Category Archives: Forestry Commission

Defra updates Chalara policies

Defra updates Chalara policies With spring finally approaching, the threat of Chalara to ash across the UK is greater than ever. As mentioned in a previous post, the fungus that causes the disease lies dormant over winter, and sporulates in the … Continue reading

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Assessing the impacts of ash dieback

Spring is almost upon us, and early signs of budburst mean that trees will soon be in leaf. Warmer temperatures and leafing trees will both have implications for ash dieback, the disease found last year in ash trees in the … Continue reading

Posted in Biodiversity, Defra, Ecology, Economics, Forestry Commission, Forests, UK | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Forest estate in England to remain in public ownership

For the past two years, the future of England’s forest estate has been uncertain. Proposals to sell-off large areas of forest in early 2011 were quickly withdrawn, but not replaced by reassuring policies. The publication of the Government’s response to … Continue reading

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First occurrence of ‘ash dieback’ in Britain

A fungal disease caused by Chalara fraxinea was found for the first time in a nursery in South East England. The disease is widespread on the Continent and can kill ash trees. The nursery imported 2,000 ash trees from the … Continue reading

Posted in Biodiversity, England, Forestry Commission, Forests, Invasive Species, UK, Wildlife Disease | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

House of Commons Science and Technology Committee Forest Research Inquiry – Oral Evidence

Today the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee took oral evidence on the Forest Research Inquiry into the effects of the spending review, and research priorities in the forestry research community. The evidence session involved witnesses from a variety … Continue reading

Posted in Consultation, Defra, Forestry Commission, Forests, funding, Government, Parliament, Research, Select Committee | Tagged | Leave a comment

Government make U-turn on the sale of the Public Forest Estate

On Thursday 17th February 2011 it was announced that the consultation into the future ownership and management of England’s Public Forest Estate will be halted, and that and all forestry clauses in the Public Bodies Bill will be scrapped. In … Continue reading

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Selling England’s forests: A cut too far?

At present, England’s forests are managed by the Forestry Commission on behalf of the Secretary of State for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. Ministers however, are now proposing to reform ownership and management of the estate by selling off large … Continue reading

Posted in Conservation, Conservatives, Defra, Forestry Commission, Forests, Government, Science Policy | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment