] Deadline for next issue: 26th January 2007 25 WEC Phase 2: Workshops for Working Woodlands Lantra Awards Approved Instructor, NPTC Approved Assessor, wide & ongoing experience of commercial tree care, Member of Arboricultural Association Education & Training Committee & Plumpton College Curriculum Advisory Panel

Available Training: chainsaw maintenance, felling, tree climbing & aerial rescue, dismantling, chipper & grinder, plus new charcoal making and firewood processing Contact: Scott Fraser Tel: 01825 890370 [email protected] www.scottfrasertraining.co.uk

Woodland Enterprise Centre Phase 2 will provide eight workshops suitable for wood working and timber processing businesses (B1) surrounded by 20 hectares of semi-natural ancient woodland on the Sussex/Kent border. NPTC Certificates Designed with the combined skills and experiences of the project of Competence FHA, a national centre team including The Architecture Ensemble (Steve Johnson), Buro for all NPTC certificates of Happold engineers, The Green Oak Carpentry Company, and Inwood competence, based in Developments, the workshops will be built from Sussex Larch and the south-east region. The Douglas Fir, with Sussex Chestnut cladding. qualifications include:- The University of Brighton will be using the development as a case study to assess the embodied energy and environmental performance • Pesticides of the buildings. Plumpton College will be leasing one of the workshops • Chainsaw, brushcutter,woodchipper as a training venue alongside their use of the WoodNet Classroom in • Forest Machine Operations the main building. Plumpton students will be directly involved in the • Health and Safety (new introduction 2006) management of the surrounding woodland. For more information contact Fenella Godber For more information about buying or leasing a workshop at the Tel: 01580 860444, Email: [email protected] Woodland Enterprise Centre please contact: David Saunders, or see our website: www.fha.uk.com Tel: 01580 879552 Email: [email protected], www.woodlots.org.uk 26 Fungal Fashion At this time of year we tend to notice a great many fungal fruiting www.arborecology.co.uk sporophores within our woods and on individual trees such as brackets, conks, mushrooms etc. Often noticeable are the occurrence of one particular type of fungi in one year and another the next. I have for example seen two of the same rare fungi this year which have not been observed during my 10 ‘inspection’ years. I would be most interested to hear from any WoodLots subscribers of their own views and observations (especially with photographs) to see if there is a pattern of occurrence up and down the country. I hope to compile all of the information received and keep you updated with what is found. Please direct all information to Ian Brewster, Arboricultural Officer, Arboricultural & Town Hall, Clarence Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex, PO21 1LD Tel; 01903 737982, [email protected]. If sending Ecological Surveys photographs please note date, location, name of tree/substrate, Woodland Management whether it is dead or alive. Habitat Enhancement

Rare Podoscypha multizonata attached to the base of an Evergreen Oak in Hotham Park, West Sussex. Photograph taken 16th Oct 2006. Notice the empty acorn cups for size 0845-658-1400 In Memoriam WoodNet are saddened to report the untimely death of our Chairman Derek Norcross Woodland Consultant OBE, who was killed by a motor car whilst walking in & Forest Manager Robertsbridge recently (Friday 10th November). The New English Woodland Grant Scheme is now Although “retired” for several years Derek was well known in the 2nd year of operation. Applications for new to many as a tireless supporter of numerous good causes Woodland Stewardship Grants are available to assist in the County, and had been Chairman of Woodnet since with woodland management and creation. Contact the charity was established in 2000. As well as being a Independent Woodland Services for a no fee keen walker, Derek loved the woods, and was passionate consultancy visit to assess and appraise your woodland about education and enthusing young people to management and planting requirements. appreciate the natural environment. • Professional Advice & Woodland Management Derek cheerfully • Designs & Grant Preparations admiring the work of Katie • Environmental Stewardship Applications Walker at the • Woodland Establishment and Maintenance Sussex-Somme Furniture Show • Timber Marketing & Harvesting Plans at the Woodland • Income & Expenditure Reports Enterprise Centre in October 2005 • Woodland Valuations & Investment Appraisals

Please contact Barry Carter for further details and an information pack Independent Woodland Services

Derek leaves Audrey and their children and grand-children. Those who had the pleasure of working with Derek over Tel/Fax: 01435 864282 Mobile: 07786 255386 the years will miss him, and we would like to convey our E-mail: [email protected] heartfelt condolences to the family at their sad loss. Bay View Cottage, Old Heathfield, East Sussex. TN21 9BN 28 Frankie Woodgate runs her Pilot Woodland Pilot Case own horse-logging business Harvesting, Processing Study based in Kent and travels with her horses to sensitive & Marketing Grant extraction sites throughout As reported in WoodLots 59, the Forestry Commission in the South East. Frankie October 2005 sought applications in Kent, East Sussex, the successfully participated in the Forestry Commission’s New Forest and the Isle of Wight for the pilot stage of the new WHPM Grant Woodland Harvesting, Processing & Marketing Grant (WHPMG). Woodland Harvesting, Processing & Marketing The grant offered either 30% towards investment in pilot, which contributed 30% towards the funds required to buy harvesting, processing and marketing of forestry products a new horse (Yser) and logging harness, a horse drawn timber and promotion of new outlets for forestry products or forwarder with hydraulic grab and horse lorry. 50% towards the establishment of woodland groups, associations or co-operatives. With a significant capital investment on her part (70%), an effective business plan was essential. The process of The pilot has now been completed and a total of 5 developing a business plan for the WHPM Grant application applications were approved, 2 in Kent and 3 in East was very demanding, Frankie knows that it helped her identify Sussex, including firewood processors and horse logging areas where her business was uneconomic - for example, hiring equipment (see feature on Frankie Woodgate right). horse transport for every job - and therefore helped her make decisions on how to improve efficiency. Richard Everett (Forestry Commission Woodland Officer for East Sussex) is very pleased with the outcome of the pilot The new equipment and values the opportunity provided to iron out problems will improve her cost and tweak the application process. effectiveness and give The Forestry Commission hopes that further funding will be her greater flexibility available for the WHPMG in the future, with an emphasis on in managing projects, helping small scale harvesting and processing operators altogether strengthening add value to woodland products. However this will be her woodland subject to the outcome of the forthcoming review of the management business. England Rural Development Plan in early 2007. For more information For a review of the Woodland Harvesting, Processing and on Frankie’s woodland Top: Yser on recent job in new scandinavian Marketing Grant (pdf:95k) please go to: management business see harness (Jeton working beyond). Bottom: advert on page 19 or go to: Woodland Trust PAWS (Plantation on Ancient www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6S3JP4 Woodland Site) in July 2006, a larch line thin, www.sylvanenvironmental.com favouring existing broadleaved species. 29 Hakki Pilke Firewood Processors Thor Log Splitters Tractors & Forestry Equipment Bought & Sold Contact: Jonathan Latham Tel: 01342 850013 Email: [email protected]

WoodNet Seminar Room available to hire at the Woodland Enterprise Centre for courses, workshops, meetings, weekly groups, etc. Suitable for 16 people seated at desks, 32 seated without desks. Projectors & refreshments available on request. Hall available for larger groups or special activities. Surrounded by 20 hectares of semi-natural ancient woodland on the Sussex/Kent border. For further information & bookings please contact Jenny Martin [email protected] 01580 879552 www.woodnet.org.uk WANTED Sweet Chestnut Logs Preferably coppice grown, 7 inch (175mm) top diameter minimum, 2 metres or 2.4 meters long, straight, NO SHAKE AT ALL, no rot or brown stain. Required all the year round for laminating, £45 per tonne at roadside INWOOD DEVELOPMENTS LTD, The Woodland Centre, Whitesmith, Lewes, East Sussex 01825 872 550

------Free Subscription to WoodLots Free Classified Advertising Yes I would like to receive WoodLots 5 times a year Individuals, businesses & organisations involved in the in paper/email format (delete as appropriate) sustainable production and use of timber in South East Name: England can place lineage advertisements for free in the Address classified sections in WoodLots. All adverts appear in the hard copy and at www.woodlots.org.uk When drafting your advert please include all relevant details: Tel: advertising category, species, relevant measurements, Mob: location, contact details, etc. To submit an advert, click Email: on ‘Advertise’ at www.woodlots.org.uk, email woodlots@ Web: woodnet.org.uk or send to WoodLots address (overleaf) Main timber interest: Display advertising available at very competive rates. All Return to WoodLots at address shown overleaf or subscribe at www.woodlots.org.uk enquiries to the editor. 31 NET SACKS / NET BAGS Treespanner Timber NEW PALLET NETS Native Timber Merchant WOODBURNING STOVES Mobile Sawmilling Net sacks / net bags / pallet-nets Kent, Surrey, Sussex for logs & kindling. Plain or Timber for sale: with printed band. Woodstoves. Fresh, sawn, air & kiln dry planks, 1-3 day delivery to anywhere beams, posts, flooring, doors in the UK. For the best quality, service & prices. All species wanted: oak, larch, Douglas, yew. 12”+ dia. Freephone: 0800 7834018 Single trees to lorry loads www.medallionnet.co.uk Contact: Bill, Ian or Robert, Medallion Net Co. Ltd, Unit A5, Chase Road, Northern Way, 01342 871529 07713 083625 Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk IP32 6NT. Tel: 01284 725105 Fax: 01284 725321 [email protected] e-mail: [email protected]

WoodLots Display Advertising Ensure all 1600+ WoodLots subscribers and an unlimited number of people on the web know all about your products and services AND make an essential contribution to the WoodLots service. Place a display advertisements or leaflet in WoodLots and reach individuals and businesses throughout the timber supply and wood using industries in South East England. For a full price list, further information about our subscriber base and artwork details please contact the editor: Jenny Martin T: 01580 879552 E: [email protected]

WoodLots is a Weald WoodNet initiative supported by East Sussex County Council, West Sussex County Council, Hampshire County Council, Kent County Council and the Forestry Commission Weald WoodNet, Woodland Enterprise Centre, Hastings Road, Flimwell, East Sussex TN5 7PR Tel: 01580 879552 Email: [email protected] www.woodlots.org.uk