68 MAY 20 18 FORESTRYJOURNAL.CO.UK
NEWS ROUNDUP
ALL THE LATEST INDUSTRY NEWS
JAS P WILSON SOLE SUPPLIER OF POSCH MACHINERY
IN THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
AUSTRIAN firewood equipment manufacturers Posch
have confirmed Jas P Wilson as their sole supplier in the
Republic of Ireland. As of last month, Wilsons now cover
the ROI and the UK, providing their full range of firewood
equipment.
Jeffrey Borland, who will be a well-known face to some
in the firewood industry, is now out visiting customers
in the ROI to begin supporting firewood producers
across the country. Wilsons are very keen to open the
communication lines and contact Posch users, to discuss
their requirements and support their needs.
For sales enquiries please call Jeffrey on 08741 71750 or
email [email protected].
For parts and servicing requirements please contact
[email protected] or call Jamie Ferrie on 0044
1556 612233.USING crushed charcoal on farms and
gardens is nothing new – the Aztecs
utilised it to make a rich growing medium
called Terra Preta. This enabled them to
produce food on nutrient-poor ground. In
modern times biochar is a common tool
in European and American agriculture –
for instance 90% of the biochar made in
Europe is used in cattle farming!
Biochar has many exciting benefits –
put simply it acts as both a sponge and a
buffer. The particles absorb water, liquids
and nutrients which are then accessible to
plants over time. Due to its open structure
it has a large surface area, acting as a
host for beneficial mycorrhiza. These
attributes support plant health and growth
by allowing the efficient processing of
nutrients. The charcoal stays working
effectively in the soil for hundreds of years,
with the added benefit of locking carbon
away.
‘Say it with Wood’ is a Herefordshire-
based woodland management and timber
products company. With only 50% of British
woodlands being managed, the production
of biochar also has exciting possibilities
to help rejuvenate neglected woods.
Fortunately charcoal production can
make use of the low-grade timber felledduring the first stages of this rejuvenation
management process. So, it’s a win for
nature and the environment as well as our
farms and gardens.
Aly May, partner at Say it with Wood,
says, “At Say it with Wood, we are
passionate about the link between the
products we make and the management
of local woodlands. Herefordshire is a
farming and growing county, so for us
biochar is the perfect solution for many
problems. For example, cattle farmers can
put charcoal down with bedding before
bringing animals in over winter. The
charcoal will soak up slurry and act as a
slow-release fertiliser once spread on the
ground. Currently research trials are being
undertaken to assess the benefits of using
biochar to help combat fungal disease in
hops and orchards.”
As part of their work to promote the use
of this fantastic material, Say it with Wood
will be holding workshops through the
summer, with local horticulturalist Laura
Russell demonstrating the ways crushed
charcoal and biochar can be used in the
garden and on farms.
The first will be at the Say it with
Wood stand (RC1) at the RHS Malvern
Spring Festival (10–13 May), and then at
Hellens Garden Festival (9–10 June) and
the Cotswold Show (7–8 July). Further
workshops are planned at the Say it with
Wood HQ in Much Cowarne focusing on
using charcoal on farms.
For more information please contact
Laura on [email protected] or
telephone 07958345833.
http://www.sayitwithwood.co.ukBiochar