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© Emma Goldsmith/ Small Woods Association
Whether you’re new to woodland management or you’d like to brush up on your skills, if you look after woods in the Low Weald and Downs then there’s a training course for you. We’re running subsidised courses on sustainable woodland management and green woodworking.
This is your chance to learn a new woodland skill, meet a range of people taking on similar challenges, and create balanced and resilient woodlands where wildlife can flourish.
Our woodlands once covered a vast area of the UK. For thousands of years, they maintained their own essential balance through natural processes, traditional management techniques and wildlife activity. But this balance has been thrown out by development, shrinking woodland habitats, loss of traditional woodland skills and planting of non-native trees.
By actively managing woodlands today, we can:
© Emma Goldsmith/ Small Woods Association
Active management mimics the processes that used to occur naturally in our woodlands. These include:
These techniques create a varied structure – light and shade, wet areas and dry – that support a far larger number of woodland species. This improves biodiversity and helps the woodland to flourish, becoming balanced and sustainable once again.
Our courses are for landowners, woodland workers and voluntary conservation groups looking to expand their knowledge. We also welcome apprentices, and anyone thinking about a woodland working career who’d like to learn new skills.
The cost of training is heavily subsidised in order to make it accessible to as many people as possible. However, we have a small number of apprenticeship bursaries available to young people and those interested in finding out more about changing to a woodland career. Please contact us to discuss.
Courses are open to people living and working in the Lost Woods project area, which stretches across Sussex from Storrington in the West to the fringes of Lewes in the East.
Introduction to coppicing
This one-day course is for absolute beginners who want to learn the basics of coppicing, a fundamental skill for woodland management.
This course will cover:
Fee: £45
Introduction to woodland stewardship
This two-day course is for beginners who look after woodland; whether you’re an owner, manager, or a conservation volunteer. It’s also a great introduction for anyone interested in woodlands.
The course will cover:
Fee: £80
Restoring 'Lost' ancient woodlands course
Join us on this one-day course to learn the basic skills you need to help a woodland thrive and ensure its sustainable future.
The course will cover:
• what is an ancient woodland?
• ancient woodland indicator species
• woodland archaeology
• reasons to manage woodland
• woodland condition assessment and planning
• management methods, focusing on small interventions that get big results
• resilience to climate change, pests and diseases
Fee: £45
coppicing and creating coppice products
This two-day course is ideal for those who want to develop their coppicing skills. The first day focuses on improving coppicing techniques. On the second course day you will make a range of coppice products (stakes, binders, panels) - from hazel or sweet chestnut using traditional hand-tools.
This course will cover:
Fee: £80
Emergency First Aid at Work for Forestry Operations
This is an accredited Emergency First Aid course with additional provision for those engaged in Forestry Activities. You will learn:
Fee: £67.50
This course is run by an accredited provider and places on the course can be arranged on demand. Please register your interest and we will be in touch with possible course dates.
We’re busy developing our full programme of course dates and locations. For now, please get in touch to find out more or join a waiting list.
I’m looking forward to meeting you on one of our courses – and seeing the difference you make with your new skills!
I was born into an estate forestry family, and have been involved in some form of woodland work ever since. Most of my career has been in the coppice industry, including teaching apprentices practical woodland management skills.
Sharing heritage skills is one of my passions, including teaching coppice restoration, charcoal burning, hedge-laying and coppice crafts. I have experience of the sweet chestnut coppice woodlands of Sussex and Kent. And I love to show how these traditional activities support the health of woodlands and enhance biodiversity.
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We’re keen to hear from landowners and groups who manage woodland. What skills and training do you need to help your woodlands and their wildlife thrive?
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