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Protecting breeding birds: UPM Tilhill and RSPB join forces for training day

Protection of the UK’s breeding birds was top of the agenda for forest managers from UPM Tilhill who took part in a staff training day, organised by the company in association with the RSPB.

The event, which recently took place at UPM Tilhill’s South East England District Office at Withyham in East Sussex, gave forest and arboriculture managers the opportunity to find out more about the legal protection given to breeding birds and to see how good working practice can reduce any risk to the birds as well as how management can help improve woodlands for birds.

“Environmental responsibility is key to all UPM Tilhill’s operations and we are committed to meeting the needs of our clients in an environmentally-sound manner,” said John Gallacher, Forest Ecologist, UPM Tilhill. “This event was an ideal way to demonstrate to our managers how operations such as tree felling, pruning, scrub control or even tree planting could lead to disturbance of breeding birds and how we can safeguard against that. We would like to thank the RSPB for an excellent event”.

The event reinforced the procedures necessary to reduce disturbance to breeding birds. Between February and August UPM Tilhill’s forestry, landscaping and utility teams are on particular look out for bird activity which indicate a breeding site. A series of measures to avoid risk and to mitigate harm can then be implemented, as appropriate to the location.

Nigel Symes, Conservation Adviser, RSPB, led the training: “The RSPB is pleased to work with the key players in the industry and were delighted to have the opportunity to speak directly with UPM Tilhill foresters and landscapers. Several woodland birds are in serious decline largely as a result of under management in our woods, and this event reinforced the high standards the company already has in place when working within environmentally sensitive areas, and produced a common understanding of management to benefit them. We look forward to future training days.”

UPM Tilhill is the only forestry company in the UK to employ a full-time ecologist to advise on environmental matters.

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Ruth Roy
01892 861008/07771 940494
ruth.roy@upm-kymmene.com