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New disease identified in native juniper trees in Upper Teesdale |
A damaging plant disease caused by Phytophthora austrocedrae has been confirmed in rare native juniper bushes in the North Pennines of England. |
Forest Diary, Lighting up the Forest |
With February half-term round the corner, it’s a busy time for me as one of the Forestry Commission’s Recreation Rangers. The school holidays provide the perfect opportunity for families to get out in the forest and explore the outdoors, but this half-term is going to be particularly special as you’ll have the chance to see the forest in a whole new light… |
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Bodgers revive Sherwood's rustic traditions |
When Ian Major clocks off as a conservationist working in Sherwood Forest, he likes nothing better than to unwind by reaching for a lump of locally grown timber and re-learning the skills of the area’s once famous rustic craftspeople. |
Getting West Midlands' woods back to work |
A grant scheme has been launched by the Forestry Commission to help tap one of the West Midlands' greatest assets – its trees. |
Celebrate National Nest Box week at Grizedale this half term |
The Forestry Commission is inviting people to celebrate National Nest Box week at Grizedale this February half term. |
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The Wanted for Westonbirt! |
Pop sensation The Wanted will perform a West Country concert this Summer at Westonbirt Arboretum |
Razorlight announce Forest gig |
Razorlight will play an East Anglian date this summer in Thetford Forest |
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Forest Diary, The Burning Question |
The heathlands of the New Forest, which form part of what is known as the Open Forest, cover around 12,500 hectares (31,250 acres) and are made up of a variety of habitats. |
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Celebrate wooden wonders at Westonbirt Arboretum |
This February half term at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, children can celebrate one of the most remarkable materials on the planet - wood! |
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18,000 oaks take root in Stapleford Wood |
Over 18,000 oak trees have been planted by the Forestry Commission in a long term plan to return Stapleford Wood, near Newark, back to its ancient roots. |
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Local fans asked to help steer future of biking in Dalby |
Local bikers are being urged to gear up and help improve Dalby’s Forest’s already world class mountain biking network. The Forestry Commission has teamed up with Singletraction to re-establish a trail building group in Dalby Forest. |
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Forest Diary, Keeping safe in windy woods |
We’ve had a particularly blustery start to the New Year and, with winds up to 90mph passing through the New Forest at the beginning of January, the Forestry Commission saw a number of trees uprooted or significantly damaged by the storms. Around 20 or so of these trees fell or dropped branches across some of our major roads, forest tracks and trails. We even had a perfectly healthy tree blow onto the railway line that passes through the Forest. |
Wildlife fan has designs on a better wood |
A precious fragment of ancient woodland in the North Pennines is set to be rescued by a nature fan inspired by wildlife with support from the Forestry Commission. |
Contemporary sculpture exhibition tours from London to Grizedale Forest |
An exhibition of contemporary sculpture that recently wowed audiences in London will go on show in the heart of one of the Lake District’s most popular locations, and the place of its conception, the Forestry Commission’s Grizedale Forest. |
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A feather in the cap for veteran goshawk watcher |
Hundreds of goshawk feathers are providing the key to unlocking the private lives of one of the UK’s rarest and most persecuted birds. |
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Forest Diary, Helping our native plants |
The New Forest is one of the most important areas for wildlife throughout Western Europe. Despite this, we fight an ongoing battle to control the spread of non-native and often very invasive plants from destroying our precious local wildlife. |
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Steps into Westonbirt Arboretum |
Pop phenomenon, Steps, have announced they will be bringing their reunion tour to Westonbirt Arboretum, Gloucestershire, this summer, as part of Forestry Commission Live Music. |
Kielder goes downhill to chalk up another record |
Hardy trail builders are going up in the world to build the longest competition downhill mountain bike route in England. Wielding shovels and pitch forks, mountain bike fans expect to have the two mile trail built by October in Forestry Commission's Kielder Water & Forest Park. |
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Alfie Boe announces forest concerts |
Alfie Boe is the latest act to announce participation in this year’s Forestry Commission Live Music with a brace of concerts this summer. |
Work to start on restoring lake to its former glory |
One of Greater Manchester’s finest fishing lakes is to be restored to its former glory by the Forestry Commission and volunteers. |
Popular path to be improved for walkers |
The Forestry Commission is to improve a path that is popular with walkers and horse riders. Cooling Lane, which links Higher Folds with Tyldesley, had suffered from flooding making it difficult for people to pass. |
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Replanting Crowthorne Forest begins |
The first of 60,000 new trees are to go in the ground at Crowthorne Forest on Friday and Saturday 13 & 14 January to replace those destroyed by forest fires in May last year. Some 300 local volunteers have come forward to help the Forestry Commission plant the trees following the worst forest fires in Berkshire's history. |
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Sculptures will mark history of Sutton Manor |
Sculptures celebrating the history of Sutton Manor have been installed by the Forestry Commission. Five cast steel monoliths have been placed along the heritage trail, which winds its way around the land that was formerly Sutton Manor Colliery in St Helens. |
Forest Diary, New Forest welcomes 125,000 new trees |
The winter is a busy time for me and my team as we spend many hours each day organising the planting of thousands of new trees across the New Forest. |
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Forest Diary, entry ten |
A multitude of volunteers play an integral role in helping to conserve wildlife and habitats and enhance visitor enjoyment in the New Forest. There are over 250 people that undertake voluntary work through one of two Forestry Commission schemes – the Volunteer Rangers and the Two Trees Conservation Team. But we are in need of more help and support from local residents in order to protect the natural beauty of the New Forest. |
Stream restoration begins at Latchmore |
Preparatory works for a wetland restoration project at Latchmore in the New Forest begin this month which will, later this summer, see the stream moved back to its natural meandering course. |
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Ed Sheeran announces Forest concert for the summer |
Ed Sheeran has announced a special gig in his home county of Suffolk next summer where he will perform amongst the trees at Thetford Forest as part of Forestry Commission Live Music. |
Madness announce forest show |
Madness have announced a West Country show for the summer. Their performance in a woodland glade at Westonbirt Arboretum forms part of Forestry Commission Live Music 2012. |
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Vintage picture may unlock story of Chopwell's Lumberjills |
Forest chiefs are trying to identify people in a faded WWII photograph to help shed light on the work of north east lumberjills. |
Forest Diary, entry nine |
The New Forest is home to many different hardwood trees, which play a vital role in creating habitats for our local plants and animals. However, these trees also have a crucial role to play in supplying local, sustainably-grown timber. |
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Get Fighting Fit in the Forest this New Year |
Many of us make resolutions each New Year which we struggle to keep or indeed start, so Forestry Commission England is making it easier for you with a wide range of activities to get you in shape. |
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Stargazing live in Sherwood Pines Forest |
The skies the limit when astronomers descend on Sherwood Pines Forest Park in the New Year. |
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Forest Diary, entry eight |
The start of winter is a perfect time to get out and enjoy the New Forest. Some of the most popular walks and trails for visitors during the summer months are quieter now, offering opportunities to really take in the scenery and wildlife around you. |
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Forest Diary, entry seven |
The countdown to Christmas has already begun which normally means the arrival of icy mornings. But these unusually mild daybreaks come as a welcome surprise for me, as I head out to the New Forest at 5.30am. At this time I think the forest looks its best and I’m able to be close to nature and manage wildlife hands on. |
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Will Young announces summer forest concert dates for 2012 |
Hot off the back of a sold-out UK tour, and Number One platinum album, Will Young has announced a tour of nation’s forests in 2012 as part of Forestry Commission Live Music. |
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The Wombats announce special ‘Party in Delamere Forest’ |
The Wombats have announced a special concert for 2012 which will see Liverpool's finest performing for one night only in the spectacular woodland location of Delamere Forest as part of Forestry Commission Live Music. |
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Secretive roe deer spotted at Sutton Manor |
The Forestry Commission wants the public to help spot secretive roe deer that have been seen in a St Helens woodland to see if they have settled there. |
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Independent Panel on Forestry publish progress report |
The Independent Panel on Forestry, set-up to advise the Government on the future of England’s forests and woods, has published its progress report. |
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Forestry Commission backs England's Community Forests |
Forestry Commission England has announced a new joint working agreement with the country’s Community Forests, which will increase collaboration between the two parties and enhance links between national and local level activity. |
The Forestry Commission and The Conservation Foundation join forces to reinstate Elm Trees |
The Forestry Commission in the West Midlands is taking part in the Great British Elm Experiment, run by the Conservation Foundation, which aims to reinstate Elm Trees into our countryside. |
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Winter walks for less at Westonbirt |
From 2 January 2012, visitors to Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, can enjoy new winter admission prices. |
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Plan B announces forest tour for 2012 |
Plan B has announced a series of concerts in forests next summer. The uniquely talented artist is the first act to announce multiple dates as part of Forestry Commission Live Music which will see him perform in spectacular woodland locations across the country. |
Forest chiefs salute eco-volunteers in Osgodby |
Forest chiefs have said a big thank you to volunteers who are helping a Lincolnshire wood to turn over a new leaf. |
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Yorkshire trees hit by new disease |
A destructive plant disease caused by the Phytophthora lateralis pathogen and first identified in the UK only in 2010 has been confirmed in Lawson cypress trees at Blubberhouses, near Otley in North Yorkshire. |
Santa is moving with the times |
Father Christmas left his reindeers in Lapland and instead took to a Segway when he paid a call on Sherwood Pines Forest Park. |
Forestry Apprentices Celebrate Success |
Three young people in East Devon and Somerset are celebrating after gaining valuable qualifications and hands on work experience in Forestry and Arboriculture as part of a pilot apprentice scheme run by the Forestry Commission, Silvanus Trust and Bicton College. |
Forest Diary, entry six |
This week we’re marking National Tree Week (26 November – 4 December) at the Forestry Commission - by taking delivery of about 4,500 trees! You might think this is nothing unusual as we deal with trees all year round, but these are a very special kind of tree; freshly cut Christmas trees. |
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National biomass suppliers database launched |
A new way for biomass suppliers and customers to find each other has been announced by the Forestry Commission’s Biomass Energy Centre and the Carbon Trust today, 1 December 2011. |
Visit the Forestry Commission’s Winter Wonderland this Christmas |
Escape from the shops, gather up your friends and family, wrap up warm and get into the Christmas spirit this year by visiting the New Forest. A large range of real Christmas trees are now on sale at the Forestry Commission’s sales centres. |
The last pine standing to be felled |
The loud cry of timber will be heard in Essex on 9 December 2012 when the Forestry Commission puts an axe to the very last pine tree in Chalkney wood, Essex. |
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Forest Diary, entry five |
Autumn is a busy time for the Forestry Commission, with lots of our forest projects well underway. Earlier this month, I invited our Consultative Panel and local MP Julian Lewis to a tour of the New Forest to witness first hand many of these on-going projects and discuss future forest plans. |
Forestry Commission unveils New Forest plans for next century |
Local MP Dr Julian Lewis has visited the Forestry Commission this month to witness first hand its plans for the New Forest. |
New Forest to welcome 125,000 new trees |
The Forestry Commission is celebrating National Tree Week by welcoming thousands of new additions to the New Forest. Over the next 12 months, the Forestry Commission is set to plant more than 125,000 new trees across the New Forest, Ringwood and Wareham. |
Festive activities at Whinlatter Forest |
Enjoy an escape from the high street this Christmas and buy a real tree from England’s only true mountain forest at the Forestry Commission’s Whinlatter Forest in the Lake District. |
Celebrate a green Christmas at Grizedale |
The Forestry Commission is inviting people to enjoy a green Christmas at Grizedale Forest this year, when Green Father Christmas returns to his log cabin in the forest for the weekend. |
The magic of real Christmas trees at Alice Holt Forest |
Take a break from the crowds of Christmas shoppers and welcome in the festive season with a special family visit to Alice Holt Forest to buy your Christmas tree. The Forestry Commission sales centre is now open daily from 9am to 4.30pm until all trees are sold out. |
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New Forest Pannage Season 2011 |
The Forestry Commission’s Deputy Surveyor of the New Forest, Kevin Penfold can confirm that there will be no extension of the pannage season this year. As a result, the pannage season will end on Saturday 26th November 2011. |
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