Suitable for: everyone

Considerations: Classroom based, partially outdoors. 

What to bring: Outdoor / wet weather clothing. Sturdy shoes.

Refreshments: Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available throughout the day. We also have a fantastic on-site cafe, Embers, run by local chef Shropshire Lad.

The course:

Join us in the new year for our popular Introduction to Woodland Management course,  delivered by a fourth generation forester and coppice worker. IWM is designed for anyone keen to understand how to look after woodlands sustainably. You will gain a sound base of valuable knowledge and the confidence needed to get started!

Whether you’re a new owner, a conservation volunteer, or simply passionate about trees and nature, this course offers a wealth of information and advice on all the essential topics, as well as the valuable opportunity to meet other woodland owners / enthusiasts. 

You will learn:

- types of woodlands in the UK

- common woodland trees, shrubs and plants

- threats to woodlands

- sustainable small scale timber production

- legal responsibilities

- habitat improvements for biodiversity and wildlife

- managing woodlands in a changing climate

Your tutor:

Chris is our training officer, who co-ordinates and teaches woodland management and heritage skills, as well as being the lead trainer for the Lost Woods project in Sussex and contact for SWA members in the area.

He was born into an estate forestry family, and has worked in the coppice, woodland, and arboriculture industry for over 20 years. He  learned his trade from some of the last ‘proper’ woodsmen who cut trees with axe, hook, and hand saw and still uses these tools to this day. Chris is passionate about passing on this knowledge to others, as well as communicating his love of all things nature.

"I have a lifetime of experience working in the coppice woodlands of Sussex and Kent, and I love to show how these traditional activities support the health of woodlands and enhance biodiversity."