Duo shortlisted for Equality and Diversity Awards
Two out of 13 of shortlisted entries for this year's Civil Service Diversity and Equality shortlist are from the Forestry Commission. Mark Jeffreys, a work supervisor for Penninsula Forest District, who manages the Dartmoor Prisoners Rehabilitation Project, was nominated for the Excellence in Service Delivery Award. Hugh McNish was nominated for the Leading Change in Diversity & Equality Award for his work with Branching Out - a referral programme for mental health patients dedicated to green space and conservation. It was established by Forestry Commission Scotland with four other partner agencies.
Recognition for plant heath expert
Roddie Burgess, who led our Plant Health Service for 14 years, retired in March 2011. One of the final events of Mr Burgess's career was the presentation of an honour from the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (UN/FAO). He received a plaque and Certificate of Excellence from Jose Antonio Prado, Chair and Director of the FAO’s Forest Assessment, Management and Conservation Division. The awards recognised his decade of work under the FAO umbrella and his contribution to the FAO’s new Guide to implementation of phytosanitary standards in forestry, which was published just before he retired.
Bike trail takes top place
A purpose-built mountain biking trail at Cannock Chase has been voted the best place to ride in the UK by readers of a top biking magazine.
Readers of Mountain Bike Rider (MBR) voted the Monkey Trail as their favourite ‘Reader Trail of the Year’ – putting it higher than all other man-made trails.
Honour for bridge was on the cards
An innovative bridge designed to provide safe but enjoyable passage across a river for horses, walkers and cyclists alike won honours for the Forestry Commission in the British Construction Industry Awards 2009. The New Lewisburn Bridge in Northumberland’s Kielder Forest, designed by the Forestry Commission’s Forestry Civil Engineering business unit, was highly commended in the Small Civil Engineering Project category. The 50-metre bridge was describes as “another imaginative project for the Forestry Commission, a lot of bridge for the money and an attractive and appropriate solution to a proactive tourism initiative". more
The element of work in the business of play
Educationalists in the forests of Wales were presented with a top award – for helping youngsters prepare for work through play. Thousands of young people have learned all kinds of new skills through the Forestry Commission Wales’ Woodlands for Learning teams activities. And now they have won the primary sector category in the Mid Glamorgan Education Business Partnership annual awards. The Forestry Commission Wales team works with the Business Partnership Network to provide links between the worlds of business and education, offering young people a rewarding and realistic introduction to the world of work. Education officer, Karen Clarke, said:
“It is a great boost for the whole team to have the hard work they have put in with direct delivery visits by primary schools, Industry days with secondary schools, Teacher Training days and Science week workshops recognised at this level.”
More than 22,119 woodland learning experiences have been delivered to children and young people throughout Wales during 2008/09 and over 1,400 individuals have participated in teacher training sessions. more
Pure gold – community woodland that’s living proof – people love their woods
A community woodland in a beautiful hidden valley just north of Llandovery in rural Carmarthenshire won its second gold award in two years. Cwm Rhaeadr Woods at Cil-y-cwm received the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Gold Award for multi benefit forestry at last week’s Royal Welsh Show. Brian Hanwall, Forestry Commission Wales local area manager, said:
“This 246 acre forest now plays an active part in community life, making the outdoor experience to walkers, cyclists, horse riders and wildlife enthusiasts alike.”
The woodland was opened up after Cil-y-cwm Community Association won a £140,000 Forestry Commission Wales grant from Cydcoed, its rural regeneration programme. Competition judges Tim Sawyer and Garth Evans described the wood as “a well used and delightful asset”. more
Cannock and Wyre Visitor Centres Join UK’s Tops Attractions List
The Forestry Commission’s Birches Valley Forest Centre at Cannock Chase, near Rugeley, and the Wyre Forest Visitor Centre, near Bewdly in Worcestershire joined the UK’s top attractions after achieving ‘Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Scheme’ (VAQAS) accreditation’s from VisitBritain. VAQAS is VisitBritain’s quality assessment service for all types of visitor attractions throughout Britain. All areas that impact on the quality of the visitor experience are included in the assessment, ranging from the initial enquiry though to the departure. The friendly staff particularly impressed the VisitBritain assessor, as did the wide range of facilities on offer, the cleanliness and the great value for money both Centres offer. more
