Timber Tongues

Spring 2013 The Official British Horse Loggers Newsletter Timber Tongues North Yorkshire: Horse Logging in the Snow In this issue: Chairman’s Report 2−3 Doug Joiner AGM Elections 4 Competitions 4 Combined Systems 5 Crunchie Whitby ‘OK Blue Eyes…’ 6 Chris Wadsworth Extraction Demo 6 Woodland Regeneration 7 Chris Wadsworth and Blue — see page 6 for Blue’s story Cathrin Vaughan CONGRATULATIONS! Many congratulations to Richard Eames on his graduation from the BHL Apprenticeship Scheme. Horse Logging in Japan 8 And congratulations on becoming C.W. Nicol a father! Richard’s wife Helen has given birth to a baby boy. Warmest wishes to Richard and Helen from us all at the BHL. Woodland Management 9 Membership and Subscriptions Julian Philipson Steffi Schaffler, BHL apprentice, has taken on the role of Membership Secretary and Diary Dates 9 newsletter distributor — thank you, Steffi! And thanks also to outgoing Secretary Christmas Tree Delivery 9 Kirsten Turnbull for all her hard work. Bio-Security 10 A reminder that BHL membership subscriptions fall due on 1st April, so please for- Pete Harmer ward to the BHL Treasurer, Julian Philipson. Pa ge 2 Timber Tongues Spring 2013 Chairman’s Report not be sorry entirely. The rebirth is an increase in skills and professionalism less well documented and warrants a amongst our members. Doug Joiner few lines. Judith Webb, recently Pit Schlechter, President of FECTU, awarded the MBE for services to for- made an important point in his confer- Abridged version published ahead of the 2013 estry, set up the first modern-day trial ence address at the BFotWH in 2012. AGM of the BHL (the full report is available and study at Llanthony Abbey, Here- He said that we (the working horse on the BHL website) fordshire, in 1988. It was perhaps the community) tend to talk to ourselves I am standing down after 13 years as first time that more modern horse and congratulate ourselves. He argued Chair of the BHL to coincide with the logging equipment was seen by many. that it was essential to talk to those 20th anniversary of the formation of the This led to the establishment of five- outside our comfort zone and challenge British Horse Loggers Association day introductory courses at Holme myths and ignorance. Being part of the (BHLA). Lacy college, also in Herefordshire. FCA helped us to start that process and These courses were the route in for I do so with mixed feelings; a great deal we continue to do so today. many of us in the early 1990s. of pride in our achievements in that time There were changes within the FCA in mixed, inevitably, with some disappoint- A welcome offshoot of the courses the late 1990s and growing dissatisfac- ments but with an overwhelming sense was the birth of the BHLA in 1992- tion with our involvement. This was of celebration. 93. In the early days this was run exacerbated by weak chairing and over- largely by forestry staff at Holme Lacy We have achieved great things. We have ly strong involvement by some FCA including Sara Roberts, Iain raised our professional profile and credi- staff at that time. Hutchinson and Gill Brown, support- bility and seen an increase in work for ed by Jim Waterson and Eric Free- I originally stood as Chair of the BHL our members which goes with a greater man with Richard and Angela Gifford Specialist Group of the FCA in 2000. I acceptance of the importance of our role running the training. This early incep- stood as a result of the dissatisfactions in contemporary forestry. I pay tribute to tion of the BHLA quickly ran out of as I saw them and with the BHL tear- our Patron, the Trustees of the BHL steam (the committee was largely ing itself apart. Anyone who attended Charitable Trust (BHLCT), the Commit- made up of ‘supporters’ and not, as the meetings during that time will not tee of the BHL, the directors of the Brit- now, of professional contractors) and need reminding but we spent whole ish Festival of the Working Horse a decision was made in 1995 that the days in badly run meetings falling out (BFotWH), to our members and our association would be disbanded un- with each other. At times it felt like many supporters and to Gudrun, my less it could form an alliance with a some might actually come to blows. In partner, whose support and understand- larger organisation. my view at that time, the BHL either ing remains so important. changed or we (again) had to disband. Various groups were approached, We have not managed much increase in including the Small Woods Associa- One of the first things I addressed as membership support over the years, and tion, but a very enthusiastic response Chair was the meetings. I stole the we still spend too much time worrying was received from the Forestry Con- Amish idea of Progress Events to give and niggling about minor issues. There tracting Association (FCA) and the a practical forestry, horse and equip- has been a tail-off of enthusiasm since BHLA became the first specialist ment focus to our gatherings. I tried to the high points of 2004 onwards. This is group under its umbrella in 1996. The run a tightly chaired and time limited most clearly seen in falling attendance at allegiance was controversial and led to meeting within the Progress Event fol- the many, excellent courses we run. some serious issues and problems. lowed by a barrel of beer and a barbe- I have hopes but also fears for the fu- cue. The first one was held at Julian We often dismiss the considerable ture. A voluntary body run by a commit- Philipson’s farm in Northumberland. successes of those years. Firstly, the tee relies upon the enthusiasm and sup- We did several things differently: we port of everyone. This has led to serious BHL survived. This led to the BHL in spent the bulk of the time with working its present form. Secondly, our for- problems in the past and could do so horses, new and old equipment, mov- merly internal newsletter was pro- again. I still have ideas, commitment and ing timber. We had a barbecue and a duced nationally in a glossy and re- energy for the tasks ahead but after 13 drink. We stayed around the bonfire spected forestry magazine published years it is time for some new blood and with some beer until the wee small by the FCA. This led to our profes- there are really good folk ready to take hours after a short meeting earlier in sion being placed higher up the agen- up the reins. I will remain active in the the evening. This basic pattern has per- da and helped to make horse logging work of the Charity and the Festival. sisted and the atmosphere at BHL much more mainstream. events is much better than it ever was! A brief history of time Thirdly, the office staff time that we Coupled with a growing sense of inde- The decline of horse logging is well doc- enjoyed led to additional support in- pendence, however, and a stronger umented, reducing from 53% of all tim- cluding research projects and Europe- core group of professional contractors, ber being extracted by horse in the 1960s an study tours. Fourthly, we gained an we made the decision to split and to to almost none by the end of that dec- early web presence. Finally, an in- form the BHL as it now stands, in ade. Horses were shot, forestry was crease in competitions, training cours- 2004. The real key to the success of the mechanised and industrialised and we es and general professional develop- ‘new’ BHL is mentioned above. The will never recover those days. We should ment, supported by the FCA, led to committee, elected in 2004, was largely Timber Tongues Spring 2013 Pa ge 3 made up of professional contractors and support for a Wales-based apprentice. upon the competition we now run for practical horse men and women. This The objects of the Charity are ‘to pro- ourselves. We have added a Fell and ensured more passion and a greater com- mote and maintain the standards of the Extract competition where a given mitment. Passion can lead to interesting craft of Horse Logging for the public tonnage of timber is felled, horse ex- discussions but we seem to weather benefit; and to advance education and tracted, cross-cut and stacked and the those in a way that we failed to prior to training in the craft of Horse Logging work assessed by judges. We have 2004. and associated skills’. The main purpose also introduced the BHL Woodland We have established a developing range to date has been the establishment and Management Award in which work of training courses, responding to sug- running of the apprentice scheme and, contracts are judged by Geraint Rich- gestions from members and the commit- latterly, the machinery ring as well as ards, Duchy of Cornwall Head For- tee. Some have been statutory and others supporting the BFotWH. ester, assisted by Graham Taylor of to foster interests or particular skills. We Prior & Ricketts Silviculture. HRH The BHLCT and the involvement of presented the first award and the are the only group in Britain dedicated to HRH’s staff both in Clarence House and working our horses. We are the only Prince of Wales Perpetual Trophy for the Duchy of Cornwall have introduced Woodland Management, a beautifully group to offer equine first aid courses considerable skill and influence.

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