Loch Fleet Design & Build ITT - Q & A Responses

Posted on 18 February 2010

In response to the enquiries made to us regarding this Invitation To Tender, potential contractors can now view the Question & Answer responses here and view the proposed site here

Design & Build ITT - Updated

Posted on 05 February 2010

This Invitation to Tender was updated on 4th Feb 2010. The revised tender document is available here

Invitation To Tender : Design & Build of Timber Hide at Loch Fleet

Posted on 28 January 2010

Suitably experienced contractors are invited to submit tenders for the design and build of a timber post-and-beam wildlife hide at Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve near Golpsie.

The structure will demonstrate new and innovative construction techniques using Scots pine and local timber and provide a suitable environment for observing wildlife.

The closing date for receipt of tenders is Monday 1st March 2010 at 12 noon

For more information, please contact Ben Davies on 01463 811968 or ben.davies@highlandbirchwoods.co.uk

Forest management study tour

Posted on 04 November 2009

In September forestry professionals from Scotland, Sweden and Norway took part in a 5 day study tour to Norway. The Norwegian Forest and Landscape Institute organised the event to  learn  about Scots pine forest management, timber processing and its use in construction – to view a presentation about the trip please click here.

Innovation workshop

Posted on 03 November 2009

In June the project ran INNO, a workshop to come up with new ideas for using Scots pine timber. The event was organised by North Karelia University of Applied Sciences and attended by design, engineering and forestry students from Scotland, Finland and Sweden. To view a presentation about the event please click here.

Cairngorms Woodfuel Training Events

Posted on 02 November 2009

Cairngorms National Park is holding a series of FREE training events beggining on the 16th November and running until April 2010. These events will be aimed at a wide varity of interests from householders and farmers, to business proffessionals. For more information please read the flyer here or visit www.lowcarboncairngorms.org

Invitation To Tender

Posted on 24 September 2009

Highland Birchwoods invites tenders for the delivery of a Coppice Management and Greenwood Working Training project to be delivered at sites in East Sutherland over 18 days between November 2009 – March 2010

Deadline for submission: 12 noon on Thursday 8th October

For further details please contact Julie Paton on 01463 811653 or Julie.paton@highlandbirchwoods.co.uk
 

Survey events finished for 2009

Posted on 21 September 2009

The series of survey events organised through the Action for Mountain Woodlands project are now complete for 2009.
In all, 12 events were held across Scotland in 2009. The project volunteers did some excellent work recording new populations of scrub and also verifying existing populations. In some instances the populations found at previously identified locations were not what they were recorded as. We are planning a new series of events next year, so if you’re interested in coming along and learning about the scrub plants send us an email: info@mountainwoodlands.org
 

Pine-tree lappet moth found in Scottish forests

Posted on 27 July 2009

Forestry chiefs and moth experts are working to determine the status of the pine-tree lappet moth following the discovery of a number of them in Scottish woodlands.

There are concerns it could become a pest in this country. Its populations can increase significantly in parts of its range in Europe, usually after the occurrence of certain environmental factors, in particular very hot summers and dry winters. These periodic outbreaks can leave large areas of pine woodland stripped of foliage as the caterpillars feed on the needles. Many of the trees can die during severe outbreaks because the defoliated trees become susceptible to diseases, bark beetles and wood-boring insects as a consequence. For the full story, please click here.

A new initiative for SE Sutherland

Posted on 23 July 2009

Highland Birchwoods is working with local community groups, Forestry Commission Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage, Highland Council, the Sutherland Partnership, North Highland Forest Trust, and the Woodland Trust  to develop and secure a funding package which will deliver a range of projects to South East Sutherland in 2009/10.

These small, community-led environmental projects are related to the woodlands around Rosehall, Lairg, Golspie, Brora, Dornoch and Bonar Bridge and will:
• Add to the biodiversity of local woodlands
• Improve and encourage access to local woodlands
• Increase the local capacity to develop future woodland projects by providing training and learning opportunities

By bringing together SE Sutherland’s key environmental stakeholders, this initiative will forward community development by establishing and strengthening links and fostering a collaborative approach to the management and promotion of local woodlands.
 

For more information, contact Julie Paton on 01463 811653

Montane scrub surveys

Posted on 22 July 2009

It's been a busy period with montane scrub training courses and survey days being held across Scotland. We've been all over the country surveying, from Dunnett head to Galloway including a couple of amazing days in Hoy looking at the willows. I like to thank all the volunteers that have taken part so far and encourage them to continue with the good work.   Further survey events are being planned for the next few weeks, if you're interested please contact info@mountainwoodland.org

Biomass for Business Event - Loch of Aboyne -14 July 2009

Posted on 26 June 2009

Forestry Commission Scotland, working in partnership with Aberdeenshire Council and Scottish Enterprise, are hosting a series of events promoting Biomass for Businesses, they would like to invite you to the next event, which is on the 14th July at the Lodge on the Loch of Aboyne followed by a site visit to the Aboyne Academy biomass heating system.

Click here to go to the events section

Mountain woodland DVD filming finished

Posted on 15 June 2009

The filming of the footage for the project DVD was completed this week and what a brilliant few days we had. The weather was very kind to us so the new DVD will be absolutely stunning and will showcase montane scrub in truely beautiful light.
 

I like to thank Blue Stone Film Productions Ltd for a very professional job and Lindsay Cannon for her faultless presentation of the project. It was really inspiring to see such professionalism at work and their very obvious interest in the mountain environment and in the montane scrub plants. If you'd like read Lindsay account of the day go to her blog at http://www.tracks-and-trails.com/index.php/eng/Booking-Info/Tracks-and-Trails-Blog/Filming-for-the-mountains

The DVD is due to be launched in early September.
 

Scottish biodiversity week

Posted on 01 April 2009

As part of the annual series of events the Mountain Woodland Project will be at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh on Saturday the 23rd May 2009. If you'd like to know more about the project please come along and speak to us there.