Coppicewood College

As our 6-month woodland skills course comes to an end, we would like to say a huge congratulations to all of our students 🌿

A big well done from all of us at Coppicewood! Your final greenwood projects and felling techniques are a true testament to the dedication, hard work and learning you’ve shown throughout your journey.

From all the tutors, we send our support and best wishes in all things woodland management and greenwood craft 🌱

If you’re interested in experiencing this for yourself, we’d love to hear from you. Interviews for next September’s course are now live.

Another excellent four-day course in the woods 🌿

Our 6-month woodland skills students were joined by external learners for a focused introduction to the traditional craft of hedgelaying. Across the four days, the group demonstrated strong teamwork, dedication, and a willingness to learn through hands-on practice. A rewarding and productive course, with time well spent developing both skill and understanding in a classic countryside tradition.

🪵 Just before half term our students took home the shave horses they built themselves.

The project covered many green woodworking techniques including hewing the log, shaping oval tenons, and using pole-lathed pins.

Each student has made a fantastic piece of kit to support their woodworking journey.

They’ve now moved on to their major projects! keep an eye out for those soon! 👀

We’re excited to announce the opportunity to join us for woodland skills volunteering sessions as part of the Preseli Woodlands Project.

This project is funded through the Welsh Government’s National Forest for Wales Landscape Scheme (2025–2027), administered by WCVA.

The project is delivered by Cwm A***n Renewable Energy (often known as Cwm A***n or CARE) working alongside fantastic local and national partners to create opportunities for people to learn practical land-based skills and connect with local woodlands.

All sessions are free to attend, so if you’d like to get involved and build hands-on woodland and coppicing skills, please get in touch!

🌿 Happy New Year from all of us at Coppicewood 🌿
From students to tutors, we’re welcoming the year as the seasonal wheel turns and learning continues — in the workshop and out on the plot.

There’s been brilliant teamwork, plenty of axe work, and lots of processing fells into raw materials for coppice products. Skills have grown hugely, there’s been loads of learning along the way, and plenty of laughs too.

Ready to go again. 🌳🪓

Our Woodland Skills students have been getting stuck into their shavehorses - cleaving and hewing ash, plenty of axe work, and finishing everything by hand. Next up: marking out for legs and drilling.

There’s something really special about slowing down with hand tools and connecting with the craft. 🌿🪓

🔥🌿 Weekend Courses 🌿🔥
Our Small-Scale Charcoal Production and Coppice Products courses were a complete success over the weekend! Great energy, great learning, and a brilliant group in the woods.

Huge thanks to everyone who joined us! 🌳

Four lovely sunny days in the woods ☀️🌿
Intro to coppicing — learning felling and woodland products, and exploring the heritage of this craft. 🌳🪓

🌿 *Volunteer Day – Thursday 9th October* 🌿

Join us from *10am to 4pm* for a hands-on day at Coppicewood College!

✨ Tasks include:

* Tool maintenance
* Pole lathe tool rest making
* Plot clearing

👉 What to bring:

* Packed lunch & plenty of drinking water
* Hot drink if you’d like one
* *Sturdy boots* and *weather-appropriate clothing* you don’t mind working outdoors in

It’s a great chance to learn, help out, and meet others. Please let Duncan know if you’re coming so we can plan the day:
📧 [email protected]
📞 +44 (0) 7778 519683

We’d love to see you there! 🌳

🌿 The new Coppicewood College students are two weeks into their woodland skills course journey!

So far they’ve:
🔨 Crafted (from greenwood) their own beetles and wedges — essential tools they’ll use throughout the course
🌳 Spent two days on the coppice plot, opening up the coup, paths and rides

It’s only the beginning, but already the woods are alive with learning, teamwork and traditional skills in action. Next up: saw horses! ✨

An absolutely wonderful Kimchi and Treen workshop was held at Coppicewood College with a wonderful collaboration of two tutors Bennie Schuur on all things ferment and Tracey Styles our lead tutor here at the College .
So full of learning and joy .