Buy a Gift Voucher

Small Woods Association

Contact Name: Judith

Contact course provider

Book online

Address:
The Old Station
Station Road
Coalbrookdale, Telford
Shropshire
TF8 7DR

Small Woods Association

Contact course provider

About Small Woods Association

We are the national organisation for woodland owners, workers and supporters. We stand for living sustainable woods: alive with wildlife, people and work.

Small Woods Association's Courses

Basket Making with Small Woods
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...
Charcoal making (ring kiln & retort)
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
Coppice Restoration
Shropshire - Next course on 26th October 2019
£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
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
Framed Round Basket
Framed Round Basket
Shropshire - Next course on 9th November 2019
£140
Learn how how  to make a traditional framed basket with professional basket maker Rachel Evans. Framed baskets are strong and versatile, useful in the  garden or for shopping  and make great  presents. You will learn: - To  source and select suitable  material - Create a frame using hazel rods - Work with a selection of willow and different  weaving techniques The course will take place at the Green Wood Centre in the  woodland hall based within the amazing World Heritage Ironbridge Gorge. Your tutor will be Rachel Evans.
Hazel Stick Stool Making
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.
Introduction to Hedge Laying
Introduction to Hedge Laying
Shropshire - Next course on 5th October 2019
£160
This is a 2 day practical course covering all aspects of hedge laying including: - Identify different hedge laying styles - Identify suitable hedge species - Undertake the different stages of hedge laying, pleaching, stacking and binding - Lay a number of hedges of different sizes types and ages - Use and maintain the different hand tools needed in hedge laying Karl is a professional full time hedge layer with over 30 years experience and is highly respected within the profession. This is a practical hedge laying course with the...
Knife Making
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
Managing groups in woodlands
Gloucestershire - Next course on 12th October 2019
£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
Practical woodland management
Shropshire - Next course on 2nd 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
Sustainable Woodland Management OCN L3
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...
Tool sharpening - billhooks & axes
Tool sharpening - billhooks & axes
Shropshire - Next course on 29th September 2019
£80
Billhooks and axes are used because they are still the most effective tool for felling and timber reduction and conversion for some woodland activities such as coppice management. It is surprising how many blunt billhooks and axes are been used and the lack of awareness of how a sharp tool should look like and how much easier and safer work is when using a sharp tool. The course is suitable for all who use billhooks and axes routinely and a must do course for volunteer and project leaders taking groups...
Tool sharpening - crosscut saws
Tool sharpening - crosscut saws
Shropshire - Next course on 28th September 2019
£80
Learn how to sharpen and maintain a 2 person cross cut and felling saw. The iconic forestry tool is still a very relevant and useful tool. Like any tool the 2 person saw is safer and works more efficiently when sharp and it is important to pass on the important skills of sharpening. The saws are surprisingly effective when sharp, and when used correctly, have become more popular in recent years especially for woodland projects and when working with volunteers and young people. You will learn: Identify different saws and...
Traditional Fencing - Hurdle Making
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
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...
Wonderful world of trees
Wonderful world of trees
Shropshire - Next course on 5th October 2019
£140
This course investigates the structure and mechanisms of trees and how they interact within the woodland environment. The course and information is delivered in a format that is accessible to a wide audience with plenty of visual and practical examples to support the theory. You will learn: - The benefits and importance of trees - Tree seed structure and germination - Tree growth, development and structure, how trees function - Flower structure, roots and leaves and autumn colour - Tree maturity, crown recession and death. Features of ancient trees -...
Woodland ecology
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....
No image available
Woodland landscape history
Gloucestershire - Next course on 11th October 2019
£120
Great opportunity for new woodland owners and managers to learn the broad concepts of woodland history and how it has influenced the shape of today’s landscape. Participants will learn how to read ‘the landscape’, to identify features within woodlands to interpret former use and activities. A wide range of topics will be covered to explain existing features, hidden gems and the type and management of woodlands we see today. The day will be spent at May Hill wood which has a wealth of history and full of interest to discover....