Training

The Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Authority is offering land managers in the National Park area a programme of free training events during 2009 to address some of the key issues and opportunities facing land managers. Being delivered by specialist consultants from SAC, the programme starts in late March.

This course, which will take place in May 2009 (date and venue still to be confirmed), will provide all the information you will need to manage and/or create a wood fuel resource safely, sustainably and effectively.

Topics to be covered.

• Types of wood fuels
• Opportunities- extent of resource
• Markets-own or wider use
• Training issues
• Equipment
• Machinery
• Species awareness issues
• New planting
• Resource management/ Silviculture
• Storage
• Licensing
• Sustainability/security of supply/landscape and biodiversity issues- links to Government & NPA Policies
• Funding opportunities

The policy background to the promotion of wood fuel use will introduce the course and from this context the practicalities of where the markets are (own use or moving the material through the consumer chain), how to manage individual tree species for wood fuel production, how to stay safe and legal whilst felling trees, what tools and equipment and storage space is required to process the material  and where outside funding can be accessed to help in the development of rural business opportunities will be developed in a mixture of indoor, and predominately, outdoor sessions.

SAC Delivery: Mr Ian Cornforth

Note: this course is now past however if you have an interest in this area please contact  Linda Winskill on 01389 722043 or at linda.winskill@lochlomond-trossachs.org