Training Events to Support Woodland Social Action November and December 2014

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1 Community Energy P2P Mentoring Partnership Training Events to Support Woodland Social Action November and December 2014 Background Over the Summer the NAAONB led Community Energy Peer to Peer Mentoring Partnership ran three open study visits in working woodlands. Over 90 participants attended the study visits and provided a list of training and research needs pertinent to developing woodland social action See appendix for full listing. The CEPM partnership has responded to the identified needs and have devised a programme of training events to address some of the main needs identified by existing and emerging woodland social action groups. Some of the learning needs do not lend themselves to day - long training events and others are either already provided by other organisations or are best developed by others. This paper sets out our training proposal that best matches the capacities of the NAAONB led CEPM partnership to deliver useful value into the growing arena of social forestry. BOOKING will be essential Over the next few weeks we will be setting up booking arrangements for these events. Training events are supported by the Cabinet Office /DECC funding with only a nominal sum of 25 / 35 being charged to cover lunch/ refreshments and admin. 11 High Street Fairford Gloucestershire GL7 4AD amber.livingston@landscapesforlife.org.uk

2 CEPM Training Events Autumn / Winter 2014 Training event 1. Exploring Relationships with Woodland Owners to support more woodland social action Forest Of Bowland AONB venue TBC November 13 th 2014 Content Establishing positive relationships between woodland owners and social enterprise operations s is a critical success factor. This training day will explore: Approaches to searching out and identifying suitable woodland for social action. The woodland owners perspective and needs Overcoming common inhibitions of landowner especially accessing, improving and marketing the asset Tips for approaching woodland owners, Help available to broker relationships and act as guarantor Legal and technical input on licenses and Management Agreements Business planning for woodland enterprises 2. Making the Most of Your Wood Fuel Prime Coppice, Dorset AONB Saturday November 22 nd 2014 This event is for those running or setting up woodland social action groups which produces woodfuel. This workshop will help ensure that you make the most out of woodfuel resources, including: The benefits of using logs as fuel. The impact of tree species and moisture content on calorific value. Best practice processing, with hands- on demonstrations of cutting, splitting and chunking as well as insights into storage and extraction.

3 Getting the view from a local firewood merchant to find out what's needed to get the logs from the woodland to the customer in a state ready to burn. Demonstration of burning techniques with stove manufacturers. The day will be split between classroom and practical sessions, with experts on hand to ensure that you get what you need from the day. 3. All Things Legal A surgery session looking in detail at the legal needs of woodland social action groups Provided through Anthony Collins Legal Office Birmingham City Centre November 25 th 2014 Max 12 participants This training event will look at the essential legal matters that underpin successful running of a woodland social action group. Issues covered will include: Legal forms available to woodland social action groups. Different forms of property tenure leases, licences, management agreements and the benefits for long term woodland social action. 4. Running and sustaining a successful woodland social action group Thursday 27th November 2014 Venue Arnside & Silverdale AONB TBC This training event will look in detail at the essentials of running a woodland social action group effectively and sustaining it for the future, including: Different options and models for groups Making the finances stack up Insurance, health and safety and equipment Recruiting and training volunteers Communicating effectively Guest speakers from different groups and fields will be on hand to inspire you and share their expertise and to discuss challenges, options and ways forward for your group. The event will be hosted by Arnside & Silverdale AONB and Silverdale and District Wood Bank. The event is for anyone involved

4 in setting up, running or developing a woodland social action group. 5. Understanding Woodland Management December 11th and 12th 2014 Venue : Wyre Forest, West Midlands The event is for anyone involved in setting up, running or developing a woodland social enterprise. This training event will look at practical aspects involved in managing a woodland; how to understand management systems; timber markets and the economics of woodfuel. It will cover; Different types of woodlands and sustainable management systems; How to work a wood, devising a safe and secure management strategy; The sorts of products can you produce from small woods; How to create and sell different types of timber; Working woodlands for firewood, biochar and charcoal; What kinds of machinery and equipment can help small scale production; Grants and incentives - the new funding landscape; The event would be run over two days.

5 Appendix Training needs from 3 Study Visits Training Needs What we need to learn about Wyre Forest June Landowner Enterprise relationships Securing access and use of woodland Management Licenses and agreements Understanding wood fuel supply chain from stocking through felling to seasoning and sale incl: Provenance and species Approaches to managing supply & felling Stacking & seasoning wood Marketing & distributing wood fuel Heating properties of wood fuel Different systems for burning wood fuel - Stoves and Boilers Understanding timber & markets Basic Forestry skills on assessing timber value Understanding variety of woodland products from trees to markets Business Planning Raising capital grants, equity etc Business planning for woodland Legal structures for woodland enterprises Research Needs What we need to find out about and communicate Assessing Value Locked up in Woodland Tools for woodland owners/ farmers Extraction and processing technologies explained Wood burning technologies Start up funding for woodland enterprises Species choice in a climate future Case studies of successful woodland social enterprises both large and small scale NELMs and woodland a users guide Deer and Squirrel management guidance for the public Careers in woodland Apprenticeship schemes Certification schemes for woodland workers

6 CEPM Training Needs What we need to learn about Arnside & Silverdale July Landowner Woodland Group relationships Securing access and use of woodland Legal Issues - Management Licenses and agreements Different structures for social forestry groups New Environmental Land Management scheme and broadleaved woodland management Running Woodland Groups Recruiting and Keeping Volunteers Business planning for woodland enterprises Accessing grants and funding for woodland enterprises How to engage diverse groups of volunteers including young people Engaging the wider public Building group resilience Marketing and communication Forestry Skills Timber measuring and assessment Timber extraction from different sites Practical skills Chainsaw to billhooks Machinery/ Kit demonstrations Rural Skills Woodland Management Making Charcoal Using Pigs in woodland management Bio Char production and marketing

7 CEPM Training Needs Analysis Dorset Study visit 1 st August 2014 Marketing and distributing woodfuel (10 expressed an interest) Apprentice schemes (9) Business planning for woodland enterprises (9) Understanding woodland products (6) How to engage diverse groups of volunteers, including young people (6) Accessing grants and funding for woodland enterprise (6) Securing access and use of woodland (4) Timber extraction from difficult sites (3) Top 10 guide to help overcome the most common issues (3) Engaging the wider public (3) How to write a woodland management plan (3) A network of attendees to share experiences (2) Different systems for burning wood fuel (1) Stacking & seasoning wood (1) Rural skills (1) Machinery / kit demonstrations (1) Marketing and communications (1) Building group resilience (1) Raising capital (1) New Environmental Land Management scheme and broadleaved woodland management (1)