Working Woods Scotland 2025
Review of the May 2025 Working Woods Scotland course, by Kevin Reid of Scottish Forestry.
Published in the ASHS Full Circle journal, edition 19 (2025).
ASHS Working Woods Scotland Course
What insight and inspiration from attending the ASHS Working Woods Scotland course hosted at the Scottish Wood sawmill and adjacent Inzievar Woods near Dunfermline.
This three-day programme is value packed with superb teaching and practical experience led by Jim Birley, founder of Scottish Wood, alongside the superb silvicultural and technical knowledge imparted from renowned professional foresters Kate Tuer and Andrew Macqueen – with the course supported by funding from The Scottish Forest Trust and Scottish Forestry.
Amongst the course highlights were seeing the wood for the trees – understanding the factors for growing quality timber; assessing logs through timber measuring and valuation; understanding optimising rotation growth; and timber end use and value.
In addition, the woodland management and silviculture of broadleaves elements of the course focuses on the establishment of broadleaves, as well as formative pruning and high pruning for profit.
A series of hands-on practical team tasks bring the topics to life along with the creation of discussion space and affording the freedom to ask questions and to share individual experiences, which was especially valuable.
However, what truly sets the Working Woods Scotland course apart is the ASHS ethos for a collaborative learning experience combined with signature catering, building connections and professional relationships in a relaxed setting… no one rushed away to get home or catch up on missed office work – which must be a course first!
The next course is planned for 27th – 29th August – highly recommended for the insight and inspiration this course provides for all.
Written by Kevin Reid, Forest Sector Development Advisor, Scottish Forestry
Working Woods Scotland Course 