Steve Bullman

Confor has told a Westminster committee inquiry that the government needs to take urgent action to avoid past failures and rise to the challenge of meeting highly ambitious UK tree planting targets. The Environment, Food and Rural & Affairs (EFRA) Committee has asked whether the target of 30,000 hectares (about 75,000 acres) of new woodland planting across the UK every year by 2025 can be met. Currently, less than 14,000 hectares are being planted annually, with 80% of woodland creation happening in Scotland. In its reply, Confor - which represents 1,500 UK forestry and wood-using businesses - says the 30,000 target is “ambitious but achievable” and in line with its own targets, set in 2019. However, it notes that the more modest 2015-2020 planting target of 11 million trees (in England only) fell more than 4 million trees short - and quotes a report from the independent Committee on Climate Change saying “tree planting policy has failed outside of Scotland”. Confor’s response calls for: An urgent review of processes for tree planting applications and approvals - in line with the successful 2016 Mackinnon Review in Scotland, credited for helping push up planting rates; A coordinated UK-wide approach to the 30,000-hectare target, currently not in place; Planting targets to be clearly linked to delivering other policy objectives - mitigating climate change, supporting biodiversity and delivering rural jobs and growth; Clear targets to use more home-grown wood - the UK is the second highest global net importer of wood after China and using more wood will lock up more carbon; A joined-up approach, linking tree planting with increased management of existing woodland and greater wood use in a seed-to-mill approach. Confor CEO Stuart Goodall said: “The last government’s tree planting policies failed and fell well short of the target - because previous Ministers did not heed growing calls for more wood-producing forests to help meet demand. Planting more of these forests and using more home-grown timber are now front and centre when we talk about removing atmospheric carbon to start mitigating the impacts of climate change. “Since his appointment forestry minister Lord Goldsmith has been taking a positive approach that Confor has welcomed. He has guaranteed funding for farmers and landowners wanting to plant trees now and consulted on a new England tree strategy. Our industry will work constructively with DEFRA to increase momentum in tree planting. Mr Goodall added: “Confor welcomes the ambitious target and the fact it is UK-wide - but there must be clear UK-wide coordination to deliver it. As our response says, that is not happening. The Inter-Ministerial Group for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has met 7 times since the December 2019 election but has not discussed woodland creation once." "DEFRA and the Forestry Commission have failed in the past but they can succeed - through strong political leadership, positive collaboration with industry and across the UK, learning from best practice in Scotland and taking a joined-up approach to the whole forestry and wood industry. We look forward to working with Lord Goldsmith, the Forestry Commission and EFRA committee members to move woodland creation in England forward." Notes and links Confor (www.confor.org.uk) is the not-for-profit organisation for the UK’s sustainable forestry and wood-using businesses. It has 1,500 member companies (half in England), representing the whole forestry and wood supply chain. The UK forestry and wood sector is worth £2 billion in annual economic value and employs more than 50,000 people. It has the growth potential to employ many more and deliver far greater economic value while also locking up carbon. Confor’s response to the EFRA committee inquiry on tree planting and forestry can be read here. Terms of reference for the original inquiry (ongoing) can be found via this link.

Health and safety is at the heart of operations for Halifax based Green Valley Arborists (GVA). Working on commercial vegetation clearance and landscaping projects, including some in environmentally-sensitive areas, requires Director Luke Kendall to look at all elements of operations – from the safety of their operators to the impact their equipment has on their surroundings. That’s why 12 months ago GVA made the switch to aspen Alkylate Fuel across their entire range of petrol-powered equipment. “As the company grew and work for associations including The Environment Agency started coming our way, it became apparent that the benefits of aspen Fuel aligned more and more with our approach” explains Luke. Being virtually free from sulphur, benzene and solvents, aspen Alkylate Petrol is 99% cleaner than regular pump fuel when comparing the level of hazardous hydrocarbons. With these ingredients removed, the odour and infamous ‘blue haze’ produced is minimal, reducing the impact the machinery makes on both the operator and the environment. “Previously we would have to send one of our team to the petrol station to fill up a drum which is all time, labour and expense. When you then factor in that it needs to be mixed with 2-stroke oil, and the hazards associated with that, the costs begin racking up. Being ready mixed, aspen 2 is quicker, easier and safer for our operators to use and gives us consistency in performance, helping our equipment to run more efficiently.” Together with aspen 2 in their smaller tools such as chainsaws and brushcutters, Luke and the team also use aspen 4-stroke petrol in some larger equipment – eliminating the usage of pump fuel completely. “We purchase aspen by the pallet, in 5L containers, which is delivered directly to our site where it can be safely stored, and its usage better monitored. When this runs low, we order more, and it will arrive in 48 hours which couldn’t be easier.” The convenience and safety element extends to the day to day usage for the operators also. “Not having to mix the fuel reduces the risk of spillages, contamination or harmful exposure to the skin. The operator can open the container, pour the fuel using Aspen’s spill-free cap and put the lid back on. Once the can is empty, as these are made from the same type of plastic as regular milk cartons, they can simply and safely be recycled.”

Deciduous trees may be seasonal, but an arborist’s job is ‘evergreen’. Arborists are required to work all year round in a variety of often challenging weather conditions, including oppressive heatwaves, bitingly cold temperatures and the traditional British rain – from constant drizzle to thundering downpours. To cope with working in such a changeable environment, arborists’ footwear must be ‘evergreen’ too; versatile and strong enough to protect feet from even the toughest of weather conditions, as well as all the other natural hazards encountered when working in the forestry sector. Examples include operating in soaking wet undergrowth, performing tree surgery at height or clearing storm damage in the cold and rain. Specialist functional footwear manufacturer HAIX understands that arborists need to have absolute confidence that that their feet will stay comfortable, dry and protected from whatever environment they work in. That’s why the high performance forestry footwear range contains an array of features to make them suitable for year round use – including incorporating the waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX membrane. All GORE-TEX footwear is specifically designed to protect against the most challenging conditions that arborists face all year round. In cold and wet conditions, the GORE-TEX membrane enables feet to stay dry from the outside and inside by preventing water from penetrating into the boot while also allowing sweat to gently escape through the breathable layers. The high breathability of GORE-TEX is equally useful in warm and dry conditions; given that the soles of our feet can produce around half a litre of sweat per day (more than any other part of the human body), it’s vital that footwear is as breathable as possible. The GORE-TEX layer allows sweat to evaporate out of the boot, stopping feet from becoming uncomfortably hot or wet, and is six times more breathable than the values outlined in EN ISO standards 20345/20347. To ensure there is no weakness or vulnerability in products featuring the GORE-TEX membrane that may compromise performance, every product is stringently tested by GORE engineers in the company’s own laboratories, in a state-of-the-art chamber that can recreate up to 95% of the environments on the earth’s surface. These include Everest’s frigid conditions, Death Valley’s scorching sun and the stiflingly humid temperatures of the Amazonian rainforest. A rain tower can also simulate up to 3 inches of rainfall per hour in temperatures of 5 – 25C. All Haix boots featuring a GORE-TEX membrane are carefully designed to withstand the extremes of forestry work. This means they have a longer lifecycle, reducing the need for replacement, balancing cost efficiency with a high degree of protection. In the Haix range, forestry boots containing GORE-TEX include the Protector Forest 2.0, the Trekker Mountain 2.0 and the Protector Pro 2.0, with each boot designed to support wearers year round. Including GORE-TEX membranes and linings in the design of each boot gives wearers peace of mind that, no matter the weather and no matter the season, Haix forestry boots will work to keep feet dry, comfortable and at an optimum temperature. With forestry workers and arborists spending long periods of time from ‘boots on’ to ‘boots off’, boots that allow feet to become too hot, cold or wet lead to discomfort and distraction – something that can prove risky when wearers need to concentrate on tasks involving cutting equipment or working at height. With GORE-TEX in the inner lining to provide waterproofing and breathability, the Protector Pro 2.0, Protector Forest 2.0 and Trekker Mountain 2.0 also feature the unique Haix Climate System®, encouraging air circulation with every step through the vent holes at the top of the boot to keep feet cool. Both also feature sun reflect, which reduces the heating effect of the upper leather from direct sunlight, helping with temperature regulation to ensure wearer comfort. All three boots have also been awarded the coveted test mark KWF Level-Standard, meaning they have been tested to demonstrate that they have reached important safety standards and can be worn safely by professional forestry workers over a period of several months. It’s a practical test that takes all four seasons into account and is conducted on a broad range of terrains. The versatile roles of arborists, forestry and outdoor workers require footwear that can provide the protection and comfort they need year round, regardless of challenging weather conditions. By combining smart material choices like GORE-TEX membranes with innovative production processes and integrating wearer feedback, HAIX’s forestry boot range provides this flexibility year-round. To view HAIX’s full range of forestry footwear and discover more about all their protective features, please visit https://www.haix.co.uk/forest/