Malvern Hills Coppice Network

 

Phil Hopkinson, a member of the coppice network will be running  these two day coppicing courses  at Ravenshill Woodland Reserve, Alfrick, Worcs.

 

 

The coppicing courses I run are an introduction to coppicing for people who have no experience of coppicing or for volunteers and others who have a little experience but would like to gain more knowledge. There is a maximunm of 6 people on each course.

They are ideal for woodland owners who have aquired woodland but have little practicle knowledge of woodland management and coppicing.

The training course will include tree identification ,the benefits of coppicing, a walk through the wood to look at how the areas coppiced over the last ten years and the differences between native deciduous woodland and conifer plantations. Coppice restoration, working methods, material selection and processing. Material storage and building workbreaks.

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 in my woodland workshop where there is a camp fire, and camp kitchen where hot drinks are supplied and a fire and cooking utensils are provided for trainees to cook their own food.

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.

The course is over two days, usually over a weekend. I am now offering mid-week courses.

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.

All pictures have been taken by myself in woodlands that I have worked.

"Phil,
Superb course, very informative and enjoyable.
I now know my Spindle from my Dogwood and can spot a Field Maple at 20 paces. Bernard Elgar"

"Good value, covered all aspects of coppicing, friendly relaxed atmosphere.

Thanks for the very useful points for tool suppliers, etc. Very useful, very informative, and a very nice atmoshere- Thanks very much."

 

"Phil
Just a quick note to say that we both really enjoyed the course. It was really helpful to learn the methods of coppicing, how to select trees to keep as standards (something that was really confusing us), and how to organise the work area and stack the timber properly. The tools you provided us with were really good, and the catering arrangements were very good too.

 

Best wishes Sarah Walters"