I’ve Got My Wood! What Now? – Courses for Small Woodland Owners in Hampshire
So you’ve bought your wood. It’s lovely. Well, what now?
When we bought our wood, we wanted to find out more about it. We started to look at the archaeology and history, and to find out what trees and other plants we had. We could then think about how we could manage it to conserve what was good, and to minimise what we didn’t like.
As we are woodland managers, and do other work such as firewood, countryside and special fences, garden structures and other odd management work, we had most of the skills we needed to manage our wood, but we know that many people need to learn them after buying their wood.
We’ve got together with other woodland craftsmen in Hampshire to offer a range of courses designed particularly for small woodland owners, potential owners and anyone else who wants to know more about woodland, management and making things from the products. The courses are run in our woodlands at Clanfield, Hampshire, easily accessible from all directions.
Firstly, we are offering courses to find out more about your wood: tree recognition, woodland flowers, basic history and archaeology, as well as an introduction to managing your wood. You can then learn about coppicing, including restoration of seriously overstood or derelict coppice, and hedgelaying, both very useful for small woodland owners. There are also courses on hurdle making, shingle making and oak framing. The tutors are mainly from Wesnet Services Ltd and “Out of the Woods at the South Downs Greenwood Centre”. Both are small businesses working in the woods, managing them and making things from the products. There are other tutors who are also local woodland workers teaching in their own area of expertise.
In addition to the courses themselves, you will see how the different parts of the wood interact to make a whole. Work is done in the wood to source materials for courses and for a whole range of products. An example is the hurdle making course, where you will be using rods from woodland owned by the Westcotts of Wesnet Services Ltd, cut and used by course tutor, Darren Hammerton. Unfortunately the shingle making and oak framing raw materials are not available in our woods so have to come from other woods, not too far away. Accommodation is available through the Sustainability Centre or we can put you in touch with local pubs and B & Bs.
For a list of current courses visit our website
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3 comments so far
alan packham
18 April, 2008
Although ,personally I have a great interest in preservation and conservation matters, I wondered if your courses would benefit from exposure( Free) on a web pages we have just launched . I feel it would sit well in the outdoor or education sections. If not good luck with your efforts in the future anyway.
Regards
Alan
Tracy Pepler
14 June, 2008
Alan, I work for WoodNet
http://www.woodnet.org.uk
and I am looking for more websites to advertise our courses – could you email more information please?
Tracy
training@woodnet.org.uk
Woodland Heritage
26 November, 2010
Please do feel free to use our ‘Forum’ to publicise your courses, events, products etc… It can be accessed via our website http://www.woodlandheritage.org.uk – only takes a minute to register and then make use of the facility (f.o.c.)
Woodland Heritage also run an innovative three-day ‘From Woodland to Workshop’ course in Herefordshire.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to know more, or to receive a copy of our 84 page Journal.
Regards,
Woodland Heritage