24 February 2023
The Northeast Forestry Group – promoting locally grown timber for local end use
The North East Forestry Group (NEFG) is a Forest Owner Group with over 90 members from counties Meath/Louth/Cavan/Monaghan. Kevin O’Connell, Teagasc Forestry Development Officer tells us more.
The NEFG was formed in 2013 with the aim of promoting peer learning between likeminded private forest owners. It works in cooperation with other groups and entities. It has worked closely with Teagasc Forestry Development Department, since its inception, holding field days, information evenings and management courses. The group has successfully completed a pilot scheme initiated by DAFM to examine private forestry owner Forest Certification. As a result of this scheme, 12 group members have achieved Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification for their forests. They are the only forestry group with members holding FSC group certification in the country.
Woodland to Workshop Project
DAFM provides funding under the Woodland Support Project 2001/2022 for projects which support and highlight forestry under the following themes:
1) The environmental benefits of woodlands.
2) The benefits of woodlands, focussing on farmers, and/or community engagement and/or general wellness.
3) Productive forestry and timber products, in the context of climate action and the bioeconomy.
4) Sustainable forest management among forest owners (targeted at organisations already active in this area with established programmes in operation).
In 20021 the NEFG where successful in their application for funding with their project Woodland to Workshop. The aim of this project was to connect local forest owners directly with local markets for their timber resources by:
- Providing training courses in timber measurement, forest inventory and hardwood and softwood timber quality assessment.
- Completing a questionnaire.
- Identifying the needs of timber buyers in terms of quality, quantity and price, by visiting and examining a number of current and completed projects.
- Attending an information day hosted by Atlantic Technological University, Letterfrack to introduce participants to various use of different timbers and how value can be added to them.
- Holding a workshop on timber frame construction.
- Creating community awareness by sponsoring 4 schools, Trim Vocational School, Teagasc Ballyhaise College, St Bricins College, Belturbet and Bailieborough Community School with locally sourced timber for their woodwork classes.
- Producing a video to capture the story from start to finish for distribution to other forest owners.
- The Woodland to Workshop project was launched on 27th October 2021 at the Trim Adventure Centre. This Adventure Centre was built by a local craftsman using locally sourced NEFG timber.
James Thomson, Thomson Timber, John Sherlock & Bob Gogarty, NEFG
Marteloscope Training
In March 15 NEFG members travelled to Teagasc Oakpark to take part in a one day training course using both a broadleaf and conifer Marteloscope. This course was developed by Jonathan Spazzi, Teagasc Development Officer to encourage participants to explore and improve awareness of their woodland. It allows them to carry out practical exercises, practice selection skills on trees and to measure, learn and share results with their peer group. It was a very informative day, creating a lot of discussion and positive feedback from the participants.
Information Day at Atlantic Technological University
Participants took part in an Information day at Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Letterfrack Campus, Co Galway, hosted by Sean Garvey. This was a very informative day as it gave members a chance to see how Irish grown timber can be used in high end use products and furniture. They saw how different species of timber have different characteristics in both colour and texture. There was also a demonstration on the conversion of round logs to planks and a brief explanation on grading and identifying flaws which would downgrade quality. The group were also shown the new timber drying Kiln and how careful drying can increase both quality and price of timber
Timber Frame Construction Workshop
A very informative one day timber frame construction workshop was held in in Sherlogs Timber Yard in Navan. The training on the day was provided by James Thomson, Thomson Timber, Glenrothes, Scotland. James runs a sawmill, makes custom furniture, post and beam timber frames and delivers courses in these skills. As part of the workshop and to explain the need for specific cuts of timber, logs were converted using static and mobile sawmills owned by group members on the day. Roland Flower from Saw Doctor – Logosol was there to provide his expertise and oversee the operation.
Lawderdale Furniture
On 22nd July, group members visited Lawderdale Furniture, Ballinamore, Co Leitrim. This is a family run business run by Eltjo, Marion and Waldo Van Der Laan, specialising in making bespoke furniture from locally sourced timber. Eltjo took the group through the processes involved in selecting, converting, stacking, drying and finishing round logs to create valuable high end furniture.
This was a very interesting and informative day. Members were able to hear exactly what end users were looking for when buying timber. They got an insight into the prices that could be relised if the trees were of the right quality. Emphasis on good tree management to achieve this quality was the take home message of the day.
Summary
John Sherlock, Vice-chairperson of the NEFG summed up the project” The Woodland to Workshop Project has been very successful. There is clearly an enthusiasm among group members to find commercial uses for their timber. The end users supplied with locally produced timber are actually surprised by its character and quality. The NEFG has also reached out to other forest owner groups through the newly formed Irish Forest Owners. The input of local educational facilities is vital as hopefully they will continue to use local timber demonstrating to future end users that a local sustainable timber supply is on their door step.”