Thur 5 March – Woods for tomorrow: Bringing woods into management
Tutors: Kevin Penfold and Jim Sauter of Penfolds Woodland Management will be delivering a course designed for land owners and managers.
The Woods for tomorrow programme and all training within it are generously subsidised by the Forestry Commission. This course is designed for landowners and land managers who own or manage woodlands but have little experience or knowledge of forestry. To be eligible to book a place on this course you must be either a land owner or land manager and:
- have woodland that does not currently have a management plan
or - have land that you would like to create woodland on but have not yet started.
The aim of the course is to provide a starting point allowing course participants to clearly understand what steps to take to release the potential of their woodland.
The course objectives are:
- To explore the benefits that arise from bringing your woodland into active management and how to take the first steps.
- To understand what a good Management Plan should include, looking at soil types, tree selection/planting, establishment and aftercare, managing pests and diseases.
- To understand what funding and grants are available to you.
- How to find and engage with forestry agents and contractors.
- How to navigate local planning constraints and legal regulation.
- How to identify and balance a range of priorities including production, conservation, recreation and others.
This course will be delivered through a mix of classroom theory and outdoor practical sessions in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire. It will be led by Kevin Penfold and Jim Sauter, who have a proven track record of successful RFS courses over the past few years. Feedback about them includes:
“Just a brilliant course, so much information packed in. I feel so much more confident about building timber production into my woodland creation schemes now.”
“Very knowledgeable instructors. Great course to give a whistle stop tour of forestry from start to finish.”
Tea, coffee will be provided on arrival, please bring a packed lunch as lunch is not provided. Bring outdoor clothing and suitable footwear for the outdoor sessions.
Price: This one-day course is £50.00 for RFS members / £60.00 Non members
On completion of course, non members will be eligible for 25% off the cost of our annual membership price. RFS members receive our highly regarded Quarterly Journal of Forestry, member grants and woodland visits. Click here for more information.
Please note: You will need your membership number to obtain your discount. Card payment is by PayPal but you do not need a PayPal account to use it, check out as a guest.
Kevin Penfold MICFor
Course Tutor
Kevin Penfold MicFor has over 35 years’ experience working with and managing woodlands. He spent 25 years of his career with the Forestry Commission in roles such as Forest District Manager, Operations Manager (for 11 years), Planning Forester, Technical Trainer, and Forester. In 2012 Kevin established his own business and now manages a wide range of woodland types with differing objectives, undertaking the marketing and supply of timber, contract management, health and safety management, woodland establishment, and woodland regeneration for private woodland owners. A past approved forestry technical trainer, assessor, and examiner, he has a high level of technical competence having represented forest industry interests at a national level with the HSE.
Jim Sauter MCMI
Course Tutor
Jim Sauter MCMI has over 40 years working in and managing woodlands. His early years were spent working on a private estate in Oxfordshire and for the Crown Estate in the West Midlands before studying at a Forestry College. The majority of his career was working for the Forestry Commission in Wales and England over 40 years in roles as diverse as Technical Trainer, Operational Management Trainer, Operations Manager West England and Head of Sustainable Land Management in West England. Jim is also a past approved forestry technical trainer, assessor, management trainer and examiner with a proven track record of skills and a high level of competence in Forestry Operations and Forest Management.
The Woods for tomorrow programme and all training within it are generously subsidised by the Forestry Commission. This course is designed for landowners and land managers who own or manage woodlands but have little experience or knowledge of forestry. To be eligible to book a place on this course you must be either a land owner or land manager and: have woodland that does not currently have a management plan or have land that you would like to create woodland on but have not yet started. By clicking on the link below to book a place, you are confirming that you meet these criteria.
