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Regional Contact: Please contact Caroline Harrison 30 Heath Park, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ12 4JQT 01626 331921 M 07500 927482 E caroline.harrison@confor.org.uk
Diary Dates 2013
Click here and scroll down for South West England events and meetings.
For ICF events click here.
For RFS events click here.
The Woodfuel Woodland Improvement Grant is administered by Ngage Solutions on behalf of the Forestry Commission in three particular regions of the UK: Cumbria, the South West region and the South East. There are funds available for building roads and other infrastructure, as well as for getting professional help to bring neglected woods back into management. If you are thinking this grant could help you, then a new series of videos developed by Woodfuel WIG Project Manager, Mike Furness could get you started.
The '10 easy steps to apply for a Woodfuel WIG' can be viewed on the Ngage YouTube Channel. The videos explain everything you need to know about Woodfuel WIG, with helpful information on the eligibility criteria, filling out an application form, getting planning permission, and claiming the grant.
Exmoor woodheat grants deadline extended
Grants of £3,000 for installing wood fuelled heating are available to homeowners in Exmoor National Park and in rural areas nearby, following a successful application for government funding made by Exmoor National Park Authority and Exmoor Trust.
With the prospect of more funding being available, the deadline for registering has been extended to 31st January 2013. Heating systems must be installed and the grants claimed by 28th June 2013.
For more information go to Exmoor National Park.
Grant funding available for rural businesses
Some grant funding has become available for rural businesses with under 10 employees in Devon, Somerset and Cornwall:
For Cornwall - http://www.cornwalldevelopmentcompany.co.uk/investment-funds/rbis.html
For Devon and Somerset - http://www.heartofswlep.co.uk/rural-growth-grants
For West Somerset - http://western.somersetleader.org.uk/
We can't offer a free advisory service for those applying at the moment but if you want advice and guidance or help filling in application forms please contact Silvanus Trust.
South West Regional Meeting minutes
AGM 2012 held at the Genesis Centre, Taunton on 2 May 2012 On 2 May 2012 the South West regional AGM took place at the Genesis Centre, Taunton. The topic for the day was, "The RHI: Making Woodlands Pay?" Presentations from the meeting appear below: Stephen Green (RegenSW) - RHI and system design principles Tom Langdon-Davis (Cockington Court) - The Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust woodfuel supply chainSam Whatmore (Forest Fuels Ltd) - The woodfuel supply chain: supplying quality woodfuel Kevin Lindegaard (Crops for Energy) - A different woodfuel perspectiveKevin Lindegaard (Crops for Energy) - Why we need energy cops in the south west - position paperKevin Lindegaard (Crops for Energy) - Why we need energy cops in the south west - report.Mick Bracken (Ward Forester) - Opportunities for landowners to manage woodland profitably. The Ward Forester InitiativeMark Prior (Forestry Commission) - What grants and incentives are available in the south west
AGM 2011 held at Sidbury Manor on 12th April 2011
AGM 2010 held at Pentillie Castle and Estate on Tuesday 30th March 2010SW regional accounts for the year to 31st December 2009 - here.
Devon & Cornwall Committee meeting minute held on 7th November 2012
Wessex Committee meeting minute held on 26th June 2012 and 18th September 2012
CCANW (Centre for Contemporary Art and the Natural World) have announced their exciting new and timely 'Tree Culture' programme, please see the press release below. The centre is looking for support for this project. Much of their work uses the arts to send a message that sustainable economic stimuli are needed in order to protect the environment. In 2008 CCANW organised a high profile ‘Wood Culture' programme of exhibitions and events, including a ‘Building with Wood' conference at the University of Exeter which was attended by over 250 delegates from around the UK and Europe. Their extensive list of contacts includes hundreds of timber industry professionals, while Haldon Forest Park attracts at least 300,000 visitors per annum.
If you are interested in supporting this project please contact Chris Lewis on 01392 832277 or c.lewis@ccanw.co.uk. For further information see http://www.ccanw.co.uk/.
South West Regional Directory of Woodland Services and Products can be accessed at http://www.woodland-directory-sw.org.uk/
Assessing the Current Growing Conifer Resource in the South West of England. here
Strategic Economic Study of South West England Woodland and Forestry, updated. here
Opportunities to add value to SW homegrown timber. here
South West Forestry for Future Construction PhD -Summary Report. here
Forestry Commission
For your regional Forestry Commission pages follow these links:South West England
Woodfuel
Whether you are a small business owner interested in finding out more about installing a woodfuel boiler, or a woodland owner interested in the opportunities that woodfuel represents, you can find a wealth of information on the Biomass Energy Centre website and use the Information Enquiry Service. http://www.biomassenergycentre.org.uk/ for further information in your region visit www.forestry.gov.uk/england-woodfuel
To find a supplier of woodchip, logs or pellets in your area along with the latest developments, news and events log onto www.southwestwoodshed.co.uk
Bulworthy Project - run courses in charcoal production and sustainable harvesting of wood. The courses emphasise the role that charcoal production plays in habitat management. The full course takes 24 hours and gives the participants hands-on experience of charcoal production. This course is suitable for those who intend to produce charcoal themselves and those who wish to experience the process. There is also a 1 hour course where the process of charcoal production is explained and there is a guided walk through the woodland explaining habitat-management. More infromation on the link above.
Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE)
The Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) is jointly funded by the EU, through the European Fund for Rural Development and the Government. It has a budget of £3.9bn and will run till 2013. Of the total budget, £3.3bn has been allocated to agri-environment and other land management schemes including Environmental Stewardship and the English Woodland Grant Scheme. Some £600m has been made available to make agriculture and forestry more competitive and sustainable and to enhance opportunity in rural areas... read more
Click here for EWGS opportunities and dates in the South West
Red Squirrel South West Project
The Red Squirrel South West Project (RSSW) was launched in spring 2009 with the objective to establish a working party who would offer up time, expertise, resource and funding to achieve the goal of reintroducing and preserving the Red Squirrel, in the South West of England.