HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

2008-05-13

We are pleased to announce that on Friday 2nd May 2008 we celebrated our 10 year anniversary.

We would like to say a huge thank you to all our clients and contacts for their support over the last 10 years and we look forward to working closely with you to build on our success in the forthcoming years.

GAME FAIR 2008

2008-05-09

We are pleased to announce that we will be running a stand at the Game Fair this year, on the 25th - 27th July at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire.

Please feel free to come along and join us for a chat and a glass of wine.

We look forward to hopefully seeing you there.

JUSTIN MAKES THE WINNING SHOT

2008-04-31

In The Tree Councils autumn/winter 2007 edition of ‘Tree News’ they ran a readers competition for photo’s that capture the ‘mood’ rather than just a tree. We thought there was no harm in entering, and put forward a few photos from some of our budding photographers in the company.

We are pleased to say that in the spring/summer 2008 edition of the magazine it was announced that our very own Justin Mumford had come first in the competition with his photo of ‘Fairies at Work’.

Well done Justin!

CURRENT PROFESSIONAL VACANCIES

2008-02-28

FORESTRY CONSULTANT

2008-02-27

Reports to:
Managing Director – Graham Garratt

Hours of Work:
0830 – 1730 with one hour for lunch as core hours, although additional hours may be required to discharge responsibilities.

Location:
The position is based at our Corby offices.

Salary:
Competitive package tailored to the successful applicant.

Role Description:
To undertake and discharge professional instructions in forestry and related land management and land use change activities together with other external bodies. Assisting in managing various forestry projects for a variety of agencies and land owners. This is a developmental role requiring the position holder, to work with us, in achieving their senior consultant status within an agreed period of around 2-5 years.

Technical Skills:
The ability under supervision to plan, organise and implement standard forestry operations including:

FORESTRY ASSISTANT

2008-02-26

Reports to:
A Senior Forestry Consultant

Hours of Work:
0830 – 1730 with one hour for lunch as core hours, although additional hours may be required to discharge responsibilities.

Location:
The position is based at our Corby offices.

Salary:
Competitive package tailored to the successful applicant.

Role Description:
This is a trainee position requiring the candidate to work towards a professionally recognised qualification e.g. MICFor over a 2-3 year period.

The role is based on providing professional support to senior consultants in all matters relating to forestry, whilst working through a development programme with the focus of ‘on the job’ development with additional internal and external training where required.

Technical Skills:
A knowledge of:

ARBORICULTURAL CONSULTANT

2008-02-25

Reports to:
Managing Director – Graham Garratt

Hours of Work:
0830 – 1730 with one hour for lunch as core hours, although additional hours may be required to discharge responsibilities.

Location:
The position is based at our Corby offices, although home working arrangements would be possible in target areas in and around Central England.

Salary:
Competitive package tailored to the successful applicant.

Role Description:
This is a position for a professionally qualified arboriculturist wishing to develop a career in tree management and professional consultancy.

The Arboricultural Consultant role will work alongside and under the supervision of our Arboricultural Business Unit Manager in all matters relating to trees and their interaction with the built and natural environment.

This is a developmental role requiring the position holder, with support from us, to work towards achieving senior consultant status within an agreed period of around 2 – 5 years.

Technical Skills:

ARBORICULTURAL ASSISTANT

2008-02-24

Reports to:
Managing Director – Graham Garratt

Hours of Work:
0830 – 1730 with one hour for lunch as core hours, although additional hours may be required to discharge responsibilities.

Location:
The position is based at our Corby offices.

Salary:
Competitive package tailored to the successful applicant.

Role Description:
This is a trainee position requiring the candidate to work towards a professionally recognised qualification e.g. MICFor over a 2-3 year period.

The role is based on providing professional support to senior consultants and sub-consultants in all matters relating to trees, whilst working through a development programme with a focus of ‘on the job’ development with additional internal and external training where required.

There is also the option for a work placement with Arboricultural Association registered consultants to further enrich the work experience and technical and professional development.

There are two main bodies of work. The first is tree related technical support in relation to land use change. This involves advising and representing both developers and local planning authorities and working alongside other related professional advisors such as planners and architects.

The second main body of work is assisting land and property owner to manage tree related risk, including tree survey, contracts or supervision.

Technical Skills:
An awareness and knowledge of:

Justin joins the board

2008-01-09

Justin Mumford BSc(Hons) MSc MICFor has been promoted to the board of directors at leading tree-woodland-forestry consultants Lockhart Garratt Ltd (LG).

Click here for the full press release.

Business growth fuels recruitment drive

2008-01-08

Lockhart Garratt (LG) has declared 2007 another successful year with the creation of three new positions to further expand its specialist Trees-Woodland-Forestry teams.

Matthew Willetts BTEC HND For, BSc(Hons) RFS Cert Arb joins LG as an additional Forestry Consultant.
Simon Muddiman BA(Hons) fills the new position of Assistant Cartographer.
James (Jim) Whiteford BSc(Hons) has been appointed to the new position of Assistant Ecologist.

Click here for the full press release.

Pupils plant acorns to revive ancient woods

2007-12-05

Article written by Kate Cronin and published in the Evening Telegraph on 5th December 2007.

GIANT oaks will grow from little acorns collected by Corby schoolchildren to help preserve an historic genetic line of trees in the town. Youngsters from Hazel Leys Primary have gathered 400 acorns from the ancient Hazel Wood that will be used to replenish local stocks depleted by town centre building developments.

Hazel Wood, part of Rockingham Forest, sits between urban developments in the centre of Corby.

Contractors building the Parkland Gateway civic hub and pool area have had to cut down trees to make way for the facilities and to provide access to the site.

So pupils have been drafted by Corby Council and Northamptonshire Library Services to ensure that lost trees are replaced.

The trees will be planted locally and raised as saplings before being placed around the new development.

Some of the acorns will be planted to tie-in with the Forest School's allotment project in Eskdale Terrace, Corby.

Forest schools project worker Rebecca Bishop said: "The whole ethos surrounding the allotment project focuses on both raising environmental awareness and promoting healthy well-being within the children.

"The acorn planting will not only help to enhance this, but the whole community will also benefit in future generations, which is an extremely valuable project to be a part of."

Children did their collecting under the guidance of school and libr ary staff and a locally-based forestry expert, Ian Dudley, from Lockhart Garratt, who also gave the children information on the woodland.

The Friends of Thoroughsale and Hazel Wood were also on hand to help, and refreshments were provided by the Boating Lake cafe, which is lined by the ancient woodland.

Leader of Corby Council Pat Fawcett said: "This is a fantastic idea, and I'm really pleased we've got the schoolchildren involved."

She added: "It's always a shame to lose trees during the construction of buildings, but these acorns, and the trees they will grow into, will more than replace any lost.

"Corby is unique in having this wonderful ancient woodland in the centre of the town.

"Part of the Parkland Gateway project is to improve the woodland with better paths and lighting.

"That will help more people access and enjoy the beautiful woods we have on our doorstep."

Second winner of the RFS Lockhart Garratt Trophy announced

2007-10-18

The Royal Forestry Society and Lockhart Garratt are pleased to announce the winner of the 2007 Royal Forestry Society Lockhart Garratt Trophy for Arboricultural Excellence, James Hedges.

Click here for the full press release.

Corby forestry company sponsors and receives awards for training

2007-10-18

Corby forestry company, Lockhart Garratt Ltd, has achieved the coveted Investor in People status following an in-depth appraisal by independent assessors. The company's Investors in People plaque arrived in early October and now hangs outside the main entrance.

Click here for the full press release.

AMENDMENT TO THE HABITATS REGULATIONS
GUIDANCE AND ADVICE

2007-08-29

A number of changes have been made to the Habitats Regulations, which increase the legal protection given to the European Protected Species (EPS) in England. This change came into force on Tuesday 21st August and will affect land and marine management. The changes reinforce the European Habitats Directive in England and Wales, and are the UK response to a judgement in the European Court of Justice.

Background on the changes

The protected species found in England's woodland include the dormouse, great crested newt, otter, sand lizard, smooth snake and all 17 species of bat.
Under the current Habitats Regulations it is an offence to deliberately kill or cause significant disturbance to these protected species, to deliberately destroy their eggs, or to destroy or damage a breeding site or resting place used by them. The amendment now means that it is also an offence if you accidentally damage or destroy a breeding site or resting place (which was previously exempt).

What does this mean for the forestry and woodland sector?

This means that you will need to consider the presence of protected species and follow good practice guidance to avoid committing an offence during operations. In some cases management practices may need to be modified of rescheduled to a less sensitive time of year, and where this is not possible or adequate then operators may need to apply for a licence to remain within the law. Most activities will be able to continue without the need for a licence through the following of good practice guidance (as available through the Forestry Commission). The relevant local Forestry Commission team would process applications where licences are required. The licences themselves would be issued by Natural England's National Licencing Unit.

How we can help?

With our hands on experience of protected species we can provide advice on best practice working, assist in liaising with the relevant bodies, identify the presence/absence of protected species, compile and submit licence applications and develop mitigation and monitoring schemes if such species are present.

If you have any queries about the amended regulations or wish to find out more about protected species and your woodland then please contact James Patmore.

Investors in People

2007-08-24

Lockhart Garratt is pleased to announce that on Friday 24th August 2007 we were awarded the Investors in People Standard.

We undertook the Investors in People process to formally recognise the commitment that Lockhart Garratt puts into ensuring their employees have all the skills required to do their job properly and that we encourage development of these skills to keep up to date in an ever changing world.

We also promote a culture which values people and internal processes, incorporating best practice for motivating and developing people and involving them in the managment and improvement of the business. The ethos and values behind Investors in People were consistent with beliefs already existing within the company. It is wonderful and rewarding that they are now formally recognised.

Charity Clay Pigeon Shoot

2007-07-19

On the 20th June this year John Lockhart and Justin Mumford invited six company contacts to join one of their two teams for the RICS LionHeart Charity Clay Pigeon Shoot held at Orston Shooting Ground, Nottinghamshire.

John’s team was known as the ‘Chestnuts’ and included William Tongue (Samuel Rose), Andrew Harle (Belvoir Estate) and Mark Ferguson (Berrys).

Justin’s team was called the ‘Conkers’ and included Fergie Taylor (Prologis Developments Ltd), Edwin Christmas (Buckminster Estate) and Richard Harrison (JEJ Harrison & Son).

Whilst neither team were troubling the leaders all participants had a most enjoyable day, with the results very close with the ‘Chestnuts’ leading the ‘Conkers’ by only 3 points.

Forestry Commission Update

2007-05-25

Just to inform you that the Forestry Commission Prospectus 2007, containing the closing dates for applications, is due to be published in late May. The WCG closing date will also be confirmed in this prospectus.

Further information on this will be posted once available.

LOCKHART GARRATT: 2007 YEAR END REPORT

2007-05-25

We are delighted to inform you of our 9th Year End Report on how Lockhart Garratt has advanced over the past 12 months. 2006-7 has been a year of marked investment in strategy, people, systems, and facilities and this is already paying off with a 25% growth in business on last year. The strengthening of our brand and quality of service are enshrined in our 3 year business plan, which should see the company reach around 30 people by 2010. These expansion plans come from a clear understanding of client requirements and our continued commitment to providing expert, independent, proactive advice and management services on all matters relating to Trees, Woodland and Forestry. Some of the specific changes instigated to improve the functioning of the company include: