News & Events

  • Courses for 2014 from ‘Native Hands’

      ‘Native Hands’ will be offering a new and updated range of courses for the new year.  Wild pottery, bramble berry baskets, stitching bark containers and more.  They are based down in East Sussex near Lewes. More information and course dates are available the Native Hands website.  

  • Courses for woodland owners

    Many SWOG members have been on courses to improve their woodland knowledge or to learn new skills. We have compiled a list of courses attended by those members who received a grant from Woodlands.co.uk when they purchased their wood. It is searchable by course, subject or county, and includes hyperlinked contact details and short reviews.…

  • Newsletter January 2014

    A very happy new year to everyone! The January newsletter is available here – slightly shorter than usual, but including excellent contributions from several members. Elsewhere in the SWOG website, don’t miss Rich’s article about deer management.

  • Coping with Deer in Areas of High Population

    Deer numbers are at their all time high in many parts of the country.  Managing a coppice in one of these areas is hard work and can be extremely frustrating.  Groups like the Deer Initiative are being proactive in educating woodland owners and the public about the issues involved.  The main problem being that deer…

  • December Newsletter 2013

    The December newsletter is here! We have news of an award from the Royal Forestry Society and a request for woodland owners to respond to a Forestry Commission squirrel survey. Articles include: The Vigilant – restoring a Thames barge All I want for Christmas – SWOG members reveal their ideal Christmas gifts Making hay rakes…

  • Deer Management Course – Plumpton College

    Plumpton college are running a Deer Management course over four days between December and February next year.  It is being taught by Jamie Cordery of the ‘Deer Initiative’ . It covers a lot of ground including. Population dynamics Deer impact assessments Landowners/Deer stalker agreements Landscape scale management Risks and liability Deer economics For more information…

  • November 2013 Newsletter

    As the nights draw in, sit back and enjoy the latest SWOG newsletter. With several interesting reports about how owners use their woods and the sustainability of Britain’s woodlands, we also have features on Log cabins for the birds – make a bird box from just one log Our friends in the north – managing…

  • Making a Log into a Birdbox

    There’s nothing more satisfying than making something for the wood from the wood. Anything from a teaspoon to a log cabin can be fashioned from the materials you find growing or lying around.  It keeps our 21st century plastic clutter out of sight and means everything is low impact and will eventually return to where…

  • See the woods from the trees at Plumpton College

    The Wood Enterprise Centre is hosting a free day of information and advice around the subject of woodfuel on Tuesday 29th October at at Plumpton College at Woodland Enterprise Centre, Flimwell, East Sussex,TN5 7PR. There will be speakers from the woodfuel industry, and advice on how to apply for grants, as well as demonstrations of…

  • Firewood – burning secrets

    Most woodland owners quickly find that they generate more firewood than they know what to do with. It makes sense, environmentally and economically use it to heat your own home – and maybe that of their neighbours and friends, too.

  • October Newsletter 2013

    A big welcome to all our new SWOG members! The October newsletter is available to read or download  here. This month we have advice from the Forestry Commission about planting to cope with climate change, and news of a Facebook game which will help scientists combat ash dieback (really!) Features include: Horse-logging in the Weald…

  • September Newsletter 2013

    The September newsletter is available here. This month Rich discusses effective and efficient firewood management. Sean Harrison of the Surrey Hills AONB explains how expert help can make woodland management a little easier. We also have news of several woodfairs and a discount voucher for the Bentley Woodfair on 21-22 September. Don’t miss Rich’s pictures…