News & Events

Monthly Briefing

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May - June 2008

News

Incorporated! - On 22nd May South West Forest Ltd came into being with its own company number (6600851). Charitable status has been applied for but we will not know the outcome of this for another 10-12 weeks or so. For the time being SWF Ltd remains dormant until charitable status and final details of the transfer of staff are sorted (anticipated late 2008). Current operations and staff of South West Forest, including Ruby Country remain hosted with Devon County Council.

New Chairman - Following incorporation of SWF Ltd Devon County Councillor Des Hannon steps into the role as Chairman for South West Forest. This follows Professor Ian Mercer’s significant stint of nearly six years in the same role. Ian has held the SWF banner at a range of events and high profile meetings ensuring that South West Forest could pack a punch well above its size and weight in the region. Ian will continue on the board of directors and our grateful thanks go to him for his tireless support and representation of the organisation.

Post Offices in Ruby Country

With over 40% of the Post Office network across Ruby Country recommended for closure - and in most cases the village shop that survives alongside the Post Office counter - the Ruby Country Initiative has been both informing people about what they can do, and has been gathering information subsequent to a formal submission to the consultation.

Events

Plymouth Woodfair 10th May 2008 - “You can’t put a value on the weather” was one comment that seemed apt at the Plymouth Woodfair. Bathed in clear sunshine from beginning to end the event was visited by 100s of people throughout the day. Previously postponed from 22 March when high winds prevented the event going ahead the mini Woodfair event took place in the heart of Plymouth in Armada way. The first of its kind, the event has helped to establish a good working relationship with the Plymouth City Council staff. There is every hope that a return visit can be made for exhibitors to promote their local wares and services with a seasonal offering nearer Christmas time.

Ruby Country Events

Final preparations for the Midsummer Food Festival (21st June) are underway. Similarly final bookings are being taken for the Ruby Marquee at the Roadford Woodfair (12th-13th July). We have Tina Bricknell Webb and Anne Drury confirmed as demonstration chefs on the Saturday and Sunday respectively, showing how easy it is to cook with venison - linked with the SWF Deer Initiative.

Plans have been announced for the Ruby Art Expo 2008, which will be taking place on 11th-12th October, and plans are taking shape to showcase the very best art from Ruby Country and the surrounding area. Finally, the Ruby Country Co-ordinator, Tom Dixon, successfully completed the Ruby Run, which took place 8th June, with a good turn-out completing the half-marathon in blazing sunshine. He is still nursing blisters!

Evaluating and Classifying Timber for the Wood Processing Industry 29th April

A very interesting series of seminars highlighted the need for more investment into the forest industry in the region:

1. For an evaluation of the potential timber resource so that investment can be attracted.

2. To assess and demonstrate the investment areas which would most benefit the industry. E.g. Timber grading equipment, provenance and seed selection, new timber engineering techniques for building.

These are areas which SWF as an organisation is promoting and showcasing where possible in our various capacities such as advisory work, Woodfair and collaborative networking.

ICF Conference: ‘Carbon Lean UK’ Edinburgh 23rd and 24th April

Key matters regarding the role of UK forestry and carbon offsetting were raised at the conference which was attended by SWF’s Forestry Advisor, Mick Bracken.

After all the presentations both for and against. ICF delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of privately funded carbon offset programmes having a future in UK Forestry.

The main argument against was that carbon offset: (eg sequestering carbon, offsetting outputs) encourages ‘buying carbon credits in order for individuals and companies to continue producing emissions without addressing the need to avoid or reduce. This give forestry organisations a bad name if associated with such practice.

Arguments for, can be summarised as follows:

a. UK forestry grants are not providing the incentives for landowners to plant and manage woodlands and grant uptake is reducing at the same time as EU funding is also diminishing. It seems logical that the private sector should take up the baton for carbon sequestration rather than the taxpayer.

b. Within the next three years the Forestry Commission will draw up a standard for carbon offsetting involving woodlands that will seek to ensure that investors address avoidance and reduction before offsetting

c. Properly managed productive woodlands provide benefits which go far beyond the obvious carbon sequestration in the standing timber. These include material substitution in building materials and an alternative source of energy to fossil fuels as well as accumulation of soil carbon and other environmental benefits unrelated to carbon issues.

d. It is still the case that the public associate tree planting as the logical and simplest way to counteract carbon emissions.

Devon and Royal Cornwall County Shows

SWF was present at both events and received interest from a number of quarters with regards to advisory visits for new woodland planting and woodland management. Advisor Mick Bracken will be following these up in the coming weeks.

Deer Management Coordinator Interviews

We are delighted to announce, following interviews earlier this month, that Gavin Ingram will be appointed to the new role for the SWF’s new Deer Management project. He comes with a clear track record in estate management and experience of deer management in Cornwall. Gavin is thus the ideal man for ‘walking the talk’ with land owners and stalkers on the ground. His work will ensure the success of South West Forest Wild Venison as a brand which has quality and accountability at its heart by:

a) helping to secure the significant investment made in planting new woodland for the region over the last ten years,

b) demonstrating the benefits of a well managed deer herd for the region as a healthy meat source and

c) promoting deer as a valuable tourist attraction in their own right.

Progress

Advisory Visits

A total of two visits were undertaken in April, one for woodland creation, and one for woodland management.

Neither project was very large nor appropriate for EWGS but verbal advice was given in both cases related to appropriate management and habitat creation.

Site Monitoring

Eight monitoring visits were undertaken last month by the advisor.

Roadford Woodfair 12th and 13th July 2008

Steady progress is being made on the plans for Woodfair 2008. We now have approximately 60 exhibitors and nearly 20 demonstrators confirmed, with more to follow. Stakeholders are showing support and enthusiasm for our return to Roadford and we are looking forward to a successful (and sunny) event. The impact of more staff changes have been thankfully minimised with the recruitment of Lesley James to help cover some of this important role and with Jacqui Orange continuing to help out as acting Woodfair Co-ordinator on a part-time basis.

Following a difficult legacy from the Taunton event last year, significant savings to the budget have been made: South West Lakes Trust has kindly offered their management costs as ‘in-kind’ support; as has Devon County Council’s H&S officer who has agreed to proof exhibitors’ risk assessments and the H&S requirement of the event as a whole. Savings have been made on other items for the Woodfair whilst the provision of a professional ‘gate-keeping’ company, ‘Nettaticket’ may incur some costs but save the organisation money and time elsewhere.

Press releases promoting the event have been picked up in several local and regional papers with well-placed editorial features in some. Adverts have also been commissioned in regional press including the North Cornwall Advertiser, 40,000 copies of which were printed in time to be handed out at the Royal Cornwall Show. Woodfair flyers have gone into a number of publications, including the Primary Times where 15,000 have been distributed to schools in Devon and Cornwall near to Roadford Lake, thereby targeting our favoured ‘family’ audience.

Ruby Country Initiative

A mail shot to over 2,000 Ruby businesses initiating the Ruby Business Network as a membership organisation has been completed, with about 50 responses so far. This is providing useful information about business needs and is directly informing the programme of workshops and training that is being put together.

With respect to the training programme, we have forged a close link with Robin Deitch, new in post as the West Devon Food and Drink Co-ordinator (hosted by Devon Food and Drink). As many of our aims and geography overlap, we are establishing a jointly hosted programme which should allow greater scope and better value to businesses in Ruby Country.

Presentations have been made to both Halwill and Ashwater Parish AGMs, both productive and informative.

A joint expression of interest has been lodged with the Big Lottery Local Food to fund the development of the Ruby brand. This has been made with Somerset Food Links and would see a mutual exchange of knowledge and best practice with Somerset Food Links

Further liaison work to negotiate how the Ruby brand fits into Devon-wide food and drink branding has been ongoing, and will culminate in a meeting of all Devon food and drink projects at Cookworthy on 24th June.

Forthcoming Ruby Events

21st June - Midsummer Food Festival in association with Holsworthy Family Resource Centre, to be held at the Holsworthy Memorial Hall

12th-13th July - Ruby Showcase Marquee at the Roadford Woodfair

10th-12th October - Ruby Art Exhibition, Holsworthy Memorial Hall

Forthcoming Public Events at Which Ruby Shall be Present

17th July - Launceston Agricultural Show

6th August - North Devon Agricultural Show

14th August - Okehampton and District Agricultural Show

18th August - Holsworthy and Stratton Agricultural Show

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