Background
The Breeding and production of conifers, Selection and testing of conifers and Silviculture and timber properties programmes within Forest Research are large research programmes with a total budget of over £1 million. Their work is directed at practices supporting timber production and is intended to improve the competitiveness of the industry. In addition there are a number of other programmes of work, particularly in the area of timber quality, which are carried out by other research institutes and universities throughout Britain.
Funding to support research in conifer breeding and timber quality in Britain is reducing and yet the work is often costly due to the large element of fieldwork involved. It is critical to ensure any work carried out within Forest Research is efficient and properly targeted at the problems of concern to industry. It is also important to ensure that research across different organisations is complementary.
Remit
This steering group:
- Provides strategic direction and integration of purpose to the Forest Research programmes in conifer breeding and timber properties.
- Wll Provides an industry perspective and encourage a two-way flow of information between industry and researchers.
- Promotes better co-ordination and collaboration between the various research programmes involved in a bid to improve the competitiveness of British grown conifers.
Meetings
Meerings are organised by Forest Research and are held around Britain at different locations in order to emphasise the national remit of the group and also spread the travel load more between the different group members. Separate specialised meetings involving some of the group together with co-opted experts may take place to tackle particular issues such as Marker Aided Selection, clonal forestry, engineered wood-products, modelling etc.
First meeting - 21 Nov 2005
This meeting of the new Steering Group took place at the Northern Research Station under the Chairmanship of Colin Forsyth.
- Minutes of the first meeting (PDF-117K)
- Outputs from the previous Timber Quality Steering Group (PDF-23K)
- 'Where is the Timber Quality programme today? Options for the future' (PDF-1096K)
- 'Where is conifer breeding at today? What are the options for the future?' (PDF-365K)
Second meeting - 24 May 2006
This meeting took place in Falkirk, firstly at Callander's sawmill and then at the Best Western Park Hotel under the Chairmanship of Colin Forsyth.
- Minutes of the second meeting (PDF-46K)
- 'Current changes to the strenght grading of UK softwoods - European harmonisation' (PDF-111K)
- 'Kershope Progeny Trial and including results in Sitka Spruce timber quality model' (PDF-426K)
- 'Choosing an improved Sitka spruce planting stock' (PDF-87K)
Third meeting - 1 November 2006
This meeting took place in Kielder Forest. The first part of the meeting included a visit to a progeny trial and two contrasting sites planted in 1997 with vegetatively propogated Sitka spruce. After lunch the business meeting took place under the (acting) Chairmanship of Richard Ogilvy in Kielder Castle. Thanks to Graham Gill for hosting the visit.
- Minutes of the thrird meeting (PDF-56K)
- 'Elite Sitka Economics' (PDF-56K)
- 'Objective of Using Acoustic Tools' (PDF-1540K)
Fourth meeting - 25 June 2007
This meeting took place at the Northern Research Station. This was a purely business meeting chaired by Colin Forsyth. Presentation were given by invited speakers from Aberdeen University (Stuart Kennedy, PhD student) and Napier University (John Moore, Programme Leader).
- Minutes of the fourth meeting (PDF-41K)
- 'Determining the genetic heritability of wood properties of Sitka spruce critical to timber strength' (PDF-1557K)
- 'Wood quality - understanding the effects of genetics and spacing on timber properties' (PDF-2228K)
Fifth meeting - 5 December 2007
This took place at the Northern Research Station.
- Minutes of the fifth meeting (PDF-36K)
Sixth Meeting - 6 and 7th May 2008
This meeting took place at Abergavenny in Wales. Colin Forsyth chaired this meeting as the Steering Group visit Wales for the first time. The minutes are presented here along with other documents referred to in the minutes.
- Minutes of the sixth meeting (PDF-128K)
- Forest Research Timber Properties Programme - Annual Progress Report - March 2008 (PDF-218K)
- 'Variation in the UK Sitka Spruce Resource: The Benchmarking Study' (PDF-1312K)
Seventh meeting - 27 November 2008
This meeting took place at the Cruickshank Building, Aberdeen University.
- Minutes of the seventh meeting (PDF-382K)
- 'Determining the genetic heritability of wood properties of Sitka spruce critical to timber strength' (PDF-1911K)
- 'Developing a timber quality model for Scots pine' (PDF-1355K)
- 'Economics of planting improved Sitka spruce - Seed Orchard and VP' (PDF-175K)
- 'Forestry Commission Scotland Timber Development Programme: Improving Timber Quality' (PDF-247K)
- 'Juvenile wood: What is it and why should we be concerned?' (PDF-134K)
- 'Modelling Juvenile Wood' (PDF-282K)
- 'Selection index weights for Sitka spruce' (PDF-377K)
Eight meeting - 11 June 2009
This meeting took place at the Northern Research Station.
- Minutes of the eight meeting (PDF-504K)
- Growth and yield models for improved Sitka spruce (PDF-701K)
- Timber quality models: links to growth models (PDF-2332K)
- Use of improved Sitka – a practitioners view (PDF-1345K)
