Tree Surgery, Chainsaw Training & More

2021 Update - We remain open as usual. We have followed advice and guidance from the Awarding Bodies that we work with and adhere to government guidance and rules.

Training is an integral part of work and is required in order for forestry and arboricultural work to be undertaken safely. Therefore is it permitted. See additional Covid RA.

Click on the course details below for further dates.

Course title	Date	Fee
Firewood Processor	Please enquire	Please enquire	View Course Details
Supporting Colleagues Undertaking Off-Ground Tree Related Operations	All aerial course dates	£230-£690	View Course Details
Severing Uprooted and Windblown Trees	Please enquire	£520	View Course Details
Preparing and Agreeing Emergency Tree Work Operations/ Emergency Tree Work Operations	Please enquire	£900	View Course Details
Felling trees up to 380mm	Generally runs from day 2 of the combined course/ some discrete courses	£740	View Course Details

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Additional RA, specific to Covid

Probably the best course I've been on!

Dan

Scott had a great persona. I felt at ease and his instruction and training made me feel confident using al machinery. Very informative and interesting.

Sarah

Nov 20

Instructions, teaching, leanring the maintenance worked well.

What did you learn - to think more about the envirnment you work in (a great life skill)

Leon

July 20

Demonstration, practice and then being left on your own worked well.

Tom

July 20

Going round in a team worked really well

Aaron

July 20

Excellent worksite and trees to climb. Improved my head for heights and various insects and pests that affect different trees.

Arlo

Aug 20

What worked well - being able to work independently but also with constant feedback.

What did you learn - not to tangle Scott's throwlines!

Tom

Aug 20

Great training location with challenging material. I learnt a bit more about the trees and good management / pruning. Much better than a college environment.

James

Aug 20

Lots of opportunity for practice and questions.

Aug 20

I like the interated assessment.

Oliver

Aug 20

The new style of rescue was great. (I learnt) lots of background on other methods / techniques and the ones we were using. I thought it was all great.

James

July 20

Excellent instruction and equipment

Arlo

July 20

When I had a bad day, Scott gave me lots of positive points and helpful feedback

Pat

July 20

What worked well - dummy for rescue allowing for more flexibility / more practice with rescue. It was all good!

Tom

June 20

Very good explanations. A real eye opener in terms of operating procedures

Mick

June 20

What worked well - Everything = knowledgeable and experienced (first hand)

Gareth

June 20

Good pace, well delivered. Small group size

Andrew

June 20

Trainer was adaptable to personal issues. Climbing isn't as hard as expected with new climbing techniques and technology. Really good

Sarah

March 20

I just wanted to say a huge thank you to you both. We have had such a lovely day as a family and learnt so many new things. I am very aware of muscles I never knew I had and the marks on my arms from hugging a tree through sheer terror are still very present!!! Such a brilliant day.

The location you have to operate in is stunning and having the beautifully made hut only makes this better. Great fire, great chat, great kit, awesome kettle and amazing experience......
Thank you again and I look forward to tying down the chainsaw course as soon as we can.

Guy

Aug 20

Good feeback, constructive. Reinforced good, systematic working.

Sean

March 20

Course is very good. I will definately come back to do more courses and tell others about it.

Reece

Sept 19

Very professional approach, enjoyable and educational course. Good to talk about climbing techniques with the team and look at new devices and climbing aids/ equipment

James

Pruning Jan 19

Very good course for knowledge

Matthew Jan 19

Pruning

Working with a new crew was good. I learnt countless bits of information!

Moby

Oct 18

The structure of the course and plenty of individual time with Scott. Highest quality of tuition and location

Harry

Sept 18

One to one time in the tree worked well. Better understanding of the whole job spec through to completion process

Andy

Aug 18

Excellent trainer. Detailed information clearly communicated. Superb background knowledge and information made applicable to our worksite. A great day, cheers.

Harry

Nov 20

Very good course as it is very hands on and practical. Enjoyed the course a lot. Feel confident in using machinery

Clarke

Sept 19

Leant new, useful and functional information that will improve me as an arborist, as well as refreshing the skills I already had.

I learnt how to be more efficient, alternative techniques, applying the right technique to the correct scenario

Martin

Worked well - site location.

Learnt - new cuts

Even better if - it was summer!

Carrie

Was given a personal 'crown reduction' lesson. Excellent

Tony

Location, equipment, trees. I learnt how to further improve my general technique

Plumpton College Lecturer

The theory and visual learning techniques were superb

Jon

Jan 18

Well thought our guidance. I learnt different approacjes to learning.

Oliver

Oliver 18

What worked well - the whole day.

I learnt that there is a lot more to learn about using a chainsaw than cutting wood

Patrick

May 18

Enjoyed it all. I learnt new felling techniques and in depth maintenance.

Gary

All of it (worked well) - the group being small helped. I learnt understanding winching angles, cutting to spec as you go.

Martin

Sept 18

What worked well - Range of trees to access, use of different saws

Simon

Nov 17

Large percentage of time spent in trees. Learnt positioning techniques

Andy

Nov 17

The practical nature was great for me.

Steve

Jan 18

Really liked the practical parts, chain sharpening and posture and cutting techniques

Harry

June 18

Excellent instruction with comprehensive knowledge and course content

Keith

Oct 17

Great knowledge from Scott as well as equipment provided

Jack

Sept 19

All the systems worked well, now just need to find one to suit. Lots of different ways to access trees and ease stress on the body. A perfect course

Stuart

Good feedback about my technique and how to improve.

Guy

July 18

Theory was excellent and was tremendously in depth. I learnt a lot about rigging research!

Very knowledgable and safe instruction. Excellent variety of sites and good facilities. Increased knowledge and confidence in a range of felling techniques.

Tim

March 20

Worked well - Working as a team.

Learnt - knots and Dukes of Hazzard!

James

July 18

Lots of practical experiences, discussions, visual learning (met different learning styles). As a complete novice I learnt more about my safety and the safety of others than anything!

Paul

April 18

Just a brief thank you for the course on Friday. It was exactly what we had hoped for – an excellent mix of theory and practical, with plenty of food for thought.

Keith

Connick Tree Care

Assessment feedback - Great delivery of questions, which helped the asnwers develop naturally. Very encouraging at all stages

Sam

Assessment feedback - Great mixture of support and leaving us to it. Encouraging and helpful when needed of physical assistance. Approachable, professional and enjoyable assessor

Sam

Highly experienced staff, in both teaching and technique

Dan

The communication between the instructor and students worked well. I learnt how to improve my effieciency in the forestry setting.

Daniel

I learnt the safe parctices of forrestry and some insight into the industry

William

Nov 18

Scott has a natural talent for teaching. A really excellent course. It's all about preparation and simple safety checks.

Paul

May 18

Chainsaw refresher - It was good to get up to date with new safety checks and legislation.

Uckfield town Council

I found the course very informative and educational with a great relaxed feel.

Sean

Your first aid course was superb, both in content and presentation and it was quite an eye opener of what products are out there.

Duncan

Being given the chance and freedom to go and try alone when shown techniques.

Will

July 18

The delivery of information was very understandable. Not a chance it could work even better!

Peter

Oct 18

Great introduction, well measured for attendees, engaging and entertaining. A very enjoyable 2 days with great practice input to enable me to now use and maintain a saw with confidence.

(Lantra ITA)

Lance

Jan 20

Well tailored to individuals. Above and beyond the course objectives

Plumpton College Lecturer

The whole course worked well - thanks! I learnt a lot of new cuts.

Chris

Sept 18

A lot more techniques than expected

Darrel

May 18

When I made mistakes, Scott helped me find the answer. I learnt problem solving eg thinking about every detail

Joshua

July 18

Professional as always. I learnt new knots, new skills and climber knowledge.

Very good LOLER course - a lot more knowledge than expected. A lot of kit familiarisation.

Very good. Learnt so much more than I thought I would. Very well structured day. Very friendly instructor.

Freddie

Very good, informal and informative discussion. Extended discussion on other industry best practice and new methods and ideas. Explanation of other techniques used during the day.

Scott takes training to the next level by focusing towards commercial instruction with a foundation of academic professional knowledge. Well planned in a progressive order. The course went above and beyond the City and Guilds schedule at a pace that was not overwhelming.

Self employed Tree Surgeon

Scott demonstrated great knowledge through different techniques and legislation. The venue for the activity was suberb. It was good to have all the training on one site.

Very informative with good explanation and demonstration of types of pruning. Learnt new climbing techniques and ways of selecting pruning cuts.

Excellent delivery of content and programme. Good learning approaches to aid understanding - visual reminders

Sam

Oct 18

Useful and relevant to not only everyday work but also knowledge of arb/ forestry. I learnt several little gems to make life easier. Thank you for an informative and interesting course. I felt engaged and involved at all times.

What worked well - The whole team.

Liam

May 18

Everyone got on. Scott is quite understanding even to silly questions. Scott is very knowledgeable - also learnt about felling and tree species

Carl

Aug 18

Fantastc course - very helpful and learnt some different techniques along the way. Also great feedback and things that need improving.

Dan

July 2020

Planned well and very knowledgeable

Lewis

July18

Worked well - working on your own equipment. Happy to be a safe chainsw user! Thanks!

Gemma

A very practical fast paced day. All the scenarios were relavant to our industry.

'Its been a pleasure over the last couple of weeks meeting and working with you and the SFT team, I've really enjoyed soaking up new information and putting myself through new challenges. Im looking forward to getting through my assessments and see what the future holds for me in the tree world.'

A fantatstic week, I can't fault anything. Every aspect has been thoroughly enjoyable and I've looked forward to the next day. Any questions that I have had, have been answered; if feeling unsure about a cut, guidance was given to make you feel confident with understanding what was needed. I learnt a lot about health and safety and safe working - using good techniques to reduce body strain, insights into the industry, lots of sites to look up to find more information and places to make savings as purchases. It has met my expectations and some.

Fantatsic course, good instructor. Comprehensive knowledge of all aspects covered. Industry usable techniques and realsitic systems to use in conjunction with what is necessary for the assessment.

Tree climbing and aerial rescue

Extremely clear and concise explanation. Instructor great at putting you at ease/ helping to overcome any fears / anxieties. Liked the aerial demonstrations and 1:1 time. Very informative.

Aerial tree cutting

Tree Surgery, Chainsaw Training & More

Tree Work, Arboricultural and Chainsaw Training in Sussex & Kent

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