UCD Forestry
School of Agriculture and Food Science | University College Dublin
International Forestry Study Tour 2024
“Sustainable Forestry in Northern England and Southern Scotland”
Monday 08 April 2024 to Friday 12 April 2024
OUTLINE
Field trips and international study tours are a core element of professional forestry education. The opportunity to see how forest management is delivered in other jurisdictions and countries presents an opportunity for highly focused learning, sharing of knowledge and deeper appreciation of the drivers for specific policies and practices. Each year, the final year students at UCD undertake an international tour. This has taken the group to a number of countries in Europe. Since 2019, three study tours have been based in the North of England and the South of Scotland, which is one of the most important forestry regions in the United Kingdom, with examples of private-land and public-land forestry, timber production and processing, conservation and environmental forest management. Most important is putting theory into practice through meeting colleagues, woodland owners and engaging with real-world projects and operations.
The 2024 study tour was organised and facilitated by Ted Wilson (UCD/Silviculture Research International), Áine Ní Dhubháin (UCD) and Marie Doyle (UCD).
Tour Objectives:
- To provide final (4th) year students with an opportunity to learn about forestry in another country;
- To integrate knowledge and understanding gained during the BAgrSc (Hons) (Forestry) degree;
- To appreciate the dynamic and innovative nature of the forestry and forest products sectors;
- To gain insight to the role of forestry professionals within their respective organisations;
- To promote positive professional relationships.
Notes for Hosts:
- The group includes 10 forestry students and three staff: Áine Ní Dhubháin, Marie Doyle and Ted Wilson.
- We will be travelling in one 17-seater passenger van.
- We are based at the Wayfarer Hostel, Penrith throughout the week. The group will be travelling each day (Tuesday to Friday) from Penrith.
- We will have hard hats and hi-viz jackets and our own packed lunches. PPE is kindly being provided by SRUC Barony Campus.
Study Tour Supporters:
- The 2024 Study Tour is supported by Coillte Teo., Veon Ltd, SWS Forestry and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
PROGRAMME
| DAY | TIMING | LOCATION | HOST | COMMENT |
| DAY 1 Monday 08/04 | 0710-0825 (Check-in 0510) | Travel: Dublin-Newcastle | Aer Lingus EI3350 DUB Terminal 2 Depart DUB 0710 Arrive NCL 0825 | |
| 0945 | Meet Vans | Drop Off/Pick Up Car Park | ||
| 1000-1045 | Brunch: Jan’s Kitchen, Ponteland. | Booked brunch. Sainsbury grocery shop across street for snacks, etc. | ||
| 1045-1145 | Travel: Ponteland to Kielder Forest | 1 hour travel time. | ||
| 1145-1600 (4.25 hrs) | Kielder Forest: Forest planning, management, operations and production | North England Forest District, Forestry England | Meeting point: Bellingham PPE Required | |
| 1600-1800 | Travel: Kielder to Penrith | |||
| DAY 2 Tuesday 09/04 | 0830-0930 | Travel: Penrith to Piel Wyke Forest Office | ||
| 0930-1230 (3 hrs) | Dodd Wood/Wythop Forest: Continuous Cover Forestry | North England Forest District, Forestry England | Meeting point: Piel Wyke Office, Wythop Forest PPE Required | |
| 1230-1300 | Travel: Dodd Wood to Whinlatter Forest Park | |||
| 1300-1330 | Lunch | Café Ambio, Whinlatter Forest Park | ||
| 1330-1400 | Presentation: Forest resilience: policy and practice. | Forestry Commission England | Meeting point: Café Ambio | |
| 1400-1700 (3 hrs) | Whinlatter Forest: Recreation, engagement, site management | North England Forest District, Forestry England | Meeting point: Whinlatter Visitor Centre | |
| 1700-1800 | Travel: Whinlatter to Penrith | |||
| DAY 3 Wednesday 10/04 | 0830-0900 | Travel: Penrith to Thirlmere | ||
| 0930-1230 ((3 hrs) | United Utilities plc, Thirlmere Reservoir: Environmental Forestry | North Catchment Team, United Utilities plc | Meeting point: Swirls Car Park PPE Required | |
| 1230-1300 | Lunch | |||
| 1300-1400 | Travel: Keswick to Workington | |||
| 1400-1700 (3 hrs) | Iggesund Paperboard (Workington) Ltd: Mill operations, bio-energy, SRC willow production | Iggesund Paperboard (Workington) Ltd | Meeting point: Reception, Iggesund Workington PPE Provided | |
| 1700-1800 | Travel: Workington to Penrith | |||
| DAY 4 Thursday 11/04 | 0830-0930 | Travel: Penrith to Castlemilkand Corrie Estates Office, Lockerbie | ||
| 0930-1230 (3 hrs) | Castlemilk and Corrie Estates: Large forestry estate, silviculture, trials, business innovation | Castlemilk and Corrie Estates | Meeting Point: Estate Office | |
| 1230-1400 | Travel and Lunch: Castlemilk – Stevens Croft | Lunch stop in Lockerbie | ||
| 1400-1630 (2.5 hrs) | James Jones and Sons Ltd, Stevens Croft (Lockerbie) Sawmill | James Jones and Sons Ltd. | Meeting point: Security gate/office. PPE Required | |
| 1630-1730 | Travel: Stevens Croft to Penrith | |||
| DAY 5 Friday 12/04 | 0830-1030 | Travel: Penrith to Liverpool | ||
| 1030-1230 (2 hours) | Mersey Forest: Urban and community forestry projects, Collier’s Moss | Mersey Forest | Meeting Point: Collier’s Moss Car Park | |
| 1230-1330 | Travel/Lunch | Lunch stop in St Helens | ||
| 1330-1430 (1 hour) | Mersey Forest: Griffin Wood/Royal Mail Woodland | Mersey Forest | ||
| 1430-1455 | Travel: Mersey Forest – Liverpool Airport LPL | |||
| 1455 | Check-in for Flights | |||
| 1655-1755 | Travel: Liverpool-Dublin | Ryanair FR443 Depart LPL 1655 Arrive DUB T1 1750 | ||
| 1500-1700 | Van returns for drop-off in Penrith |
TOUR ROUTE AND LOCATION MAP
TOUR GALLERIES
Day 1: Kielder Forest
Day 2: Lake District – Wythop, Dodd and Whinlatter
Day 3: Lake District – Thirlmere Forest [+ Johnny’s Wood, Borrowdale]
Day 4: Southern Scotland – Castlemilk and Corrie Estates, James Jones Ltd
Day 5: Mersey Forest
TOUR HOSTS AND BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Forestry England
- Forestry England
- Website – https://www.forestryengland.uk
- Kielder Forest
- Whinlatter Forest
- Forest Park – https://www.forestryengland.uk/whinlatter
- Dodd Wood
Forestry Commission England
- Forestry Commission England
- Managing England’s woodlands in a climate emergency
- Guide for foresters and agents – https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/872285/Climate_Change_Full_Guide.pdf
United Utilities
- Company website – https://www.unitedutilities.com
- Thirlmere – https://www.unitedutilities.com/about-us/acres-of-nature/Thirlmere
Holmen Iggesund Mill Workington
- Company website – https://www.iggesund.com
- Workington Mill – https://www.iggesund.com/ko/about/locations/the-workington-mill
- Production process – https://youtu.be/vmZqemhOtQE
Castlemilk and Corrie Estates
- Estate website – https://www.castlemilkestates.co.uk
- Woodlands – https://www.castlemilkestates.co.uk/forestry
James Jones and Sons Ltd
- Company website – https://www.jamesjones.co.uk
- Stevens Croft (Lockerbie) Mill – https://www.jamesjones.co.uk/about-us/our-locations/lockerbie
Mersey Forest
- Mersey Forest website – https://www.merseyforest.org.uk
- Risley Moss Local Nature Reserve – https://www.merseyforest.org.uk/things-to-do/walks-bike-rides-and-more/walks/risley-moss-local-nature-reserve
- Colliers Moss – https://www.merseyforest.org.uk/things-to-do/walks-bike-rides-and-more/woodlands/colliers-moss-common
- Griffin Wood – https://www.merseyforest.org.uk/things-to-do/walks-bike-rides-and-more/woodlands/griffin-wood
UK Forest Policy
- UK Forestry Standard – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-uk-forestry-standard
- UK Woodland Assurance Standard (UKWAS) – https://ukwas.org.uk
- Certification:
- Forest Stewardship Council (FSC-UK) – https://uk.fsc.org
- Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) – https://www.pefc.co.uk
UCD FORESTRY
UCD Forestry is an academic unit within the School of Agriculture and Food Science at University College Dublin, Ireland. Currently the unit delivers programmes at the Bachelors [BAgrSc (Hons) (Forestry)], Masters [MAgrSc/MSc] and PhD levels and is recognised as a leading centre for forestry education, research and development, both in Ireland and internationally.
Further information about UCD Forestry:
- UCD Forestry website: https://www.myucd.ie/courses/agriculture-food-nutrition/forestry
- UCD Forestry YouTube: https://youtu.be/Squx3wSLWTY
- Irish Forestry Journal – article celebrating the centenary of UCD Forestry: https://journal.societyofirishforesters.ie/index.php/forestry/article/view/10139
Academic Leads for the Tour:
- Áine Ní Dhubháin, Professor of Forestry, UCD
- Marie Doyle, Assistant Professor of Forestry, UCD
- Ted Wilson, Silviculturist
Students [all are 3rd and 4th year, B.Agr.Sc. (Hons) in Forestry]:
- Ten students participated in the 2024 study tour.
