If you do Facebook - please have a look here. Sometimes we forget to post up all that we are doing. Sometimes we just don't have time !!! We've been launching Wood Knoydart, organising volunteer tree planting, finishing off the wood fuel shed , .............................
Grant Holroyd, our Head Forester has been away on a study trip to Romania recently . There are some great photos from that tour on our FB page. Have a look - stunning places he visited.

There has been a lot going on with us all here at KFT recently. After a training visit from The Big Tree Society we have begun to prototype and make a series of new products from our woodland timber supply. We are going to start small - small products but with big aspiration !
Johann, Steve, Lorna have been working away on products that are unusual and unique. We launched them for the Craft Fair at Easter and have been designing and making a few new ones since. See them in The Knoydart Foundation Community Shop and Knoydart Pottery and Tearoom.

This is the making experience of your lifetime !! Last week in October !!!

For complete beginners or for those that have maybe done some woodwork this is a fantastic way to learn about your timber, techniques and traditions of green wood working.

We have teamed up again with The Big Tree Society to offer an extra special, one-off, once in a lifetime course for 2014
Based for four days and working in the most beautiful part of Scotland, this is an amazing opportunity to experience all the elements of resources and making in the wilds.

This adventure into making would suit the hardy folks amongst you. If
you know the West Coast of Scotland you will know what we're talking about. However if you have never been to Knoydart well this is your chance to really experience and immerse yourself in the special nature of the place. The weather will be great in October, the midges will be gone by then, the scenery will be stunning, sunsets will be unforgettable and the trees will be looking great. More Info and Booking Form here   Only Six Places Available  October 27,28,29,30

Forest Workshop
Neil Sutherland Architects were employed to prepare a Design and Feasibility Study. This study sets out a vision for a complex of buildings and working area that will allow the Trust to consolidate existing activities and increase our capacity to utilise the local timber.

The proposals include a workshop, drying and storage shed for firewood and sawn wood and outdoor working area. There is also the potential to design and build a prototype house, designed to utilise locally produced timber.

The Centre for Timber Engineering at Napier University is interested in assisting with the project as a demonstration of sustainable and affordable use of local timber, particularly Sitka Spruce. It is hoped that this will be a stepping stone towards supplying greater quantities of local timber into the local construction market.

Once established the Forest Workshop will enable the Trust to convert local timber into value added products such as quality firewood, timber cladding and dried, planed and moulded flooring.

Stage 1 of the forest workshop is underway with the construction of the woodfuel storage shed.  The shed is being built by Wood Knoydart CIC (KFT's trading subsidiary) and will be ready to be filled with firewood by the end of December 2013.  Thanks to HIE and SRDP for funding this much needed facility.

Guided Walks
The Trust provide weekly guided walks for visitors within the woods around Inverie. 
 The Trust produced new leaflets and signage to encourage people to explore the woods and to explain the work of the Trust.

Felling and Restocking 
The first big phase of felling was completed in April 2007.  About 20ha of Sitka spruce was felled with around 7,500 tonnes of timber exported to sawmills in Ireland.  This area has now been restocked. The next phase of around 2,000 tonnes of timber s potentially going ahead in early 2014 .
The Trust is working closely with the Knoydart Foundation to manage the deer within the fence around Inverie. The benefits of this are now showing as reduced browsing damage to seedlings has been recorded by the annual vegetation monitoring.

Tracks
Forest management tracks were constructed as part of the first phase of felling to allow ongoing management and to provide access for future felling phases.  
Two mountain bike tracks have also been built the Fun Loop and the Skyline Trail.  The trust is responsible for the ongoing maintenance of these tracks. 

Informal paths
The Trust has developed and maintains a network of informal paths in the woods around Inverie and in the native woodland to the west of Inverie which has increased public access and enjoyment of the native woodland. 

Rhododendron ponticum eradication 
Inverie Woods were being choked with Rhododendron ponticum preventing wild flower growth and native species regeneration.  The Trust has a policy of total eradication of this species.   

Clearance of Rhododendron ponticum was completed throughout the Forest Plan areas in 2009. This was the culmination of over 10 yeas of sustained effort. The final clearance was carried out with the help of over 60 volunteers from British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, John Muir Trust, Caledonian Woodland Group and the local community all participating in the Mega Rhodie Bash to celebrate 10 years of Community ownership and stewardship. The ongoing maintenance and removal of regrowth will ensure that the woods are Rhodie free.

CELEBRATE YOUR WOODS WITH KNOYDART WOODS
PHOTO COMPETITION
Opportunity to showcase your photographs of Knoydart’s Woodlands, win a prize and have your photos printed as cards sold to support the work of KFT in looking after the woods. Entries will be judged by Jim Manthorpe renowned wildlife photographer and filmmaker.

Entrants
The competition is open to all members of the Knoydart community.
Categories
There are 2 age categories:
Adults (16 years and over) sponsored by Kilchoan Estate
Children (15 years and under) sponsored by Knoydart House
Each entrant can submit up to 3 photographs.
Theme
Knoydart woodlands – capture the natural beauty of the woods on Knoydart and why they are special to you
Prizes
Adult winner  £50
Child winner  £25
Winners and 2 runners up of both categories will have their photos printed as cards that will be sold to raise
funds to support the work of KFT.
Timescale
Please submit entries by 5pm Friday 18 October 2013
Winners will be announced at KFT AGM on Saturday 26 October where all entries will be exhibited.
Submissions
Please email your entry to Lorna at [email protected]
By entering you are declaring that your photos are your original work
Images must be 300dpi to enable printing at high resolution
Label with a title and location and in the text of the email note your name and age group

Grant was there to meet the new tractor and forestry kit. This is going to be such a big boost to our woodfuel side of our operations. Don't get any mud on it now lads !!!