Woodland Skills training programme
The Woodland Skills training programme is a combination of practical on-site learning experiences and talks from industry professionals on a range of topics relating to woodland creation, tree care and land management. It is free to attend but you must apply and be selected onto the programme first.
What is it?
The woodland Skills training programme is designed to help adults who want to work with trees and woodlands to gain skills and experience that might lead to employment, training or volunteering.
Workshops will include information about career pathways and practical skills to help increase your employability in the field. During the course you will learn from experts from Avon Needs Trees, Avellana Ecology, B&NES Council, Ernest Cook Trust, Forest of Avon Trust, Forestry Commission, Royal Forestry Society, with more to be confirmed.
Participants will be encouraged to create their own self-directed career plan. They will receive help with CV writing, interview skills and resources to support next steps into employment, volunteering or further training.
Throughout the 5-month programme, there will be opportunities to meet people working in a range of jobs across the sector and/or to shadow our staff and volunteers in a range of activities relating to Woodland Creation, heritage and outreach.
Image - Rob Carmier
Who’s it for?
Participants suited to this programme will be:
- Living in the West of England
- Not yet in a paid job within the green sector
- Looking to work in the green sector now or in the future
- Able to dedicate approximately 4 days a month to the programme (flexible times)
- Over the age of 18
- Have a Level 2 command of English language or higher
The next course will be primarily for people aged 18-25 years with some places for adults of other ages.
We are particularly keen to hear from those who identify as any of the following:
- 18-25 years old
- Unemployed
- Have taken a career break or looking to retrain
- Have faced barriers to accessing environmental jobs – which might be due to race, sexual orientation, caring responsibilities, income or disability.
Read our Woodland Skills FAQ’s to see how we are making the programme accessible.
Image - Rob Carmier
When will it happen?
Avon Needs Trees’ next Woodland Skills programme will run from October 2025 – February 2026.
The format will be two workshops a month, usually on a Wednesday, with online talks at lunchtimes and evenings.
Please look at the list of confirmed workshop dates and locations before applying.
Workshops will take place across Bristol, Bath and at other sites in North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Many of these sites will be woodlands.
How do I apply?
Applications are now closed!
The deadline for applications was Sunday 7th September 2025 at midnight.
Not everyone who applied will get a place on the programme. Successful applicants will be notified a few weeks after the recruitment phase ends.
Head of Woodlands, Alister Wynn, first joined ANT as a volunteer. Image - Ecosulis
Building on success
As a growing charity, Avon Needs Trees has employed four people who started out as volunteers with us, and there are several others who have progressed to jobs at the Wildlife Trusts, Forest of Avon Trust, Soil Association or who have set up their own enterprises offering specialist skills. Find out about Claire’s Woodland Skills journey here.
The first two Woodland Skills training programmes saw over 80% of participants move into employment, training or new volunteering opportunities. You can read more about the successes of the first pilot programme on our blog.
Will you be our next success story?
The Woodland Skills Training Programme is now funded by Ernest Cook Trust.
The pilot Woodland Skills Training Programmes (2023-2025) were possible thanks to funding from West of England Combined Authority (WECA).
