Two day coppicing course by Phil Hopkinson
Helping restore local woodland
TWO DAY COPPICING COURSES
The two day coppicing courses I run are an introduction to coppicing for people who have no experience of coppicing or for volunteers and others who are interested in traditional woodlands and their management and would like to gain more knowledge. There is a maximum of 6 people on each course.
They are ideal for woodland owners who have acquired woodland but have little practical knowledge of woodland management and coppicing.
The training courses start with a walk through the woods looking at various compartments that have been coppiced over the last ten years and the benefits of coppicing and the differences between native deciduous woodland and conifer plantations.
Planning the work area, looking at various devices and horses, building work breaks and coppice restoration are all covered on the course.
The second day starts with tree identification theory and practice with a very large selection of trees being present in the wood, including Alder, Ash, Birch, Beech, Cherry, Oak, Hornbeam, Willow, Larch, Corsican Pine, Norway Spruce.
The understorey includes Field Maple, Hawthorn, Elder, Spindle, Hazel, Holly.
Working methods, practical coppicing, material selection, processing, and storage are usually covered on the second day. There is also often a short talk or guided walk by Trevor, the woodland owner on the second day.
Good quality sharp tools will be provided. A certificate and full course notes along with a tree identification guide are included in the course fee.
We have the use of the classroom at Ravenshill for some of the training, the vast majority of the training will be conducted outdoors coppicing and in my woodland workshop where there is a camp fire, and camp kitchen where hot and cold drinks and a mid-day meal are supplied and a fire, cooking pots, frying pans and cooking utensils are provided. The only thing that participants need to bring is their food if they have any special dietry requirements.
The course is over two days, usually over a weekend.
It costs £95 for the two days including food. A £20 deposit is required.
My courses take place at Ravenshill Woodland Reserve, Alfrick, Worcestershire, which is a 50 acre privately owned nature reserve, which has a patchwork of diverse habitat including many indicator species of ancient semi-natural woodland. It has both deciduous and various conifer species.
Camping is available in the wood for course participants on two day courses at a cost of £6 per night per person. There are also some excellent hotels and B&B'S locally. Please go the links page for local accommodation.
Click here to go to a googlemap of Ravenshill.
My gift vouchers are an ideal present for christmas, a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion and a way to give your friend or loved one the chance to spend time in the woodland and learn more about the traditional craft of coppicing.
Click here to download the Coppicing course booking form in PDF Format
Click here to download the Coppicing course application form in Word format
Click here to view my terms and conditions.
All pictures have been taken by myself in woodlands that I have worked.