Woodlands of Ireland is delighted to announce a 78-day pilot operative skills training course on Native and Semi-Natural Woodland! The training will cover a broad range of topics for 8 trainees to learn more about working in the area of native woodland conservation and management. Topics will include, but not be limited to:
- Tree identification
- Seed collection
- Tree planting techniques and tools
- Plant handling and storage standard practise
- Tree protection and boundary maintenance
- Common Invasive species identification and control
- Chainsaw safety training and assessment
- Low-impact silviculture and related traditional craft
- Native Woodland Conservation Scheme induction
Course Participants:
The training will run on a part-time basis from late October 2025 to August 2026 and be delivered as a mixture of ‘in forest’ and classroom tutorials plus work experience mainly at Enniscoe House woodland and at Laughtavary woodland, Co. Mayo.
The course involves:
- 26 training days indoors and outdoors.
- 52 days of work experience outdoors in woodland.
The course is suitable for employees of public sector bodies, private woodland owners, contractor operatives and their employers or other interested individuals from diverse backgrounds. Attendance will be verified by a daily sign-in form. Candidates will be selected through an interview process. This can be conducted online through Zoom with final interviews in person.
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/wzzLtNLjArxskcF77
Other Attendance Options:
An additional 15 Supporter Members of Woodlands of Ireland can also attend some of the individual modules, excluding the work experience aspect and the NPTC City and Guilds modules. Contact info@woodlandsofireland.com for details of membership and course aspects that can be attended. Visit the Woodlands of Ireland Supporter membership page and become a Supporter today.
Application:
If you are considering attending this course, please fill out the following questionnaire on or before midnight on Thursday 16th of October.
Registration Link: https://forms.gle/wzzLtNLjArxskcF77
If you have any additional questions, please contact info@woodlandsofireland.com on or before October 16th.
Funding for this course is provided under the Open Call for Proposals for Forestry Skills Training 2025-2026 by the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.