Delivering Chainsaw Operations for Supervisors and Managers to Scottish Woodlands!

Written By Jordan Quinn

It’s been a busy few weeks for us in Scotland, with three two-day Chainsaw Supervision and Management courses taking place in Perth!

The first of the three courses took place on 1–2 October for Scottish Woodlands, with our instructor Iwan leading the training, supported by fellow instructor and demonstrator Gethin and instructor Ceri throughout the two days.

The course brought together members of the Scottish Woodlands team responsible for supervising staff, contractors and day-to-day forestry operations involving chainsaw use, helping them strengthen their knowledge and confidence in the safe management and supervision of chainsaw work.

A second course was then delivered for Scottish Woodlands, giving another group within the team the opportunity to develop their understanding of the responsibilities involved in overseeing chainsaw operations and maintaining safe working practices.

Alongside these two sessions, we also delivered an open-sector course, kindly hosted by Scottish Woodlands at one of their sites. This brought together participants from a range of forestry organisations, including Woodland Trust, John Gordon & Son, RTS Forestry, DSH Wood UK and Buccleuch Woodlands, creating an opportunity for professionals from across the sector to learn together.

It’s great to see people from different organisations coming together for the training. A huge thank you to Scottish Woodlands for kindly hosting all three courses on their site and helping make this opportunity possible. Their support has enabled people from across the wider forestry sector to attend the open course, learn alongside others working in forestry, share their experiences, and explore how good supervision works across different working environments.

What happens on the course?

The Chainsaw Operations for Supervisors and Managers course is aimed at people who have responsibility for supervising or managing chainsaw work. It isn’t about teaching people how to use a chainsaw; instead, it focuses on what needs to happen around the work to make sure it is properly planned, safely managed, and carried out in line with legal and industry requirements and compliance.

Over the two days, participants look at everything from risk assessments, safe systems of work, PPE and exclusion zones to operator competence and recognising unsafe practices. There’s also a wider focus on environmental responsibilities, incident and emergency planning, team management, fatigue and lone working.

A big part of the course is getting out onto site and looking at how these considerations translate into real working situations. Alongside the classroom sessions, participants take part in demonstrations and practical exercises, giving them the chance to assess what they see, ask questions, and consider how they would approach different situations in their own work.

The mix of experience in the groups also adds to the training, with participants able to bring examples from their own roles and discuss how they manage supervision, safety, and day-to-day challenges in the field.

Outstanding feedback from our courses

We were really pleased with the feedback from our courses, with participants giving the overall course experience 5/5.

The course content, materials and resources all scored 5/5 too, and participants found the delivery clear and easy to follow.

The practical sessions were a real focus of the feedback. Participants particularly enjoyed seeing chainsaw operations in action, getting involved in demonstrations and being able to talk through situations they come across in their own work.

It was also encouraging to hear that participants felt confident taking what they had learned back into their day-to-day roles, with the experience and approach of the instructors also receiving positive feedback.

Some participants said:

  • “Exceptional training from both Iwan and Gethin! They made learning fun and created a great learning environment for us all.”

  • The most valuable part of the course was the fantastic discussion around site communications and works. It was a great course overall, with engaging instructors who made the sessions interesting.”

  • “The on-site training was really valuable, giving us the chance to put the learning into context. There was very good interaction throughout the course, with plenty of useful information and an engaging approach from the instructors.”

  • “Being able to see the felling techniques for ourselves and have them explained as we went along was really helpful. Iwan and Gethin were both great instructors and made the whole course enjoyable.”

Iwan Lloyd-Williams, our Chainsaw Supervision and Management Instructor, said:

“It was fantastic to be back in Perth delivering these courses for Scottish Woodlands, who we have a great working relationship with, alongside the open-sector course. The group was engaged from the start, and they weren’t afraid to ask questions or share their own experiences within the industry. Everyone was ready to get stuck in, both in the classroom and out on site, which made the two weeks even more enjoyable – it was also great to work with Gethin and Ceri again – two of the top chainsaw operators in the UK!”

Gethin Hughes, our Course Demonstrator, said:

“Being out on site and showing the group different techniques is a big part of what I enjoy about my role. These courses are a good opportunity to pass on knowledge gained from years in the industry and talk through the realities of the job. No two cohorts are exactly the same, which keeps things interesting, and this one was no exception!”

Olivia Weaver, our Managing Director, said:

“Our instructors and demonstrators are very much part of the Focus on Forestry First team, and we’re incredibly lucky to have people like Iwan, Gethin and Ceri working with us. They bring a huge amount of experience to the courses, but just as importantly, they’re passionate about the industry and about helping others develop their skills.

It’s fantastic to see such positive feedback on the course content, which has been developed here at Focus on Forestry First, but also on the people delivering it. Iwan and Gethin bring their own knowledge and experience to the training, and that combination of well-developed content and experienced instructors is what makes our courses what they are.”

Looking for chainsaw supervision training for your team?

We have a number of open-sector Chainsaw Operations for Supervisors and Managers courses scheduled over the coming months, with places still available.

The courses will take place at the following locations:

If you are interested in attending, we encourage you to find out more about the courses and secure your place while availability remains.

Get in touch to find out more about upcoming courses or discuss training for your team at info@focusonforestryfirst.co.uk , call 01982 448 110 or visit: https://www.focusonforestryfirst.co.uk/seminars-courses

Jordan Quinn
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