The fund, formerly known as the Forestry Training Fund also caters to those already immersed in the industry.
In September 2023, it was given an additional £1m funding from the UK Government to help boost tree skills training.
Since its launch in February 2023, the fund has now been expanded to include arboriculture courses and £250,000 has been ringfenced in relation to the care, management, and safety of amenity trees.
This encompasses skills such as aerial tree pruning, branch removal, and assisted felling.
Courses covered by the fund
The fund will fully cover the costs for eligible training courses. The list of eligible courses encompass various aspects of tree and woodland management, including the following.
- Chainsaw operation: Equipping professionals with the skills needed for safe and efficient chainsaw operation.
- Operating heavy machinery: Providing training on handling and operating heavy machinery vital for forestry and arboriculture tasks.
- Planning and planting new woodland: Focusing on sustainable woodland management, conservation, and afforestation.
- Deer management: Teaching the techniques and principles of effective deer management in woodland areas.
- Marketing and selling timber: Enhancing knowledge of timber marketing strategies to boost industry profitability.
- Aerial tree pruning: Developing skills for safe and efficient aerial tree pruning.
- Branch removal: Covering techniques for the removal of branches and tree parts.
- Tree surveying: Training professionals on comprehensive tree surveying.
How to apply
Individuals interested in applying for a training grant to cover the cost of a forestry or arboriculture training course can find more details on the fund’s dedicated website at: Forestry and Arboriculture Training Fund.
On the website you can find a full list of eligible courses, as well as a list of training providers across England.
Currently, only applications for instructor training courses, first aid and silviculture are being accepted. Any applications for other course types will be held on a reserve list and considered at a later date, should further funding become available.
The application should take approximately 15 minutes to complete. There is no limit on the number of applications that can be made to the fund.
If your application is successful, the fund covers the complete cost of the courses and is accessible throughout England. However, it is essential to note that while the courses are fully funded, participants and providers will need to cover additional expenses such as travel.
Preference will be give to applicants who:
- have not received grant funding through this programme, or
- have been funded for fewer than three courses since February 2023.
There is no deadline for applications however, as funding for courses is limited, we encourage you to apply early.
Funding will fortify the forestry workforce
This funding is a response to the high demand for training courses and aims to support both newcomers and seasoned individuals seeking to further their expertise in forestry.
Forestry Minister Trudy Harrison said that she is “committed” to growing the sector. “As tree planting and woodlands across the country increase, so must our forestry workforce.”
Richard Stanford, Forestry Commission chief executive, said: “England’s forestry sector plays an essential part in creating resilient forests and woodlands which improve our natural environment, helping meet net zero carbon emissions, provide a sustainable source of home-grown timber and boost people’s health and wellbeing.”
