Certification
Independent assurance of the sustainability of our management
Our aim is to manage all forests to a high standard, and in compliance with all relevant legislation and guidelines. However, we recognise the value of independent certification and now operate a Group Certification Scheme. This enables woodlands that enter the scheme to be certified according to both the Forest Stewardship Council's Standards (FSC) for the UK and the UK Woodland Assurance Scheme. All timber leaving these woods is certified and in turn enables any products derived from the timber - be they fencing stakes or oak beams - to bear the FSC's 'sustainability' label which has the highest credibility of any in the market place.
Often only a small number of changes are required to management to ensure compliance with the 50 odd pages of requirements in the FSC and UKWAS Standards. However a higher level of record-keeping and monitoring is usually needed. The management plans and other information relating to specific woodland properties must be made available for inspection if required, as is a summary of activity relating to certificated woodlands during each 5 year period.
Independent assurance of the sustainability of our management
To join the scheme an owner needs to do the following:
- Sign a commitment to participate in the scheme
- Ensure that management policies are in compliance with the FSC/UKWAS standards
- Be approved under an initial pre-entry assessment, and annual internal audit by PRS
- Satisfy an external audit by Soil Association WOODMARK (certifiers accredited by the FSC)
- Act upon any corrective actions or requirements arising from these audits
- Withdraw from the scheme if it proves impossible to comply with the standard
Often only a small number of changes are required to management to ensure compliance with the 50 odd pages of requirements in the FSC and UKWAS Standards. However a higher level of record-keeping and monitoring is usually needed. The management plans and other information relating to specific woodland properties must be made available for inspection if required, as is a summary of activity relating to certificated woodlands during each 5 year period.