End of Llanerchaeron Course
Written by Tir Coed / Tuesday 18 December 2018
The 12 weeks have passed so quickly, it seems like just yesterday that we set up camp and started getting to know the woods and its flora and fauna. The trainees have learnt how to sharpen and use traditional tools to craft useful items.
The trainees have become confident at identifying different tree species and have cleared areas of dense understorey vegetation. They have become competent with their felling techniques to thin weaker trees that enable more light to get through the canopy.
The group have also been introduced to coppicing, a sustainable management practice carried out in rotation to produce stools of multiple stems of straight poles, useful for many products.
Lead Tutor Wil Nickson told me “It has been a joy to work in such a beautiful and pristine woodland”. “I will really miss this woodland as it’s become like a second home”
I never in a million years thought I would be coppicing and chopping down trees at the age of 60, so I’m pretty proud of myself. The Tutors were informative and patient, the group were great fun with lots of humour and comradery.
With mince pies and cake to celebrate the 7 completers were presented with certificates.
We like to say a big thank you to Llanerchaeron’s Woodland Ranger Aron Roberts and the National Trust for enabling us to work together for the benefit of the trainees and woodland.
