Healthy Hedges - Nature Conservation Skills - Rufford Abbey Country Park - Community Learning

Important update: Bookings will close 7 days before the course starts.

Date	29 April 2021
Time	9:30am - 4pm
Venue	Rufford Abbey Country Park, Newark View venue details View on Google Maps
For ages	19+
Group size	5 - 6
Cost	Free

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
Have the skills and confidence to undertake the hedgerow survey.

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.

The folllowing 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 you have one and wish to use it (we will provide additional tree ID guides for each participant)

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

You should wear stout footwear and suitable wet weather clothing. Tea, coffee and food is available from the on-site café but you may wish to bring your own drinks and lunch. Please note: Car parking charges apply at the venue.

Booking your place and fee information

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: