A social enterprise partnership to help people into employment is offering new woodland craft workshops open to all in the Forest of Dean. The New Leaf project uses conservation, coppicing and green woodworking activities to provide work experience, build confidence and develop supportive social networks for people who face barriers to employment.

New Leaf is part of the Heritage Lottery Funded Foresters’ Forest Partnership Programme and is supported by the Forestry Commission in the Forest of Dean and Going the Extra Mile (GEM).

To help fund the New Leaf project and encourage a thriving craft community, Arbour Training is running new woodland craft workshops for the public. Workshops for spring/summer 2019 include bush craft, bowl carving and wood turning, and are open to anyone with an interest in learning traditional skills.

Thanks to support from the Forestry Commission, the New Leaf project offers the rare opportunity for people to put skills into practice in coppice woodland, and to learn in the forest itself. Coppiced wood will be harvested for heritage crafts and training courses at the project’s new woodland base.

New Leaf is based at a refurbished old forest workers’ shed. A team of New Leaf volunteers are completing a sustainable renovation of the Forestry Commission building, with locally sawn Western Red Cedar cladding, recycled polyester insulation and reclaimed windows.See this week’s paper for more stories like this, available in shops and as a Digital Edition now.