Fisheruk Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 Grey Squirrel Management Training Course. British Red Squirrel are a working project of the charity Red Squirrels South West. BRS have a Grey Squirrel Management Training Course, which provides Lantra accreditation for successful participants. These courses have been delivered throughout England and Wales and are supported by Forestry Commission, Forestry England, UK Squirrel Accord and Woodland management organisations. They can be used as part of a Woodland Management Plan, for Forestry Commission WS3 grant applications. The next course is being held in West Lancashire on 21st September 2024. Anyone interested can send me a PM and I can send you a booking link. There are only two places available on this course but we are arranging further courses in other locations. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 If you do one in Bucks I'm in...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8 shot Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 2 hours ago, Fisheruk said: Here we go...... regulation just a cash cow. All those that have been doing pest control for years and years will be force into doing this and regular retraining at there expense hence less people do there for less control do... just like deer management Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted September 8 Author Report Share Posted September 8 43 minutes ago, 8 shot said: Here we go...... regulation just a cash cow. All those that have been doing pest control for years and years will be force into doing this and regular retraining at there expense hence less people do there for less control do... just like deer management There’s no regulation. No compulsion. Entirely voluntary. Over 500 people have decided they wanted training to fulfil a task and have benefited from the training. Yes, Lantra make a charge for issuing their certificate because they are a commercial organisation, but we at BRS only cover our costs, we run as a charity, without a highly paid CEO! I am the lead trainer for BRS. I do this as a volunteer. I’m retired, I could easily just sit down and carry on with my life without arranging courses, but I have seen young and old people giving up their time to attend a days training course and then leave better equipped to get on with the task. Yes, there are some who have been experienced like you who just wanted the ticket which is becoming expected by some employers, but they are the minority. Anyone interested is free to contact me, others just please scroll on by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted September 8 Author Report Share Posted September 8 1 hour ago, bruno22rf said: If you do one in Bucks I'm in...... We have one coming up near Milton Keynes next month. Would that work for you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 13 minutes ago, Fisheruk said: There’s no regulation. No compulsion. Entirely voluntary. Over 500 people have decided they wanted training to fulfil a task and have benefited from the training. Yes, Lantra make a charge for issuing their certificate because they are a commercial organisation, but we at BRS only cover our costs, we run as a charity, without a highly paid CEO! I am the lead trainer for BRS. I do this as a volunteer. I’m retired, I could easily just sit down and carry on with my life without arranging courses, but I have seen young and old people giving up their time to attend a days training course and then leave better equipped to get on with the task. Yes, there are some who have been experienced like you who just wanted the ticket which is becoming expected by some employers, but they are the minority. Anyone interested is free to contact me, others just please scroll on by. Great reply to an unnecessary pessimistic post 👍 I'd jump at this if I had the opportunity, but unfortunately don't have anywhere to shoot with grey squirrels. Keep up the good work 👏 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted September 8 Author Report Share Posted September 8 9 minutes ago, JKD said: Great reply to an unnecessary pessimistic post 👍 I'd jump at this if I had the opportunity, but unfortunately don't have anywhere to shoot with grey squirrels. Keep up the good work 👏 Thanks, we are looking to put on a course in Kent/Sussex area later in the year or early next year. If you would like to send me a PM with your email address I’ll gladly let you know when anything is arranged. From time to time we also get enquiries from landowners who need assistance in GS control, often they are looking for someone with some accreditation/recommendation so it may help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 9 minutes ago, Fisheruk said: Thanks, we are looking to put on a course in Kent/Sussex area later in the year or early next year. If you would like to send me a PM with your email address I’ll gladly let you know when anything is arranged. From time to time we also get enquiries from landowners who need assistance in GS control, often they are looking for someone with some accreditation/recommendation so it may help. 👍 Will pm soon 😉 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 2 hours ago, Fisheruk said: We have one coming up near Milton Keynes next month. Would that work for you? It most certainly would. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8 shot Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 5 hours ago, Fisheruk said: There’s no regulation. No compulsion. Entirely voluntary. 5 hours ago, JKD said: Great reply to an unnecessary pessimistic post My experience of claiming Tax payers money ie subsidies, grants is that the Government will want/get back a very large percentage of it by making the claimants jump through unnecessary hoops ie Training and endless paperwork. Just saying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 14 minutes ago, 8 shot said: My experience of claiming Tax payers money ie subsidies, grants is that the Government will want/get back a very large percentage of it by making the claimants jump through unnecessary hoops ie Training and endless paperwork. Just saying You are just over reacting and being pessimistic to the extreme. Where does it say it's mandatory ?! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 Oh dear, the glass is only half full and leaking too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8 shot Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 (edited) 17 minutes ago, JKD said: You are just over reacting and being pessimistic to the extreme. Where does it say it's mandatory ?! Just the start From WS3 Work with your deer officer/woodland officer to produce a Squirrel Control Plan (SCP) outlining the activities you will carry out. To secure the annual funding for this supplement you must email your SCP to your local deer officer/woodland officer by the end of year 1. Your SCP will build on the draft plan that you submit with your Initial Application documents Take part in Grey Squirrel control training – your local deer officer/woodland officer will discuss these courses with you Edited September 8 by 8 shot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKD Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 3 minutes ago, 8 shot said: Just the start From WS3 Work with your deer officer/woodland officer to produce a Squirrel Control Plan (SCP) outlining the activities you will carry out. To secure the annual funding for this supplement you must email your SCP to your local deer officer/woodland officer by the end of year 1. Your SCP will build on the draft plan that you submit with your Initial Application documents Take part in Grey Squirrel control training – your local deer officer/woodland officer will discuss these courses with you What has this thread got to do with deer management and anything associated with it ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8 shot Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 The above quote is from WS3 Squirrel Control and management from RPA and NE, From which you can claim (I think £60/ha) to control Squirrels, Part of my point being that some of these courses MAY NOT be recognised by the authorities to claim your payments, as with some of the Deer Management courses. So eventually leading mandatory training to claim there there payment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted September 8 Author Report Share Posted September 8 1 hour ago, 8 shot said: My experience of claiming Tax payers money ie subsidies, grants is that the Government will want/get back a very large percentage of it by making the claimants jump through unnecessary hoops ie Training and endless paperwork. Just saying The Higher tier Countryside Stewardship grant and the supplement WS3 for GS control is £60 per Hectare. That’s on top of the CS grant. Now if you’ve got a sizeable lump of woodland it’s very worthwhile to jump through a few hoops, If you have that lump of land you’ve probably already someone on board to prepare your Woodland management plan. I am aware of folk who have 500+ hectares of woodland 500x60 = £30000. Not to be sniffed at. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8 shot Posted September 8 Report Share Posted September 8 I along with two other people control pests rabbits, foxes, pigeon etc on a farm bordering ours with close to 250ac of mature and newly planted trees, all voluntary, I personally have been doing it 30 plus years and trap and shoot at least 200 squirrels a year grand total for the farm nearing a 1000 some years. Now, one or all of us may well have to sit this course just to continue what we have been doing for years. We all record our numbers, all experienced in what we do possibly more than most others, other than full time keepers no need for change. My experience of the RPA,DEFRA,NE etc, through my agriculturual career is not great and they lack both knowledge and experience, as proven by there handling of the latest SFI schemes. I'll say no more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fisheruk Posted September 8 Author Report Share Posted September 8 1 hour ago, 8 shot said: The above quote is from WS3 Squirrel Control and management from RPA and NE, From which you can claim (I think £60/ha) to control Squirrels, Part of my point being that some of these courses MAY NOT be recognised by the authorities to claim your payments, as with some of the Deer Management courses. So eventually leading mandatory training to claim there there payment. The Squirrel Policy Officer from FC has actually attended one of these courses, I was there too, mentoring the tutor. I have personally delivered the course to FE and FC rangers, including the FE Lead Ranger, at a FE flagship site. One of the video training clips is delivered by a FE Woodland Manager. Many Squirrel Control Plans already reference training of operatives and this is one of the courses which has been accepted as suitable, but it’s not mandatory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Fire Posted November 8 Report Share Posted November 8 Am i reading this right you want people to train to kill squirrels and pay it simples you either trap or shoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruno22rf Posted November 8 Report Share Posted November 8 I have no problem with going on the course but first impressions are not good. Took nearly a month for them to get back to me regarding a course in Milton Keynes only to be told that , apart from a £75 course + booking fee?, the course was in Leicestershire. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
holloway Posted November 10 Report Share Posted November 10 On 08/09/2024 at 14:12, JKD said: Great reply to an unnecessary pessimistic post 👍 I'd jump at this if I had the opportunity, but unfortunately don't have anywhere to shoot with grey squirrels. Keep up the good work 👏 Ditto Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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