The biological recording courses operated by Birmingham University have trained hundreds of ecologists who work for the UK’s most famous organisations.

The natural world is the litmus paper of the health of our environment. But the last course in the UK which teaches people how to identify plants and animals in the field, and so monitor their changes, is threatened with closure.

Click here to find out more

This feed was drawn from the Highland Birchwoods website

Good morning, and isn't it a cold one !!!! The first Highland woodfuel forum (Thursday 23rd February 2012 in the Kingsmills Suite, Caley Thistle Stadium) is going to start with a bang. We already have over 30 attendees from all areas of the woodfuel chain, covering private and public sector bodies. Highland Birchwoods through the  HIPP funded "Usegreenheat" project, are delighted to be taking the lead in developing the forum, and will be linking in with the established forums across Scotland to ensure we maximise its value. Let us know if you wish to attend.

This feed was drawn from the Highland Birchwoods website

Highland Birchwoods will be attending the Renewable Heat Incentive Symposium on 20th January at the David Livingstone Centre for Sustainability at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. We will be contributing to the discussion around the implementation of RHI, ensuring that issues identified through working within the sector, and specifically affecting the Highlands are recognised.

Click on the link to see more about the symposium and to book a place, hurry as there are only 40 places !!  

This feed was drawn from the Highland Birchwoods website

Northern Periphery Programme 2007-2013
Outcomes of the PMC meeting in Joensuu
20th December 2011
The Programme Monitoring Committee met on 15th-16th December in Joensuu, Finland.
The PMC congratulated the Developing Scots Pine project, the first NPP 2007-2013 project to have been successfully closed. The project developed 5 products, exceeding their target of 4. The PMC thanked the project and acknowledges their strong outcomes, which demonstrates that transnational cooperation can result in tangible products and services, which is a specific feature of the NPP.

This feed was drawn from the Highland Birchwoods website

A topical story

Frankincense - a traditional staple of the Christmas story - faces an uncertain future, according to researchers.  Ecologists have warned that the production of the fragrant resin could decline by half over the next 15 years.

The festive fragrance is produced by tapping the gum of trees in the Boswellia genus.

The findings, based on a study carried out in Ethiopia, have been published in the Journal of Applied Ecology.  To read the full story please click here

This feed was drawn from the Highland Birchwoods website

If you are visiting the Cairngorm Mountain then you will see or be using work undertaken through our "Action for Mountain Woodlands" project which was funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund.  Trails; interpretation; tree planting by local school children; interpretation at the railway centre and plants within the garden are all positive outputs for you to enjoy and benefit from.  If you click here you will see a video and more info on the work there and on other sites throughout Scotland.

This feed was drawn from the Highland Birchwoods website

 Organic projects throughout Scotland have been given a cash boost thanks to the latest round of Rural Priorities funding.

The number of grants awarded to organic farm businesses has doubled since last year, giving many farms the opportunity to convert to or maintain organic status.

In total, 86 of the 573 agri-environment projects approved were in the organic sector, representing £6.4 million of the £30.5 million awarded.  On the approved list was a £4,161 grant for a Skye croft, towards an environment management project to protect and enhance local biodiversity, supporting species such as corncrakes, hen harrier, lapwing and brown hare. Click here to read more.

This feed was drawn from the Highland Birchwoods website

 Looking for a chimney sweep, firewood or woodchip supplier? Can't find a pellet supplier or a briquette producer, or perhaps looking for woodfuel processing equipment. Then why not utilise this searchable directory covering the Highlands, Moray and Argyll.  Please click here.

This feed was drawn from the Highland Birchwoods website

Congratulations to Strathpeffer Hall in their bid to become more energy efficient, follow the link and help them by voting on the energy share site. They are currently 5th with 10% of the vote, you can make the difference !!!!

This feed was drawn from the Highland Birchwoods website

 Dick Bradford an environmental consultant who recently presented at our "Creating a Bio-energy Economy in the Highlands" conference in partnership with UHI, provides an insight in to why Barnsley Council are exceeding their carbon challenge targets. Watch this video to see one of the district heating schemes, and the difference it has made.

This feed was drawn from the Highland Birchwoods website