News

Forestry for Non Foresters

For owners and managers of woodlands with little or no experience, the Royal Forestry Society (RFS) is hosting subsidized two-day courses to demystify forestry, leading participants through the forest cycle from establishment to harvesting timber.

By Wendy Necar · August 25, 2021

This news article is over a year old. For details of our current courses, please go to www.rfs.org.uk/events

The six “From Seed to Sawn” Forestry for Non Foresters field courses are for those who own or manage woodland in the West Midlands and North West England. They are being held in partnership with Penfolds Woodland Management at Lowther in Cumbria and in Colton, Staffordshire.

Three courses are being held in October 2021:

October 19, 2021 – October 20, 2021 Colton Village Hall, Colton, Staffordshire, WS15 3LN. Apply here.

October 21, 2021 – October 22, 2021 Colton Village Hall, Colton, Staffordshire, WS15 3LN. Apply here.

October 27, 2021 – October 28, 2021 Lowther, Hackthorpe, Cumbria, CA10 2HT.  Apply here.

Three are being held in March 2022

March 15, 2022 – March 16, 2022 Colton Village Hall, Colton, Staffordshire, WS15 3LN. Apply here.

March 22, 2022 – March 23, 2022 Lowther, Hackthorpe, Cumbria, CA10 2HT. Apply here.

March 24, 2022 – March 25, 2022 Lowther Parish Hall, Hackthorpe, Cumbria, CA10 2HT. Apply here.

The courses will take participants through the forest cycle from establishment and aftercare of newly planted trees, through to options for woodland management and the harvesting and marketing of timber.

RFS Chief Executive Christopher Williams says: “To fully benefit from planting trees and woodland in the fight against climate change, we need to do this right. We all need to make sure trees that are planted grow well into the future and do not die or become neglected after just a few years. These courses will demystify forestry, cut through the jargon to help participants release the potential of their new or existing woodland.”

Generously funded by the Forestry Commission Forestry Innovation Fund there is a subsidised rate of only £50 per person per course. Applicants must have little or no experience in forestry and cannot already be RFS members. The woodland they own or manage must be in one of the following counties:

  • West Midlands – Herefordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire
  • North West – Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Merseyside

Course tutors are Kevin Penfold MicFor and Jim Sauter MCMI.

All attendees will receive 12 months membership of the Royal Forestry Society, offering the opportunity for ongoing support and training to help manage your woodlands.