Training & Events

This one-day course is designed for those who want an introduction to the safe use and maintenance of chainsaws. This is an ideal course for those wishing to use a chainsaw in their own woods. You will learn how to set up and maintain your saw and use it for cross cutting felled timber. The course does not cover felling. Chainsaws are provided for use during the course but you will need to provide your own personal protective clothing.

This course receives funding from the Landskills South East Programme, part of the Rural Development Programme for England. If you work in farming, forestry or production horticulture in the South East you may be eligible for the subsidised fee. For more information about the eligibility criteria please contact us on 01273 892052.

This course is aimed at woodland owners and managers, foresters, countryside managers, those involved in community woodlands and those with a general interest in archaeology.

Woodlands are recognised as important archaeological landscapes. On this course you will learn to identify archaeological features that have been protected by the presence of woodland such as saw pits, iron workings, charcoal sites and boundary banks. Using the woodland at Flimwell, you will learn measuring and surveying techniques for recording archaeological features with simple equipment, gain practical experience of recording in the woodland, and find out how to add the information to the Heritage Environment Record.

This course receives funding from the Landskills South East Programme, part of the Rural Development Programme for England. If you work in farming, forestry or production horticulture in the South East you may be eligible for the subsidised fee. For more information about the eligibility criteria please contact us on 01273 892052.

This one day practical course is for anyone interested in making a traditional Sussex trug. Your tutor, Dominic Parrette, will guide you through the day as you make your own Sussex trug from sweet chestnut and cricket bat willow. This is a full day, intensive course using hand tools and is quite physically demanding. All materials are supplied and included in the cost of the course.

This course receives funding from the Landskills South East Programme, part of the Rural Development Programme for England. If you work in farming, forestry or production horticulture in the South East you may be eligible for the subsidised fee. For more information about the eligibility criteria please contact us on 01273 892052.

This course is for anyone interested in making chestnut gate hurdles for farm, woodland and garden use. You will learn the skills of constructing chestnut gate hurdles by making a small hurdle to take home. You can then apply the techniques you have learned to construct your own gate hurdles of various sizes. Your tutor, Alan Sage, will guide you through the day, showing you how to select materials, cleave and shave the chestnut to make the parts of the hurdle, drill the holes, point the heads and chamfer the tops. You will then shape the tenons, fix the rails and braces and complete the hurdle. This is a practical course using hand tools and is run in our workshop at Flimwell.

This course is funded by the LandSkills South East Programme, part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). If you work in farming, forestry or production horticulture in the South East you may be eligible for the subsidised course fee. For more information about the eligibility criteria please contact us on 01273 892052.

This course is designed for anyone interested in generating income from coppice woodland by selling or using produce. Learn about the uses of different coppice trees for fencing, charcoal, crafts, logs, construction etc; find out which lengths and sizes are required for different products, and learn how to harvest, store, market and sell your wood. Tim Saunders from Rother Forestry will guide you through the process from cutting, to storage and sales. Tim has a wide range of experience in the harvesting, storage and marketing of coppice and woodland products in the South East.

This course receives funding from the LandSkills South East Programme, part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE). If you work in farming, forestry or production horticulture in the South East you may be eligible for a subsidised course fee. For more information about the eligibility criteria please contact us on 01273 892052.

This course is designed for anyone interested in learning how to manage woodland using hand tools as an alternative to or in addition to using machinery. Your tutor, John Waller, will explain the woodland management activities that can be carried out by hand and the benefits of using hand tools. You will learn how to fell and cut trees safely and deal with them efficiently on the ground. John will demonstrate how to coppice and fell using hand saws, billhooks and axes; how to use ropes; and how to cleave and cut felled timber. You will be able to practice the techniques individually and as a group. There will also be advice on buying, selecting and maintaining tools. The course will be in the woods at Flimwell.

This course receives funding from the Landskills South East Programme, part of the Rural Development Programme for England. If you work in farming, forestry or production horticulture in the South East you may be eligible for a subsidised fee. For more information about the eligibility criteria please contact us on 01273 892052.

This five day course organised by Woodnet and Plumpton College at Flimwell is for those interested in learning how to construct an oak framed building. This is a practical hands-on course with participants working together to construct and erect an 8ft by 10ft frame with a roof. You will learn the main skills required to lay out the frame, mark and cut the joints, construct the roof, make the pegs, and erect the frame. The course uses hand tools with demonstration of the use of power tools. Your tutors, Chris Nutley and Will English of Sussex Oak Framers, will guide you through the week, teaching you the practical skills and explaining the stages in planning and managing a timber frame project.

This course receives funding from the Landskills South East Programme, part of the Rural Development Programme for England. If you work in farming, forestry or production horticulture in the South East you may be eligible for a subsidised fee. For more information about the eligibility criteria please contact us on 01273 892052.

This one day course organised by Woodnet and Plumpton College at Flimwell is aimed at those interested in learning how to select and prepare timber for sale or own use. It will interest those managing trees and woodlands and those wishing to select and use timber for construction, furniture making and other purposes.

Tim Saunders of Rother Forestry will explain the value and uses of the main timber trees, how to select the best trees for different uses, and how to mill and store timber. You will also learn about marketing and selling timber with guidance on pricing. The course will cover how to set up and use a mobile saw mill and how to engage contractors.

This course receives funding from the Landskills South East Programme, part of the Rural Development Programme for England. If you work in farming, forestry or production horticulture in the South East you may be eligible for a subsidised fee. For more information about the eligibility criteria please contact us on 01273 892052.

This one day course is designed for anyone interested in learning the basic principles involved in tree climbing as used by modern arborists (tree surgeons), whether as a way to learn how to climb tall trees safely for leisure, or as a taster for anyone thinking of enrolling on a tree surgery course. Your tutor, Gavin Nevett, works for Plumpton College and is a qualified, professional arborist. The morning will comprise an introduction to tree climbing, health and safety procedures, familiarisation with equipment and a demonstration of how to climb safely. In the afternoon, you will carry out practical climbing sessions and end with a discussion of the applications and uses for climbing. Participants will not be expected to set up their own climbing systems, tie knots etc. This will be done by a skilled professional and participants will be closely supervised throughout.

This course receives funding from the Landskills South East Programme, part of the Rural Development Programme for England. If you work in farming, forestry or production horticulture in the South East you may be eligible for the subsidised fee. For more information about the eligibility criteria please contact us on 01273 892052.

This course is for anyone interested in learning how to work with green/ freshly felled wood to make a range of products. If you own or manage woodland it will open up opportunities to use your produce creatively for your own use or to sell. Those interested in learning traditional crafts will also find the course inspiring. John Waller, your tutor for the day, has many years of experience working green wood. John will demonstrate the techniques, tools and materials to convert green wood into many and varied products such as candlesticks, spoons and dibbers and will show you what you can aspire to including chairs, stools and benches. This is a practical hands on day with plenty of time to practice your new skills in cleaving, shaving and pole lathe turning while you make a small item of your own.

This course receives funding from the Landskills South East Programme, part of the Rural Development Programme for England. If you work in farming, forestry or production horticulture in the South East you may be eligible for a subsidised fee. For more information about the eligibility criteria please contact us on 01273 892052.

A first aid course aimed at those involved in woodland and countryside management.

This one-day course delivers the 'Emergency First Aid at Work' course to HSE guidelines with a certificate valid for three years. The course is delivered by Vital First Aid Ltd. Additional exercises and course notes cover areas related to working in woodlands and the countryside.

This course receives funding from the Landskills South East Programme, part of the Rural Development Programme for England. If you work in farming, forestry or production horticulture in the South East you may be eligible for the subsidised fee. For more information about the eligibility criteria please contact us on 01273 892052.

Learn how to make charcoal on this one day practical course. This course uses small, oil drum size kilns ideal for small scale production in your garden, farm or woodland. You will find out about the history of charcoal making, load and light different types of kiln and see the burning process. Advice on selecting wood, sourcing and making kilns and marketing charcoal will be given. You can take a bag of charcoal home. No previous experience required.