EuCAN is an exciting conservation project set up by West Dorset educational charity, The Kingcombe Trust, to enable people from the UK to contribute to wildlife conservation across Europe. The body is funded by the Leonardo da Vinci section of the EU Lifelong Learning Programme and is dedicated to encouraging engagement in conservation projects across Europe.

The organisation has established partnerships with wildlife and orchard conservation organisations in five countries of the EU; France, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Belgium. This enables groups from the UK to travel by train, mini bus or boat (this is a no-fly operation) to work with these partners to carry out practical management tasks or species monitoring.

‘Our aim with the programme is to have a productive exchange of ideas, expertise, and resources with the accompanying social, cultural and political benefits at the community level. Not only is this project helping all partners to share the challenge of environmental management, it also gives our participants a much better understanding of nature conservation on a European scale and training in the use of power tools and hand tools,’ said Nigel Spring, EuCAN Project Coordinator.

The first two weekends of training for the 2010 project took place at the Kingcombe Centre last month and since then one group has visited La Brenne in central France for a fortnight’s placement.
‘We were delighted to deliver the chain saw course and brush cutting training for such a worthwhile project,’ said Lesley Simpson, managing director of Newlands Training. ‘Chainsaw and brush cutter training are some of our most popular courses and the trained volunteers will be able to use their new found skills in land based work when they return to the UK.’

Those interested in joining the EuCAN programme must comply with the following criteria:
•    A resident in the UK – fit and prepared to do practical work for 9 days in the 14 day trip and 3-4 days cultural and ecological training
•    Enjoy living and working in a team of likeminded people in beautiful places
•    Want to contribute to the conservation effort of our EU partners
•    Want to learn about the history, culture, languages and ecology of other nations
•    Are over 18, not in full time education, but are in employment, retired or out of work

To find out more about Newlands Training and the courses on offer in Dorset and Devon please contact us.

For press enquiries please contact: Lisa Worthington, Tandem Marketing – e 01305 756584 or 07957 542878.

The most significant amendment to the chainsaw suite requirements for achievement is that trainees can undergo the new unit 50 module for damaged tree techniques without the previous pre requisite of unit 32. Trainees for the new course will only require unit 30 (maintenance) and unit 31 (cross cutting and felling small trees) in order to take this new module.

‘This is excellent news for arboriculture training budgets,’ commented Lesley Simpson, managing director of Newlands. ‘Not only is it going to save companies nearly £500 but it will also mean less time actually training for workers as unit 32 module is a three day course.’

Other amendments to chainsaw training include; merging unit 32 and unit 33 that previously tackled medium and large tree felling respectively into one new unit 32 designed for trees over 380mm. The new Unit 33 is for specialist tree felling.

‘These changes will make a significant difference to how damaged trees are dealt with and will also offer a swift route to a new and incredibly useful qualification,’ added Lesley.

For more information on the revision to chainsaw training visit the website or contact Newlands Training direct on 01305 848454.
If you want to know more about becoming a tree surgeon or would like more details regarding any of the chain saw classes in Devon and Dorset please contact:

Lesley Simpson
Tel: 01305 848454
Mob: 07976 531649
Email: lesleysimpson@farmline.com