Tir Coed Open Day Event & Training Course Certificate Presentation
Written by Tir Coed / Sunday 02 October 2016
Tir Coed Open Day at Elan Valley Visitor Centre took place on Sunday 2nd October, 11am to 4pm. There were woodland skills demonstrations and interactive, including shave horse, and a chance to have a go at this and other traditional crafts. The presentation of certificates for the trainees of the Agored Cymru Level Two in Woodland Carpentry, which has taken place in the Elan Valley over the last few months was a celebratory affair with speeches and huge congratulations. The presentation was at 2pm. There was a great turn out and the public from all over the UK had the chance to engage in woodland crafts and informative discussions with our volunteers and mentors who have made significant achievements over the last year. There were also some good ties formed between Tir Coed and some Birmingham Forest Schools practitioners currently working in Birmingham schools that will be invaluable in helping to develop the activities and residential programmes within the Elan Links 5 year Project https://www.facebook.com/ElanLinks/?ref=bookmarks
Training Course Achievements: All nine volunteers achieved accreditation, a 100% success rate. Four individuals also received mentor certificates. Consequently, this has been a very successful pilot and it is very exciting for the future five years of training courses to be delivered from 2017 as part of the Elan Links project.
Training Course Progression: The following details the progression of training course participants since completing the training:
- Active interest in future projects and mentoring;
- Progression to a full time college course studying fisheries management;
- Pledges to further volunteer to support Dwr Cymru construction projects;
- Employed work with two local woodland organisations;
- Support tutoring for Tir Coed;
- Acceptance for two volunteers onto the board of a local woodland community group;
- Recruitment as a trustee of a local nature reserve;
- Active searching for progression opportunities in the Newtown area;
- Furtherance of a new gardening business;
- Potential to be employed with Tir Coed to support and lead botany activities;
- Active seeking of full time employment;
- Increase in social confidence;
- Transferability of woodland skills into the home environment.
Joint Lead Tutors – Colin Titley & Dave Thomas
Number of participants: 170
Number of volunteer hours: 71
