THE ROYAL FORESTRY SOCIETY
Woodland Visits 2014
Whole Society Meeting 2014
This year’s event runs from 19 - 23 May in Yorkshire
The venues are:
19 May
North Wykeham Moor and Wykeham Nursery
AGM at Dalby Visitor Centre
20 May
Lower Aire Valley and Methley Woods
21 May
Robson’s Spring, Duncombe Park NNR and Kilburn Thicket
22 May
Hovingham Estate and Yorkshire Arboretum at Castle Howard
Evening Annual Dinner (Mercure York Fairfield Manor Hotel)
23 May
Drax Power Station
Special Events
23 April
Woodland Conference – CAAV/RFS
01 May
‘Building in Wood’ NDG James Memorial Conference
08 – 10 July
Great Yorkshire Show
09 July
Excellence in Forestry Awards presentation day - The Hay Barns, HQ
21 – 24 July
Royal Welsh Show
18 – 20 Sept
Royal Forestry Society at APF – Ragley Estate, Alcester, Warwickshire
RFS meetings take place out in the woods in all weathers. Appropriate clean footwear and
clothing should be worn. Please be aware of your health and safety at all times. Do not take
risks that could put you or others in danger. Do not attempt to do anything that you do not
feel confident about. Please follow instructions.
RFS members are welcome along to events in other Divisions.
Local Honorary Secretaries have the details.
EAST ANGLIA
Edward Fitzalan-Howard – 01603 229230 - [email protected]
25 April
05 June
am
05 June
pm
03 Oct
Ditchingham Hall – Earl Ferrers (Bungay, Norfolk/Suffolk borders)
SSSI woodland mgmt., felling of oak, Chalara Fraxinea risk mgmt., game, deer and ride mgmt.
Edgefield Wood – Robin and Rose Carver (Mid Norfolk)
Bringing neglected mature, broadleaf and maturing conifer into production, valuable timber, SSSI and PAWS
Stody Estate – Adel McNichol (Mid Norfolk)
Conversion of plantation conifers to mixed woodland, glorious gardens and ornamental rhododendrons
Euston Estate – The Duke of Grafton (Nr. Thetford)
Ash in SSSI woodland in the face of Chalara, challenges of deer mgmt. examples of acute oak decline
AGM at 2:00pm
GLOUCESTERSHIRE
Ann Jones – 01285 655558 – [email protected]
08 Feb
27 Feb
14 May
18 June
12 July
am
pm
17 Sept
04 Oct
Huntley Church and Home Farm – Mrs T. Freeman (Huntley)
Churchyard Trees and Snowdrop Walk (Morning visit)
Council Chamber – Cotswold District Council (Cirencester)
The beauty of Trees and Tree Collections – why we need them (Evening talk)
Newark Park – National Trust (Wotton-under-Edge)
Development of the Estate and Future Management
Northwick Estate and Springhill – Mr I Bond \ Trustees of the Springhill Estate (Blockley)
A walnut collection / Natural landscape woodland
Joint meeting 3 Counties - pm joining Midlands Divisions followed by Hog Roast / BBQ
National Memorial Arboretum – NMA (Nr. Lichfield)
Battram Woods – RFS
First thinning’s/pole stage management followed by Hog Roast / BBQ
Forest of Dean and Woodgate Sawmill – FC and Woodgate Sawmills Ltd (Coleford)
From forest to finished product
Bathurst Estate – The Bathurst Estate (Cirencester)
Forest gardens and seed stands plus AGM
HEREFORDSHIRE
Chris Johnson - 01531 635069 – [email protected]
18 March
06 June
12 July
am
pm
06 Sept
17 Oct
Hellens Manor – Norman Stanier (Nr. Ledbury) (Evening talk)
“Diversifying a family orchard business” followed by hot pot supper
Easton Court – Simon Lloyd and Lady Jenifer Lloyd (Nr. Tenbury Wells)
Bringing small estate woodlands back into management (Joint with Worcestershire Division)
Joint meeting 3 Counties - pm joining Midlands Divisions followed by Hog Roast / BBQ
National Memorial Arboretum – NMA (Nr. Lichfield)
Battram Woods – RFS
First thinning’s/pole stage management followed by Hog Roast / BBQ
Whitbourne Estate – Bill and Julia Evans (Nr. Bromyard) (Joint with Worcestershire Division)
Predominantly Oak woodland management
Whitney Sawmills – Will Bullough (Nr. Hay-on-Wye)
Specialist sawmill and timber merchant including AGM (lunch time)
HOME COUNTIES
Jessica Waddington – 01727 790486 – [email protected]
14 May
Spains Hall – Sir Tim Ruggles-Brise, Bt. (Essex)
Managing woodland on a traditional rural estate.
Woodhall Park – Ralph Abel Smith, Esq (Hertford)
Details to be confirmed
?? Sept
LONDON
Angus Morrison - 02073 613524 – [email protected]
Details will be available once confirmed with hosts via www.rfs.org.uk/involved/event
MIDLANDS
Andrew MacDermott - 01536 408840 – [email protected]
20 Feb
30 April
12 July
17 Sept
pm
Kelmarsh Hall (Northamptonshire, NN6 9LT) (Evening talk)
‘The National Forest’ – Coming of age’ Speakers Dr Sophie Churchill & Matt Brocklehurst
Forest of Arden and Ragley
Woodland Creation Commercial vs Amenity
Battram Woods - RFS
First thinning’s/pole stage management with Hog Roast or BBQ - Joined by 3 Counties Divisions
Courteenhall Estate
Management of mature woodlands and arboretum
NORTH EASTERN
Hamish Jeffrey - 01833 660014 – [email protected]
17 April
08 May
10 June
26 June
17 July
am
17 July
pm
25 Sept
Rokeby Estate – Morritt Family
Restoration of upland Ash/Oak
Wallington Estate – National Trust
Woodland management on Capability site
Ford and Etal – Lord Joicey
Joint meeting with the Scottish RFS
Crook Woodland – Hugh and Penny Bence (Evening Meeting 5:30pm)
Bringing 40 year old, ex F/C unthinned Sitka back into production
Ward’s Sawmill – Alister Ward (Frosterley)
Modern sawmill specialising in large logs
Burnhope Reservoir – Northumbria Water
Conversion of woodland in catchment area
Shotley Hall Estate – Andrew Martell
Forestry on an award winning estate
NORTH WALES
John Roe - 01513 364640 – [email protected]
24 April
29 May
03 July
am
03 July
pm
02 Oct
Erw Glan yr Afon – Susan Pynegar (Llanfyllin)
Broadleaf vs Conifer
Cefn du Tremeirchion – Denis & Heather Fitzgerald (Caerwys)
A 25 year old plantation
Plowden Estate – RGP Plowden Esq (Bishops Castle)
Private estate forestry. Including AGM
Charles Ransford and Son (Bishopcastle)
Hafod Boeth – Giles Keating Esq (Penrhyndeudraeth)
Restructuring a PAWS woodland after windblow and P.ramorum
NORTH WEST MIDLANDS
Marc Liebrecht – 01543 261999 – [email protected]
16 April
Eaton Coppice – Mr G Good (Church Stretton)
18 June
JCB, Lakeside Works – Mr S Dewhirst (JCB contact) (Rocester)
09 Sept
Blackheath Covert – Inglewood Investment Company Ltd (Stafford)
NORTH WESTERN
David Brackley - 01772 451276 – [email protected]
24 April
10 May
19 June
17 July
03 Oct
Birkett Houses Estate – Mr Brian Scowcroft (Kendal)
Large scale New Native Woodland, Ancient Semi Natural Woodland and large commercial pheasant shoot
Muncaster Castle – Mr Patrick Gordon-Duff-Pennington (Ravenglass)
Gardens and tree collection established in the 18 th century, including a nationally important
Rhododendron collection
Witherslack Woodlands – Mr Nick Stanley (Grange-over-Sands)
Managing a mixed-age, multi-use woodland with a diverse workforce
Dunham Massey Park – National Trust (Altrincham)
Management of historic parkland in a modern context and AGM
Newton Rigg College – Newton Rigg College (part of Askham Bryan College) (Penrith)
Forestry and arboriculture education, oak provenance trials & training course woodland
NORTHERN IRELAND
Desmond Henry – 02827 638026 – [email protected]
05 April
Caledon Estate – (Co Tyrone)
05 Sept
A Forestry Service property provisional
including AGM
NOTTS & LINCS
William Price – 07771 376622 – [email protected]
06 May
Owthorpe Wood – E H Compton, Esq (Nottingham NG12)
Hands-on uneven size management
Scawby Estate – T M Sutton Nelthorpe, Esq (Brigg DN20 9LX)
The management of traditional estate woodlands
Colwick Woods – Friends of Colwick Woods (Nottingham NG3)
Community ancient woodland (Evening Meeting)
Lincolnshire Wood Fair – Revesby Estate (Revesby, Nr Horncastle PE22)
Parkland and specimen trees
Hanby Estates – Hanby Estates (Louth LN11)
Timber production and uses
03 June
26 Aug
07 Sept
15 Sept
OXON-BUCKS
Tim Shardlow - 01869 340342 – [email protected]
26 March
19 June
17 Sept
17 Sept
am
pm
Evening Meeting Talks – Neighbours Hall, (Great Milton)
Speakers Gill Petrokofsky and Steve Rodrick
Hardwick Estate – Sir Julian Rose (Goring on Thames)
Evening Meeting
Common Wood – David Harris (Penn)
Furniture Museum and works – Stewart Linford (High Wycombe)
SOMERSET & DORSET
John Sanders – 01308 422928 – [email protected]
07 May
Blackdown Hills - John Greenshields
Joint meeting with South Western Division
Hooke Park – Jez Ralph (SY526999)
Hooke Park forestry and sawmilling, Hooke Park timber processing and building
11 June
SOUTH EASTERN
Andrew Wright – 01825 890381 – [email protected]
07 May
04 June
02 July
am
02 July
pm
17 Sept
am
17 Sept
pm
Newick & Sutton Hall Estate – Mr & Mrs Sclater (Uckfield, East Sussex)
Quality hardwoods and conifer estate forestry
Parham Park – Lady Emma Barnard (Storrington, RH20 4HS)
Softwood silviculture, rhododendron controls, parkland trees, historic house & gardens
Weald Barkfold – Lea Forestry Ltd (Northchapel, Haslemere)
Management of mature broadleaf woodland
Frith Wood, Leconfield Estate – Lord & Lady Egremont (Northchapel, Haslemere)
Post medieval iron furnace site in ancient woodland
Torry Hill – John Leigh-Pemberton (Sittingbourne, Kent)
Sweet chestnut production and marketing
Kent Woodland Employment Scheme – KWES (Sittingbourne, Kent)
Training & employment in woodland for ex-service personnel and ex-offenders
SOUTH WALES
Gareth Henson - 01443 490252 – [email protected]
19 March
02 May
04 July
10 Oct
Indoor Illustrated Talk - John Weir FC - Castle Hotel, Llandovery
How climate change will effect and determine UK tree species choices in the future
Talley and Taliaris Woodlands, (Llandeilo)
Spring outdoor meet
Stackpole
Summer outdoor meet
Llanarth Estate, (Abergavenny)
Autumn outdoor meet
SOUTH WESTERN
Rupert Baker - 01364 652217 – [email protected]
26 Feb
07 May
19 June
06 Sept
am
06 Sept
pm
09 Oct
Winter lecture - Chris Marrow (Coombeshead) and AGM
How to avoid falling foul of the European Protected Species legislation
Blackdown Hills - John Greenshields
Joint meeting with Somerset & Dorset Division
Wareham / Gunwood
ASNW woods with big oak and conifer
Sutcliffe Woods – Sutcliffe Family (Broadhempston)
Progress on excellent farm woodland planting and unmanaged section
Michelcombe – (Dartmoor)
Wadebridge/Bodmin
An arboricultural theme and management for recreation (tbc)
SOUTHERN
Steve Russell – 01380 830022 – [email protected]
18 March
The Clubhouse, Malshanger House - Sir Michael & Lady Colman (Basingstoke, SU567527)
Speaker: Christopher Dobbs, Mary Rose Trust (Evening Indoor Meeting)
Holywell Estate – Lord Clarendon (Wickham, SO32 2QE)
ASNW and PAWS management, new native woodland
Froyle Estate – Mrs Cannon (Alton)
Walter’s Wood, Phytopthora ramorum Larch felling, Elm/SP
Rotherfield Estate, East Tisted – Sir James and Lady Scott (Alton)
Parkland management (Evening Meeting)
Hound Wood, Farley – William Sleeman (Salisbury, SU224301)
Deer and ride management, felling and replanting, PAWS restoration
Englefield Estate Office – The Benyon Family (Reading, 3UA)
Mixed commercial forest and AGM
08 May
04 June
25 June
22 July
17 Sept
WORCESTERSHIRE
Ted Wilkes - 01905 453225
23 Jan
Oversley Wood – Forestry Commission England (Nr. Alcester)
Management of commercial woodland with public access – Reversion of Conifer to Broadleaf wood
Lunch at local pub (Morning Meeting)
The Lawrence Pilling Memorial Lecture - Hawford – (Evening Indoor Meeting)
The natural history of The Wyre Forest speaker John Robinson
Hagley Estate – Viscount Cobham (Nr. Stourbridge) and AGM
Restoration of historic landscape
Easton Court – Simon Lloyd and Lady Jenifer Lloyd (Nr. Tenbury Wells)
Bringing small estate woodlands back into management (Joint with Herefordshire Division)
Joint meeting 3 Counties - pm joining Midlands Divisions followed by Hog Roast / BBQ
National Memorial Arboretum – NMA (Nr. Lichfield)
Battram Woods – RFS
First thinning’s/pole stage management followed by Hog Roast / BBQ
Whitbourne Estate – Bill and Julia Evans (Nr. Bromyard) (Joint with Herefordshire Division)
Predominantly Oak woodland management
Bodenham Arboretum - James Binnian (Nr. Kidderminster)
Commercial timber production together with an afternoon tour of the Arboretum
05 March
15 April
06 June
12 July
am
pm
06 Sept
21 Oct
YORKSHIRE
Ben Scotting - 01765 609355 – [email protected]
19-23 May
Whole Society Meeting - see front cover
02 July
Druids Temple - Mark Cunliffe-Lister (Nidderdale) (Evening Meeting)
Work creation over the centuries
West Haigh Wood - Barnsley Council (Grimethorpe)
Archaeological features in an ancient woodland
Phoenix Park - The Land Trust (Barnsley)
Future management of maturing plantations on a restored colliery tip
10 Sept
am
10 Sept
pm