Woodland Skills Training and Grants

Woodland Grants

Our Grants Scheme is available to landowners who would like to restore important woodland heritage features, or who are interested in re-introducing positive management to see the difference it makes for wildlife and our landscape. 

These grants are available to landowners where we can provide 100% grants for helping to restore important woodland heritage features, such as woodland banks or ancient deer pales, to sustain them into the future. We are also offering 50% grant funding for selective thinning where landowners are encouraged to trial the reintroduction of positive management to see what difference it makes for wildlife, landscape and the aesthetic benefits of those using it. You can read more about these grant opportunities in our Guidance Document 

For more information about the Woodland Grants scheme, email Scheme Manager Rob at robertlloyd@cranbornechase.org.uk

forest event

Free Woodland Skills Training Opportunities 

Are you over 16 and not in education, training, or employment? Perhaps you are leaving school or college and looking for a new challenge, or maybe you are looking for a career change and would like to work outdoors or get closer to nature? These courses would be perfect if you have ever considered a career in woodland management or forestry.

The Woodland Skills Training Programme focusses on commercial accredited qualifications as well as more traditional woodland management skills and will enable trainees and volunteers to gain a vast amount of hand-on experience. If you would like to know more about the training, or to book a place please contact Chase & Chalke Ranger Roland Hughes – rolandhughes@cranbornechase.org.uk – 07880 488260


Brushcutter and Chainsaw Training 

Volunteer Brushcutter

Brushcutters and chainsaws are key tools for managing environments and practical conservation in and around the landscape.

If you, or a group you work with, would benefit from learning these new skills, and honing them through volunteer work with us, please get in touch.

To enquire please contact Chase & Chalke Ranger Roland Hughes – rolandhughes@cranbornechase.org.uk – 07880 488260.

Coppicing and Spar Making

Hedgelaying image

Please enquire to find out more.

Held in the stunning countryside around the National Landscape, the sessions could cover cutting and extracting suitable timber from a hazel coppice, uses for coppiced timber, protecting hazel stumps and splitting and sharpening the ‘gads’ (hazel sticks) to create spars for thatching.

If you, or a group you work with, would benefit from learning these new skills, and honing them through volunteer work with us, please get in touch.

If you would like to enquire about possible training, contact Chase & Chalke Ranger Roland Hughes – rolandhughes@cranbornechase.org.uk – 07880 488260


Woodland Skills Training Programme

Our Woodland Training programme features a variety of traditional and useful skills. Here are some examples of training that could be on offer:

  • Brushcutter & Trimmer Training
  • Maintenance and Cross Cutting (Chainsaw)
  • Hurdle making
  • Hedge laying
  • Continuous woven fencing
  • Basic bushcraft, fire making, cordage and foraging
  • Coppice management, products and markets
  • Hay rake making
  • Peg making
  • Stakes / binder making
  • Charcoal production
  • Thatching spars
  • Shrink pots
  • Gypsy pegs
  • Tree felling
  • Spoon carving
  • Stool and bench building
  • Wood turning
  • Green wood working from small pieces

How to Get Involved

If you would be interested in taking part in woodland skill training, please register on our Chase & Chalke volunteer hub.

Many of our training days and courses have taken place, but we will possibly have more opportunities coming up in the future.

Participants need to register on our Chase & Chalke volunteer & training hub, where opportunities & training days are published.

Once you are registered, you will be notified when a new opportunity arises. Then you can book your place.

To register click here.