Twenty Chinese foresters recently visited two Woodland Trust woods, Merry Hill in Watford and Tring Park in Hertfordshire, accompanied by three members of WT staff, Nick Collinson, Gordon Pfetscher and Al Crosby.
The visitors were particularly interested to find out about forest certification, but they also learned about our wider policy work and Planted Ancient Woodland (PAWs) restoration work.
Gordon Pfetscher remarked: 'The group seemed to really appreciate the time we gave them and asked some genuinely good questions. It helped that they already knew about the Woodland Trust, who we are and what we do.
'We were really pleased to share our knowledge and thoroughly enjoyed the day. But, as an added bonus for us, one of the group revealed that he was a bamboo and rattan grower back in China. We’ve been trying for some time to source a supply of FSC certified bamboo for use in our own woodland management work. So, we may finally be able to close the last loop in our own timber procurement policy.'
While in the UK, the group also visited the head offices of the Forestry Commission in Cambridge and Edinburgh, Kew Gardens near London and the Soil Association in Bristol.
