Training & Events

Open Day at Woodland Enterprise Centre, Flimwell, TN5 7PR

Come and see the range of courses provided by Plumpton College and Woodnet.

Adult short courses; 12 week tree surgery course; Diploma in forestry; Trees and Timber Apprenticeships; Careers Advice and Information in forestry.

Look at the award winning buildings constructed of local timber and see the oak timber frame that you can build on a five day course at Flimwell.

Tours of the woodland. Refreshments.

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.

Final date to be confirmed, please register your interest.

This one day course organised by Plumpton College and Woodnet provides an introduction to the safe felling of small trees with a chainsaw. The course is suitable for those wishing to use a chainsaw on their own land but does not provide a qualification. Participants will need to have some basic training in chainsaw use and cross-cutting to attend this course. We suggest you attend our one day 'Introduction to Chainsaw Use: Maintenance and Cross-cutting' course first. This 'Felling Small Trees' course will focus on trees which can be felled without hindrance. Subject to the abilities of the group, you will then progress to more sophisticated techniques, such as felling small trees against the lean and dealing with hung up trees. The course is limited to 4 participants to provide a good tutor to participant ratio.

Learn the creative and relaxing craft of Stick Making on a one day course organised by Plumpton College and Woodnet at the Woodland Enterprise Centre Flimwell.  Take a woodland walk to select suitable wood for making sticks, learn techniques for straightening & preparing the stick how to assemble, glue and varnish your created stick learn the various options for the finial finials are available to purchase at an additional cost

Take your stick home at the end of the day

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. Plumpton College at Flimwell is part of Plumpton College Centre for Sustainable Food Farming Forestry, please visit www.foodfarmingforestry.co.uk for information about other courses.

Wood shingles provide a natural, durable and attractive roof or wall covering suitable for buildings of any size. The shingles are cleaved from round wood, not sawn wood, to give them greater strength. This one day course is designed for anyone interested to learn how to make shingles by hand and how to fix them to a roof structure. You will learn how to select suitable wood and how to use hand tools to cleave and shape the shingles. You will use oak but the skills you learn can also be applied to sweet chestnut or cedar. Your tutor, John Waller, will also show you how to lay out, hang and fix the shingles to a roof. This is a practical course using hand tools. No previous experience is necessary.

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. Additional exercises and course notes cover areas related to working in woodlands and the countryside. Plumpton College at Flimwell is part of Plumpton College Centre for Sustainable Food Farming Forestry, please visit www.foodfarmingforestry.co.uk for information about other courses.

This is an advanced technical three day course which will take place in a woodland setting giving plenty of opportunity learn new practical skills, examine the  advantages and disadvantages of this system, learn the technical terminology, site limitations and different extraction methods.

For those who can already drive a tractor, ideally in a woodland environment
Course content:- (all based on NPTC FMO criteria) Pre-start checks and routine maintenance.
How to carry out at risk assessment and site appraisal Emergency procedures
Terrain and environment
How to plan extraction routes to minimise damage
Uphill and downhill extraction techniques
Diverted pulls
Different extraction methods

Pre-start checks and routine maintenance How to carry out at risk assessment and site appraisal Emergency procedures Operating a forwarder in a safe and effective manner How to operate the machine on a variety of terrains How to plan extraction routes to minimise damage Safe timber stacking and grading.

This three day course offers training in the safe and efficient use of horses as a method of low-impact timber extraction. The course will be held in woodland and focuses on a range of horse drawn extraction techniques and systems. The training provider is a registered professional contractor with the British Horse Loggers (BHL) , has 17 years experience working horses in forestry and works full time as a woodland manager, (Weald Woodscapes Ltd) undertaking a broad range of management services.

Properly erect safe and secure stock fencing. Suitable for all wishing to keep stock in or out. No previous experience necessary. Course is land based and requries a degree of physical strength.

Our very experience tutor will guide you through the correct way to erect post and rail fencing. This is a practical farm based course. The course is suitable for anyone who is interested in learning how to erect post & rail fencing.  No previous experience needed. 

This is a very popular course, early booking is essential. 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. It is a practical hands-on course with participants working together to construct and erect an 10ft 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. Timber Framing May 2012 “Excellent Course, brilliant, inspirational.”
The building is available to purchase after the event. Building not as pictured.
Plumpton College at Flimwell is part of Plumpton College Centre for Sustainable Food Farming Forestry, please visit www.foodfarmingforestry.co.uk for information about other courses.