Traditional Woodland and Hedgerow Management Training

The Ring of Gullion Landscape Partnership is proud to announce the launch of a comprehensive traditional woodland management training course, running this autumn and winter. The course will give participants an insight into all aspects of traditional woodland and hedgerow management from growing your own, through to managing mature sites and learning about the products they can provide.

Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chairperson, Councillor Roisin Mulgrew said, “This is a fantastic opportunity to share old knowledge and keep these traditional skills alive, it could also lead to some new rural businesses. Woodlands and hedgerows make up a vital component of our modern landscape, from field boundaries to acting as vital wildlife corridors and habitats. This landscape is the result of thousands of years of careful development and management by skilled woodsmen. Sadly, though, the skills necessary to maintain our diverse hedgerows and woods are slowly being lost, resulting in hedges becoming straggly and moribund. These hedges are often then torn up and replaced by barbed wire fencing. Woodlands, once maintained by woodsmen, deer and pigs, are becoming choked with invasive native and non-native plants, causing a loss in biodiversity and productivity.”

Ring of Gullion Landscape Partnership Board Chairperson, Des Murphy said, “This diverse course will give participants a vital insight into all aspects of hedgerow and woodland management and will help achieve the project aim of reducing the biodiversity loss in the Ring of Gullion area. The one and two day modules will be mostly outdoors and will take place at sites across the Ring of Gullion, mainly Jonesborough, Glassdrummond, Slieve Gullion Forest Park and Mullaghbane. Topics will include growing trees from seed, tree identification, removal of invasive species, hedge planting and hedge laying, coppicing, establishing and maintaining living willow structures and using forest products to create hurdles and other items.”

Those who sign up should bear in mind they need to commit to the majority of the eight full days of training involved. The cost of the training course is £50. Ring of Gullion Landscape Partnership volunteers who have built up over 75 hours volunteering, will be offered this training for free and those who have completed 35 hours will qualify for a 50% reduction in fees.

For further information please visit www.ringofgullion.org/jobs/ or phone 028 3082 8594.