We're now fully booked but you could still apply to be on the reserved list. Download the leaflet and booking form (956 KB - requires Adobe PDF Reader) or contact us via email.

Woodland Pioneers 2010 has been set to run from Monday 13th September until Friday 17th September 2010 and is intended to target people who are interested in the apprenticeship scheme and woodland crafts. See photos from previous years.

Four one day courses for all newcomers: Treen, making small wood items (Twiggy), Green wood stool making (Ian Taylor), Riven oak panels (Owen Jones), Coppicing skills (Rebecca Oaks).

Advanced workshops Make your own shave horse (Maurice Pyle), Stick chairs (James Mitchell), Earthburn charcoal (Brian Crawley), Curragh demonstration (Edward Acland).

Friday is an open day with various short woodcraft workshops including: tree identification, willow work, mallet making, hurdles, besoms and tool care, plus a chance to hear more about the apprenticeship and to register interest. If you are only able to make one day then why not come along on Friday?
12th Apr 2010

CANW (Coppice Association North West) is running a weekend course where you can choose from charcoal making, use of Birch, Pole lathe turning, making a stick chair, making a shave horse, willow weaving or making a long bow. Download the full details and booking form (314 KB - requires Adobe PDF Reader) for more details or go to the CANW website.
27th Mar 2010

The scheme, validated by Ascentis (formerly known as the Open College North West), is a three year Diploma course. BHMAT takes on two or three apprentices each year. The apprentices are based with a coppice business and receive specialist training in all aspects of the coppice industry. Each apprentice receives a small bursary of £3000 pa plus they can receive recompense for work within their placement. Assessment is based on practical skills and a percentage of written coursework. Successful apprentices are awarded the Bill Hogarth Coppice Diploma and are fully equipped at the end of three years to set up their own coppice business.

To be eligible to apply to either the BHMAT scheme (specific to the North of England) or the National Coppice Apprenticeship Scheme (NCAS) run through the Green Wood Centre (also based on the BHMAT model but now running nationally) applicants must have attended a Woodland Pioneers week course with either BHMAT (see above) or NCAS.

You can now download a copy of the November 2009 Newsletter (832 KB - requires Adobe PDF Reader).

If you would like a high-quality, A4 printout of the Woodland Pioneers 2009 group photo then please send a cheque for £5 (made payable to "Bill Hogarth MBE Memorial Apprenticeship Trust") to BHMAT Group Photo, 93 Silverdale Rd, Yealand Redmayne, Carnforth, Lancashire LA5 9TD with details of where to send it to.

Last year's Woodland Pioneers week ran from Monday 14th September to Friday 18th and was a complete success. The 4 one-day courses were "Use of the Silver Birch Tree", "Musical Instruments", "Spoon Carving" and "Gate Hurdles". Returning pioneers took part in courses on advanced pole lathe turning, carving, making oak palins and hanging the gate made last year. See the photos for 2009!

The book Bill was writing when he died in 1999, edited by Alan Shepley and published by Wood Education Programme Trust, is available from BHMAT for £6.50 (post free in UK)

All profits will be shared equally between BHMAT and the Wood Education Programme Trust. Contact details are here.