Nature Conservation - Healthy Hedges Survey Training - Rufford Country Park - Adult Learning

About this course

About this course

Do you have an interest in supporting nature and wildlife?   

Hedgerows are a key part of Sherwood Forest’s landscape heritage, as well providing homes and natural corridors for a wide variety of wildlife. But how healthy are our hedgerows? 

This one-day course is a great opportunity to learn more about hedgerows, hedgerow survey techniques , plant identification and to contribute to a Sherwood wide survey of hedgerows. 

By the end of the course, you will:

• Have an understanding  of the history of hedgerows and know more about the many benefits of hedgerows / hedgerow trees.
• Understand why hedges need managing and the options for management
• Be aware of the health and safety issues relating to undertaking a survey
• Feel confident about identifying the most common woody species (shrubs and trees) found within our hedgerows

There will be follow up opportunities to carry out further survey work and get involved with practical conservation activities within Sherwood. 

Much of the course will be based outdoors and will involve walking over uneven ground. If you have any concerns regarding mobility, please call and we will advise on suitability. 

An interest in the countryside / natural environment would be helpful and give the course more relevance. However, there are no specific skills / knowledge required as these will be taught as part of the training course.

What resources/course materials do learners need to bring for the course?

Learners will need to wear suitable outdoor clothing (warm / wet weather clothing) and footwear for walking in the countryside.

The following would be useful but not essential:

• A camera or mobile phone for taking digital images
• A rucksack for carrying survey forms, measuring tape, ID guides etc
• A tree identification book if they have one they wish to use (we will provide additional tree ID guides for each participant)

We will provide learners with the basic resources needed to enable them to undertake a survey. i.e. ID guides, survey forms, map extracts, measuring stick. 

This course is programmed as part of the Miner2Major Landscape Partnership scheme, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Booking your place and fee information

If you are in receipt of certain benefits you will be offered the course for free, however if you have a financial barrier which may prevent you from enrolling on the course  please visit our webpage for further information  https://www.inspireculture.org.uk/skills-learning/funding-your-courses/

To secure your place on the course BOTH the following must be done:

• Complete the EVENTBRITE BOOKING.
• Complete our INSPIRE ONLINE ENROLMENT FORM for each person attending the course.

You should be redirected to the Inspire Online Enrolment Form after completing the Eventbrite booking.  If you are not redirected, please use the link supplied in the Eventbrite booking confirmation email.

To book and enrol on one of our courses, you must have been living in England and have been resident in the UK for the past 3 years.

Some exceptions may apply if you are living in England with evidence of the right to remain and are from an EEU/EEAU country (completion of a questionnaire will be required).

As we no longer receive funding for our ESFA-funded courses for learners living in the devolved areas listed below, full cost fees would apply to these courses if you live in these areas:

• Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield 
• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
• Greater London
• Greater Manchester
• Liverpool City Region
• Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland
• Tees Valley
• West of England
• West Midlands
• West Yorkshire