19 September 2006
Guide to Local Wood Products & Services
In the Tamar Valley AONB, South Devon AONB and Dartmoor National Park
Westcountry-based project, Working the Woods, has published a Guide to help local people source everything from locally made charcoal for a barbeque, to a timber-framed house.
The Guide to Local Wood Products and Services contains over 100 local businesses and organisations from across the Tamar Valley and South Devon Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) and Dartmoor National Park areas. The listings include woodland management services, tree surgeons, tree nurseries, timber suppliers, local sawmills, coppice workers, furniture makers, timber framers, boat builders, advice on orchards, wood energy, wildlife management and much more.
The Guide has been split into easy to use categories and also contains a location map, information on available grants, trees, hedges and the law, useful tips when employing a contractor or advisor and a list of other useful contacts.
The launch of the Guide this autumn is the culmination of 12 months of work for Jacqui Orange, Project Manager at Working the Woods, and designer, Steve Carreck of Graphic Words, based at Peter Tavy.
Ms Orange, said: ' It’s taken longer than we anticipated to pull all the information together but I think it has been well worth the wait. We have been promoting the Guide at shows and events across Devon and Cornwall throughout the summer and we have received excellent feedback. The Guide has been produced as a follow-up to the hugely successful Woodland and Countryside Services Directory, produced by the South Hams Woodland Campaign in 2000. It has been comprehensively up-dated and broadened out to include a much larger area, as well as the many new businesses that have started up.'
The Guide is just one way of encouraging people to buy wood products locally. It is estimated that a staggering 85% of the wood and timber products used in the UK comes from overseas. Buying locally grown timber not only helps to strengthen the local economy and secure incomes for the many businesses connected with the forestry industry in Devon and Cornwall, it also encourages woodland owners to manage their woodlands sustainably, in turn, supporting biodiversity, conserving the local landscape and providing thousands of acres of space for people to enjoy.
'There are plans for an online version of the Guide', says Jacqui Orange, 'we had such a tremendous response from local businesses who want to be included in the Guide we are hoping to have a constantly updated version available online later in the autumn'.
The work has been funded by the Forestry Commission (external link, opens new window), Countryside Agency (external link, opens new window), Dartmoor National Park Authority, South Devon AONB (external link, opens new window), Tamar Valley AONB (external link, opens new window), Silvanus Trust (external link, opens new window) and South Hams District Council (external link, opens new window).
The Guide is FREE and copies are available by sending a self-addressed enveloped for 55p to Working the Woods, c/o Tamar Valley AONB, Cotehele Quay, St Dominick, Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 6TA. The Guide is also available at visitor centres, garden centres, farm shops and booksellers across the Tamar Valley, South Devon and Dartmoor area.
For further information
Jacqui Orange, Woodland Industry Project Manager, Working the Woods, c/o Tamar Valley AONB, Cotehele Quay, St Dominick, Saltash, Cornwall, PL12 6TA. Tel. 01579 351316. Email jorange@tamarvalley.org.uk
To arrange a photo opportunity please do not hesitate to contact Jacqui Orange on 01579 351316 or email jorange@tamarvalley.org.uk.
Notes for Editors
Working the Woods is part of an exciting national pilot, one of only four across the UK highlighting the links between protected landscapes and woodland in the Tamar Valley AONB, South Devon AONB and Dartmoor National Park.
Working the Woods stimulates the use of more locally derived timber by improving coordination within the woodland sector; promoting wood product marketing; raising public awareness of the benefits of woodlands; creating new partnerships and sharing good practice amongst woodland sector businesses.
Dunster Wood Fair, Minehead, Somerset Saturday 30 September 2006 from 10.30 am to 4.30 pm. Featuring wood and woodlands, their products and services, this one-day event completes the week-long Wood 2006 International Chainsaw Carving Festival held at Dunster Castle, Somerset held from 25 to the 30 September 2006.
There will be a £2.50 charge for adults into the Wood Fair on the Saturday, with a reduction if a valid bus or train ticket is presented. Kids go FREE.
For further information visit www.woodfairsouthwest.co.uk (external link, opens new window)
The Sustainable Construction Day being held on Thursday 28 September 2006 at Morwellham Quay is being coordinated by Devon-based environment charity WestDen, with support from the Tamar Valley AONB Sustainable Development Fund.
A wide range of exhibitors will be demonstrating solar heating, sustainable building materials such as lime and cob, bio-fuels, rainwater harvesting systems, heat pumps, and much more. The event is FREE and runs from 10 am until 4 pm. For further information contact Richard Halliwell at WestDen on 0845 345 5077.
For Further Information from Dartmoor National Park Authority
Rupert Lane, Head of Trees and Woodlands, Dartmoor National Park Authority
Tel: (01626) 832093
Return to Dartmoor National Park Authority Partnership Project News Releases
This page last updated 19 September 2006
