Vocational Training

The Westcountry Rivers Trust is pleased to offer a programme of one-day vocational courses from pond design, creation and management to riverbank revetment.

The courses are listed below and are suitable for farmers, small holders, environmental organisation staff, countryside project officers, national park staff and rivers trust staff as well as anyone with an interest in the ecology and management of waterways.

One-day courses will be run either at Launceston, Duchy College (Stoke Climsland) or near Okehampton (depending on the nature of the course) and will usually run from 9:30 or 10:00 am to 4:30 or 5:00 pm.

Places are allocated on a first come first served basis, therefore early booking is advisable. Certificates of attendance are provided for each course.

For information about the courses, availability or to book a place please contact the Westcountry Rivers Trust, Rain-Charm House, Kyl Cober Parc, Stoke Climsland, Cornwall. PL17 8PH or phone 01579 372140 or email laurence@wrt.org.uk. Or you can download a booking form and send it to us with the appropriate amount.

Below is a list of all courses linking to a brief description of each. If you are interested in attending one of these courses please inform us of your interest (laurence@wrt.org.uk) and we will try our best to organise it, where demand is sufficient

Pond Design Creation and Management

A one-day course providing the necessary skills to design, create and manage a pond for a variety of uses including wildlife, fisheries, lilies and stock access. A field trip to a local site will be included in the afternoon session.

Writing and Entry level Scheme Application

A one-day course detailing how to write an application for the scheme. The venue for this will be ‘on-farm’ just outside Okehampton and will encompass a walk around the farm, identifying features that could be included in the scheme. The afternoon session will include filling out the forms needed for an application.

Riparian Management

A one-day course detailing river management techniques specific to wildlife and fisheries habitat management including coppicing, in-stream clearance, riverbank fencing, revetment and control of invasive plant species. The day will include a field trip during the afternoon session to demonstrate topics discussed in the morning.

River Basin Management - Introduction

A one-day course that gives an overview to the management of the River Basin in relation to new drivers for change such as the Water Framework Directive, changing environmental schemes and and Sustainable drainage systems

Identifying Invasive Weeds

A one day course looking at the identification of invasive weeds in particular, Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam, Giant Hogweed and Parrots Feather. The course will also cover the most up to date treatment methods and legislation.