Silviculture Research International is currently developing and delivering a series of short courses and knowledge mobilisation events in Continuous Cover Forestry (CCF). Our audience includes forestry professionals, woodland owners, university and college students, and community groups. This work builds on our established programme of talks and courses for a diverse range of organisations. 

Courses are designed on the principles of Problem-Based Learning (PBL) and link strongly to evidence-based practice. Learning by doing (haptic learning) is recognised as an effective strategy for developing knowledge, skills and competencies. This approach underpins the structure, content and assessment elements in each course design. We use detailed feedback from participants to develop and continuously improve each course and fully meet the needs of learners.

An essential skill in CCF is the process of tree marking. This is where trees are selected for removal or retention at each stand intervention. Tree marking is the link between planning and forest operations. It requires knowledge of tree biology, ecological processes and forest stand dynamics.

Two courses in tree marking are being offered in 2024. Course SR-01 embraces the early stages of stand transformation to CCF, and Course SR-02 the later development of stands where timber production and significant biodiversity assets must be considered. Follow the links below to individual course pages.

Silviculture for Forest Resilience Programme [SFR]
Professional Development Training in Silviculture

Knowledge mobilisation and skills development in silvicultural science and practice to support adaptive and “closer to nature” forest management.

Productive forests in Britain and Europe are under increasing stress because of climate change and the impact of pests and diseases. To maintain functioning forest ecosystems, it is necessary to adapt forestry practices and increase their stability and resilience. This calls for a closer focus on individual silvicultural interventions at the forest stand level, supported within a policy framework that facilitates an adaptive management strategy.

Underpinning future developments in sustainable forestry is an urgent need for forestry practitioners with appropriate skills and competencies to implement robust and resilient silvicultural strategies and plans. Sound decision making and operational planning builds on a foundation of knowledge in silvicultural science. This programme of training and skills development, therefore, aims to provide practitioners with relevant information and skills, as well as strategies for stand prescription design and problem solving.

The Silviculture for Forest Resilience [SFR] Programme is designed in 5 modules that function as s series of individual short courses addressing major themes in the science and practice of silviculture. This programme is augmented by a 3-day short course in the key skill of “tree marking”. This is where decisions are made at the individual tree level and influence the future developmental pathway of a forest stand, which is essential for adaptive forest management.

Link to programme page here: Silviculture for Forest Resilience Programme

Course SR-01 | Tree Marker Training 
Early-stage transformation of Sitka spruce stands to Continuous Cover Forestry (Level 1)

This course focuses on early-stage stand transformation to CCF, specifically in the 2nd and 3rd thinning interventions. It provides an overview of initial site factors and considerations, stand prescription development and the process of tree marking to promote timber productivity and quality, stand stability and structural irregularity. The course is designed for students, woodland owners and professional foresters. Duration is 2-3 days.

Course SR-02 | Integrate Darnaway | New for 2024
Tree Marker Training for Timber Quality and Biodiversity Values | Marteloscope Project

This course focuses on late-stage stand transformation to CCF, at a point where timber production must be balanced with increased biodiversity and habitat considerations. Trees are assessed in terms of the economic and ecological value. Stand prescriptions are presented as practical exercises where a range of forest values must be intergrated. The course makes use of two specially designed silviculture training plots (marteloscopes) at Darnaway Forest, Moray, Scotland. The course can be presented in 1-, 2- or 3-day formats, depending on the level of detail and requirements of each group.

University Module | SRUC | January-April 2024
Multi-Purpose Woodland Management (MPWM)| Module D510

This module investigates how to design and manage woodlands to meet modern multipurpose objectives, including landscape, nature conservation and environmental improvement, as well as timber/wood production. It includes a specific focus on the role of forestry in climate change mitigation and an exploration of silvicultural systems applicable in the UK.

This module is being delivered within the BSc (Hons) Environmental Management, BSc (Hons) Widlife and Conservation Management, BA (Hons) Rural Business Management programmes at SRUC.

University Module | UCD| April 2024
International Forestry Study Tour | United Kingdom

Field trips and international study tours are a core element of professional forestry education. The opportunity to see how forest management is delivered in other jurisdictions and countries presents an opportunity for highly focused learning, sharing of knowledge and deeper appreciation of the drivers for specific policies and practices. Each year, the final year students at UCD undertake an international tour. This has taken the group to a number of countries in Europe. Since 2019, three study tours have been based in the North of England and the South of Scotland, which is one of the most important forestry regions in the United Kingdom, with examples of private-land and public-land forestry, timber production and processing, conservation and environmental forest management. Most important is putting theory into practice through meeting colleagues, woodland owners and engaging with real-world projects and operations.

The tour to Northern England and Southern Scotland has now been repeated three times, 2019, 2023, 2024.

This module is being delivered within the BAgrSc (Hons) (Forestry) programme at University College Dublin.