Small Woods Association

Basket Making with Small Woods

Shropshire - Next course on 25th April 2020

£140

A great opportunity to spend time with a professional basket maker to make a range of baskets of your choice including Shopping baskets, log baskets and oval baskets depending on individual experience. You will learn: - To source and select suitable material - Work with a selection of willow - To use necessary tools - Different weaving techniques The course is tailored to suit a range of abilities for beginners, intermediates and experienced improvers. Rachel will contact you before the course to discuss the basket you would like to make...

Bowl Turning at The Green Wood Centre

Shropshire - Next course on 25th April 2020

£120

Learn to turn a wooden bowl on a traditional pole lathe. From log to bowl, you’ll learn the following processes: - Understanding the properties of different Bristish timbers and choosing the right timber suitable for bowl turning. - Using a froe to split the wood and how to mark out a bowl ‘blank’ - How to use an axe safely to rough out your blank - Learning to attach a mandrel and how to mount your blanks to the lathe correctly - Using and understanding different types of hand made...

Charcoal making (ring kiln & retort)

Shropshire - Next course on 25th April 2020

£160

This is a great opportunity to learn and compare the two key charcoal and Bio-char making techniques using a ring kiln and retort methods. Working alongside a professional charcoal maker the course will be delivered at Westonbirt Arboretum. You will learn: - Selecting a suitable site for a kiln - Prepare and grade suitable timber - Loading the kiln - Lighting and monitoring the burn - Closing the burn down - Unloading, grading and packaging All food will be provided and there will be plenty of opportunity to learn the...

Coppice Restoration at Westonbirt

Shropshire - Next course on 22nd February 2020

£160

This is a hands on practical course based within a coppice woodland on Wenlock Edge. All aspects for restoring a neglected and over stood coppice woodland will be covered including: - Assessing the age and health of a coppice stool - Developing a coppice rotation - Felling and processing - Extraction - Understanding stool density - Layering and planting - Pest control - Monitoring - Coppicing for economic and wildlife benefit

Framed Hurdles

Shropshire - Next course on 18th April 2020

£85

Learn how to make a simple framed hurdle using ash or chestnut frame and hazel weavers. Framed hurdles make attractive screens for wheelie bins and compost areas. These hurdles can use lower grade but more easily available materials. You will learn: - Selecting suitable wood - Split and cleave wood suitable for a frame - Mortise and Tenon joint - Weaving with hazel using round and split wood

Gourmet Mushroom Cultivation

Shropshire - Next course on 2nd May 2020

£85

Mushrooms are a valuable food-source with an important role to play in our lives: nutritionally, medicinally and environmentally. This course will be run in collaboration with Mushrooms for the Masses, who aim to encourage interest in the home production of mushrooms and also give an insight into the bigger picture of the world of mushrooms and the positive impact they can have within ecology. You will create your own Oyster mushroom starter kit as well as a log inoculated with Shitake mushrooms to take away with you at the end...

Hazel Stick Stool Making

Shropshire - Next course on 7th March 2020

£85

You will make a traditional stool using hazel rods with mortise and tenon joints and split hazel. You will learn: selecting suitable material tool selection and maintenance how to make mortise and tenon joint using different tools The course tutor is Neill Mapes.

Intro to Social Forestry OCN

Shropshire - Next course on 21st April 2020

£500

This course explores the use of woodlands to promote social and human wellbeing, and offers you the tools to start applying Social Forestry ideas in practice. The course will give you an understanding of the theories and evidence underlying Social Forestry whilst gaining practical hands-on experience suitable for use with different client groups. It will be delivered within a woodland setting, using a range of learning methods, to build on your existing skills and develop new ones. The course will include: - How woodlands promote human wellbeing - Managing group...

Knife Making

Shropshire

£140

Learn the skills of the blacksmith and blade smith and make your own knife. You will learn to: - use the forge anvil and hammer - be able to identify the temperature of steel by looking at the colours Learn the art of hardening and tempering, forging and drawing with the hammer. Blacksmith made knives differ from commercial made knives in that they are not ground with a grinder but shaped with the hammer. The tutor Richard Eaton is a professional blacksmith making artistic and traditional ironwork as well as...

Managing groups in woodlands

Gloucestershire

£120

The course is designed for woodland owners, managers and wildlife officers- who are considering working with volunteers and referral groups to run work parties and Social Forestry activities within woodlands. The course will provide guidance on: - Identify task focused woodland activities - Managing group dynamics - Leadership skills, motivating and managing conflict - Understanding the woodland needs. - Identifying skills and strengths - Identifying and managing risks - Matching woodland activities with different groups Course participants will have greater confidence to lead and manage group activities. The course will...

Practical woodland management

Shropshire - Next course on 16th November 2019

£160

This two day course will provide an introduction to the woodland tasks needed to manage a woodland. The course will provide the latest good practice guidelines along with top tips and techniques established over many years. You will learn: Tree selection and thinning – which tree to keep and the reasons why High pruning to improve timber quality Tree planting Safe moving of timber and extraction Dealing with brash Ride management

Spoon Carving at The Green Wood Centre

Shropshire - Next course on 18th April 2020

£80

Spoon carving is a great way to start carving and to learn about the properties of wood. Each spoon is completely unique which make great presents. This course will help beginners get started and those wanting to progress their technique further and try out more advanced designs. You will learn - Tool selection and sharpening - Wood selection - Splitting and roughing out - Carving and shaping - Finishing and protecting The course tutor will be Nadia Clarke. Lunch and refreshments provided.

Sustainable Woodland Management OCN L3

Shropshire - Next course on 1st May 2020

£240

A course designed for woodland owners and managers who want to manage their woodlands to balance wildlife, economic and social benefits. You will learn: - Understanding the true meaning of sustainability - Woodland types and structure - Practical woodland management - Woodland crafts and products - Woodland Biodiversity - Social Forestry This course covers both practical and theoretical aspects of managing a small wood and will lead to accreditation at Level 3 with the Open College Network. The course begins with an overview of the importance of sustainability in woodland...

Traditional Fencing - Hurdle Making

Shropshire - Next course on 28th March 2020

£180

This is a 2 day course based at the Green Wood Centre. Participants will learn how to make a traditional woven hazel hurdle working alongside a professional hurdle maker Brian Williamson. You will learn: - How to select and prepare suitable hazel rods for the different parts of a hurdle - Locate and set a hurdle brace and prepare the tools of the trade. - How to cleave (split) hazel rods using a bill hook or riving post. - Setting the zales - Weaving using a selection of material to...

Willow Hurdles

Shropshire - Next course on 19th April 2020

£85

Using a traditional Somerset pattern you will how to make a woven willow panel to take home. The woven panels make attractive garden screens and the skills learnt will allow you to continue with future garden projects. You will learn: - Siting a hurdle clamp - Selecting suitable hazel zales (uprights) and setting within the clamp - Selecting and grading willow withies - Building the bottom, infill and finishing weave - Installation and maintenance techniques - When constructed and maintained correctly willow hurdles are durable and long lasting and can...

Woodland ecology

Shropshire - Next course on 16th May 2020

£160

This course is designed to provide an understanding of woodland ecology to support woodland management decisions. The course will include: - Principles of ecology - Identifying woodland vegetation types and associated key woodland species - Species inter-dependency, population dynamics - Biotic and abiotic threats - Woodland monitoring to benefit woodland management The course tutor will be Martin Hales. Small Woods use only experienced professionals and woodland practitioners as tutors. We have more than 20 years’ experience of delivering courses and training and a reputation for high quality teaching and professionalism....

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