Country news update

Average Prices for Standing Sales Contracts

These are published for the 12 month periods, from 1st October to end of September and 1st April to end of March in the following year. They can be located via the link 'This schedule' on the Market Info page which can be accessed, as with the MonthlyTimber price graphs, via this link. click here:

FC Monthly Timber Price Graphs

From June 2006 we are publishing monthly despatch unit prices for Sawlog and Standing Sales (by weight) categories to the same level as the monthly price graphs detailed below. The tables and graphs for these can be accessed via the same link.
The Forestry Commission Monthly Timber Price Graphs showing Average Prices achieved for Sawlog and Standing Sales timber categories, including Average tree sizes for Standing Sales, are now published down to Territory level in the Market Info pages of the FC Internet. The page can be accessed via this link. click here:

ENGLAND

Annual Hardwood Sale - November 2008

The 21st Newland, Rennie Wilkins Hardwood Auction took place in the Great Oak Hall, at Westonbirt Arboretum on Thursday, 27th November 2008. This is the first occasion the Auction has been held in the Great Hall and although a smaller space than the Hare and Hounds Hotel the venue proved popular with customers and staff alike. The recent rapid decline in the softwood sector has generated significant interest in alternative products and FE England has seen the demand for fuel and firewood in particular, grow dramatically. Thus, the expectation was that standing parcels would attract significant interest. Hardwood log remains a small, very specific market and market intelligence can only be regarded as speculative. However a strong Euro pushing up import prices and continued spend on public infrastructure building projects helped to generate a degree of confidence with our customers. FE staff again worked hard to prepare our hardwood log parcels to best demonstrate the quality and potential of home produced timber and the lots in this sale were presented with appropriate care and attention, adding to the feeling of a well prepared and considered sale. FE England offered 40 lots for sale, 13 standing hardwood, 23 hardwood log, 1 felled firewood and 3 standing Conifer. FE Wales offered 5 standing lots, whilst private owners and merchants contributed 4 of standing hardwood. The feeling from customers in the room was difficult to gauge, but clearly some customers had large orders on their books and were confident in their ability to buy, while others suggested they had come along for the spectacle or in hope of a bargain. As bidding got underway it was apparent that the demand for firewood was indeed high, with parcels of primarily small round wood generating huge interest whereas the larger standing oak parcels struggled to find a bidder, despite the efforts of Mr. John Jenkins. In total 11 of the 22 standing lots sold under the hammer while the felled log lots threw up one or two surprises with some good timber receiving little or no interest, whereas other lots were well contested and 14 of the FE England lots sold under the hammer. Optimistically it is expected that other hardwood log lots will be successfully negotiated. In conclusion, given the current economic position, this was a very positive sale, although it is difficult to draw any long-term conclusions other than to say high quality will always sell, and fire/fuel wood is becoming a serious proposition in our marketing priorities. Thanks to all staff involved in preparing parcels for sale and of course to John Jenkins of Newland, Rennie Wilkins for his informed and entertaining excellence as an auctioneer.

Customer Liaison Meetings

Our customers may wish to take note of the annual FE England Customer Liaison Meetings which (for N. England) take place at the Rheged Visitor Centre, Penrith or (for S. England) at the Forestry Commission's Westonbirt Arboretum, usually in February. Please contact Sheena Cook or Charene Winbow on 0117 9066000 for further details.
Rheged Visitor Centre Westonbirt

SCOTLAND

With effect from September 2007 two new Operational areas in Central and South Scotland have been created. The Central area now includes Scottish Lowlands FD as well as Cowal & Trossachs and Tay, while the new South area incorporates Scottish Borders FD within the old South West area which comprised Galloway and Ae. Details of the staffing arrangements can be found on the Timber Sales, Key Contacts page - link here:

WALES

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