Coppicing and Woodland Skills Courses in West Wales at Coppicewood College
6-month Woodland Skills Course
Once again, starting at the end of September we will be running our unique 6 month woodland skills course. The course runs for 2 days a week, throughout the coppicing season, until the end of March. In our beautiful, peaceful woodlands in Pembrokeshire where Chainsaws are rarely heard, students attending the course will learn how to safely handle and maintain a wonderful selection of Traditional hand tools such as axes, crosscut saws, bill hooks, side axes, hatchets and draw knives which they will use to cut, sort and process the coppiced wood from next seasons plot.
This course is a great opportunity to get involved with the regeneration and conservation of previously neglected woodland bringing it back to life through coppicing and replanting. As the course progresses there students will gain experience in other traditional skills such as Hedge-laying, Charcoal Making, Green woodworking, Carving and Willow Weaving. The instructors will also guide the students as they work on a personal Craft project of their choice, using the materials harvested through the coppicing process. Previous personal projects have included shave horses, chairs and stools.
As well as practical experience, our knowledgeable tutors constantly regale students with facts of flora and fauna, providing them with an ever growing knowledge store of the interesting tree, plant, animal and insect species in our woods. Basic tree biology and species recognition are also taught during the course.
Who is the course for?
• Woodland owners and farmers or their staff
• Park rangers
• Self employed crafts people.
• Unemployed people and school leavers looking for alternative employment opportunities.
• Anyone with an interest in traditional rural skills using hand tools.
• Anyone interested in reducing their carbon footprint, preserving the natural environment and improving habitat.
The full course fee is £1740.00. There may be some grant funding available and we are able to negotiate payment plans with students.Affordable accommodation can also be arranged if necessary.
Short Courses
Running alongside the 6 month course will be the following short courses:
Introduction to Coppicing, Starts: Monday 25th October 2010. Duration: 4 days Cost: £160.00. This course will show you how to take neglected woodland and transform it into a productive coppice with wildlife benefits.We will demonstrate how to cut a coppice plot safely with appropriate hand tools and you will learn to know different trees and understand their value.
Festive Weaving, Start Date: 4th December 2010
Duration: 1 day Cost: £25.00 plus materials. A chance to experiment with willow and hedgerow materials and learn some basic weaving techniques. You will be able to make and take home your own festive object.
Hedgelaying, Start Date:14th February 2011
Duration: 4 days Cost: £160.00 Do you have neglected hedges on your land? Then join us to learn how to make them stockproof and more beneficial to wildlife. We will teach you traditional hedge laying using hand tools. Learn how to use a bill hook - the Iron Age tool that is still the best for the job today.
Green Woodworking, Start Date: 14th March 2011 and 6th June 2011
Duration: 4 days, Cost: £160.00 plus materials. This is a craft course which demonstrates how to use coppiced wood rather than timber bought from the saw mill. You will learn how to split and shape green wood using special tools, a cleaving break and shave horse. The understanding of the basic skills can then lead to simple furniture making or producing your own gate or carving a spoon. The mysteries of traditional craft work can be revealed in this course.
Weave a Garden Plant Support, Start Date: 16th April 2011 Duration: 5 hours. 10.30 – 3.30 Cost: £20.00 plus materials. More weaving wizardry from our very own Barbara Goodwin. A day in the woods not to be missed by keen gardeners.
Make a Shavehorse, Start Date: 30th April 2011.
Duration: 3 days. Cost: £160.00 plus materials. Learn how to build this invaluable green woodworking tool, which you can then take home and start using immediately.
Scything for Beginners, Start Date: Every Saturday in June 2011. Duration: 1 day, Cost: £40.00. Compare an Austrian Scythe and its various blades to a Traditional English scythe and learn the appropriate techniques for your preference. Our Instructor Bruce uses an Austrian scythe to manage a 4 acre Forest Garden and two lawns. He highly recommends this method for efficiency, satisfaction and good exercise. Most importantly this method is truly sustainable.
Applications for these courses are welcome from anyone 16 and over. For Further information or to book a place on any of these courses, Contact Bruce Slark on 01239 881394, email bslark@aol.com or visit www.coppicewoodcollege.co.uk