Training and course providers ~ by Angus

Woodlands.co.uk has always been keen to encourage training for new owners of woodlands. For those who have never owned woodland before, some good training can help them get to grips with their purchase more quickly, and for those who are old hands, it can broaden interest and enjoyment. The organizations and companies listed below regularly offer courses on woodland management, natural history, rural crafts and many other subjects that might interest and encourage you.

We have introduced a scheme to “put our money where our mouth is” and pay owners to go on courses. Since June 2009, anyone buying a woodland from us has been be entitled to a payment of up to £300 towards the cost of a woodland management course. This will be available for any course that relates in some way to managing or enjoying a woodland. Buyers can choose a course which could, for example, be on butterfly identification, chainsaw training or coppice management. For most one-day courses, this will pay the full cost and for longer courses we hope that it will cover a significant part of the cost.

We hope owners who go on these training courses will help each other by commenting on how useful the course was (by using the comments section on the blog) and whether they would recommend it to others. The organisations and companies listed below are offered as a starting point in your search; there are many hundreds, indeed thousands of courses out there.

http://www.naturescraft.co.uk/
Located near Savernake Forest in East Wiltshire.
Natures Craft is a bushcraft, woodcraft and wilderness living training provider.

http://www.woodnet.org.uk/
“The Woodland Enterprise Centre in Flimwell, East Sussex is both WoodNet’s base and an innovative (and award-winning) demonstration of what can be achieved with sustainable local resources.
Woodland Enterprise Centre”
Hastings Road
Flimwell
WADHURST
East Sussex
TN5 7PR

http://shop.btcv.org.uk/shop/level1/19/level
British Trust for Conservation Volunteers. “BTCV runs a wide range of short (and long) courses every year, many offering qualifications.  In England BTCV holds the NCFE Investors in Quality kitemark for training, which means that many of our short courses offer an NCFE certificate”. Look under the training and events links

http://www.field-studies-council.org/
The Field Studies Council has many centres across the U.K, offering a variety of courses on natural history and practical subjects.

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/
There are many different wildlife trusts across the U.K., all working in the field of nature conservation – managing nature reserves and offering opportunities for volunteer work. For example, the Kent Wild Life Trust regularly organises events and courses – see http://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/our-work/

http://www.cat.org.uk/

The Centre for Alternative Technology has been around since 1973 offering information and courses. It is based in the Llwyngwern slate quarry near Machynlleth. It offers a variety of short courses.  Contact :

Courses: +44 (0)1654 705981 or courses@cat.org.uk or

CAT Short Courses
Centre for Alternative Technology
Machynlleth
Powys
SY20 9AZ

http://www.lowimpact.org/course_outline_woodland_management.htm
offers a wide range of courses (from DIY, Biogas, fruit tree pruning) at various sites across the U.K http://www.lowimpact.org/venues_all_courses.htm
contact : email (preferred): lili@lowimpact.org, telephone / fax: +44 (0)1296 714184

http://www.malverncoppicing.co.uk/
Malvern Coppicing offers courses on coppicing, coppice management and tree identification
Send postal enquiries and booking forms to:
159 Pickersleigh Rd
Malvern
Worcestershire WR14 2LH 01684 574865 or
email at: pahoppy@btinternet.com

http://www.greenwoodcentre.org.uk/WoodlandCourses.htm
The Green Wood Centre is based in Coalbrookdale, near to Ironbridge. It is an centre for woodland management, coppicing, sustainable building and other sustainable technologies. A variety of courses are  offered by the centre.
Green Wood Centre
Station Road, Coalbrookdale
Telford, Shropshire
TF8 7DR
Phone: 01952 432769 Fax: 01952 433082

http://www.yorwoods.org.uk/
Yorwoods offers training for woodland owners and foresters in Yorkshire (woodfuels, coppice craft etc), details of courses may be found here http://www.yorwoods.org.uk/training .
Contact details as below :
Yorwoods
Unit 9
Sycamore Business Park
Ripon, North Yorkshire HG4 5DF
01765 609355 or 01765 607616
info@yorwoods.org.uk

http://www.ben-law.co.uk
Ben Law (of TV fame “Grand Designs” and Prickly Nut Woods) offers a range of courses in woodland management and has also moved into field of specialist carpentry http://www.the-roundwood-timber-framing-co.ltd.uk/ .

http://www.ieem.net/workshops.asp
The Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management is based in Winchester, Hampshire but organises courses and training across the U.K., topics include Outdoor First Aid, Working in Rivers and Streams, Botany for beginners, Invasive and non-native Plants, Using Satellite Data in GIS etc; a full list of their current courses may be found here http://www.ieem.net/workshops.asp .

http://www.sustainability-centre.org/index.php
The Sustainability Centre offers information and help with ‘renewable energy, bushcraft skills, kids’ crafts, sustainable forestry, permaculture’. It offers a variety of courses from green wood working, clay oven building, soap making, applied renewables (heat pumps, solar and wind) – for full details visit their web site http://www.sustainability-centre.org/courses_adult.php
The Sustainability Centre
Droxford Road
East Meon, Petersfield
Hampshire, GU32 1HR
Telephone: 01730 823 166
Fax: 01730 823 168
Email: info@sustainability-centre.org

http://www.davidplummerimages.co.uk/index.html
For those interested in photographing the wildlife in their woodlands, then a visit to David Plummer’s website might interest. He offers a number of courses from those suitable for beginners to more advanced courses dealing with specific topics e.g. woodland birds, or dragonflies and butterflies.

See also on our website, the section on training and courses

Http://www.woodfairs.co.uk
For up to date information on woodland fairs throughout the U.K. The Woodfairs website brings together all kinds of information for people interested in woodlands, wood products and the countryside. Here, you will find products ranging from large, expensive machinery to weaving baskets. Woodfairs offer a good day out.

And should you want a wood to wander in, why not visit open woodlands?   This website will find publicly accessible woods near where you live or are holidaying.  http://www.openwoodlands.co.uk/

Posted in: Woodland Activities ~ On: 2 October, 2010

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