Venue: Pishwanton Wood/Fairhill Rise, East Lothian EH41 4FH
Cost: £150 -including lunch
Dates: 25 Jan; 22 Feb; 22 Mar; 26 Apr; 24 May; 14 June
Times: TBC
Booking:  Please scroll down to the tickets section below and click + to add the number of tickets you would like and follow the instructions to check out.   Alternatively you can book via email: [email protected]  or over the phone 01453 759501 ( office hours 9-1)

About this course:
This course is an introduction to woodland management with a special focus on biodynamics, in theory and practice. Its objectives are to provide opportunities to build background knowledge and practical skills to enhance and enliven your own practice, and to work towards creating resilient, productive woods.

This six-day course is drawn from our rich biodynamic training Growing the Land, Growing People and would suit those wishing to learn how to manage and work practically using biodynamic and traditional hand-tool methods in a small woodland. It is held once a month on a Saturday over the first six months of 2025.

At the end of this course Participants will:

• Understand the principles, intentions and basic methods of traditional hands-on, biodynamic woodland management in a small woodland setting
• Have a basic understanding of interactions in the natural world, including soil, plant, animal, human being and cosmos from a biodynamic perspective.

Tutors:  Renatus Derbidge Dr. rer. medic  Biodynamic Land Manager and Researcher at Fairhill Rise
& Chris Helliwell – Training and development coordinator at Clervaux Garden School
About Renatus –  My first experience with biodynamics was as a co-worker at Sturts Farm Camphill Community, where I was a worker for a year after I finished high school. I even attended the biodynamic training they had on site. Even though I enjoyed it a lot, I decided to go to university to study biology and geography. I was a high school teacher for a few years, then went back to university to do research about the healing plant, mistletoe. I was crofting on the Isle of Mull for 4 years before starting my position as Land Manager at Pishwanton Wood. Biodynamics came back to me there. With the research background I enjoy exploring agriculture and horticulture, both practically and in theory.