Woodland Skills

Description

This is a unique opportunity for hands-on learning, which spans the entire coppice season. Not quite the apprenticeship of old but nevertheless a comprehensive insight into the traditional craft of coppice work. and will point students to potential employment opportunities in rural areas.

Who is the course aimed at?

• Anyone with an interest in traditional woodland skills using hand tools and who would like to earn all or part of their living working in a woodland environment
• Anyone interested in reducing their carbon footprint, preserving the natural environment and improving habitat
• Unemployed people and school leavers (Over 18) in rural areas looking for alternative employment opportunities.
• Woodland owners, farmers and their staff

What does the course cover?

The aim of this course is to provide students with the knowledge and skills to manage a coppice wood and by learning basic craft skills have the potential to gain a part of their income from woodland. Students will also learn how to lay a hedge which will offer other rural employment opportunities.

Students will have the opportunity to learn about and experience a variety of traditional skills, including:

• Charcoal burning
• Pole lathe turning
• Green woodworking
• Hedgelaying

This is a practical course and the student group will be expected to cut a coppice plot during their time at Pengelli Forest. Students must be prepared to undertake physical, outdoor work during winter and provide their own steel toecap boots. A workshop/classroom with a wood burner is provided for break times and during very bad weather, where class based learning can be helpful. There is also a compost toilet.

If you are keen to investigate the possibility of taking a place, please contact us (form below) to arrange a visit to help you decide if the course is for you.