Myerscough staff head to Ghana to train tractor drivers & chainsaw operators

James Willoughby and Steve Slater from Myerscough’s main Preston campus, along with Steve Williams, arboriculture tutor from our Cumbria centre in Penrith, have spent a week in Afram, as part of a partnership with Myerscough's Adult Skills team and Mere Plantations, with the aim to provide their staff in the country with extra skills, improve the calibre of the local workforce and increase income for the local forest fringe communities.

Mere Plantations are a UK based company with more than 15-years-experience in reafforestation of degraded forest land. The company grow mainly Teak (Tectona Grandis) due to the resilience of the tree, and the high value of the associated timber, for its own business, as well as contract grow for companies and institutions.

In Ghana, the Mere Plantations site is located within the Afram Headwaters Forest Reserve.  Afram Headwaters Forest Reserve is located in the “Transition Zone”, the moist semi-deciduous forest agroecological zone. In short, perfect climatic conditions for the commercial growing of high quality tropical hardwood.

The week involved chainsaw and tractor driving skills and operations, health & safety, PPE, the importance of daily machine maintenance, as well as hands-on forestry skills in the company’s plantation forest, including safe felling techniques, coppicing, skidding, and carrying out vital risk assessments.

It’s estimated Myerscough’s training in Ghana will allow a doubling of the productivity of local staff, as they proudly work towards their City & Guilds Level 2 qualification, and help to further grow green jobs with practical learning activities, and build confidence and abilities.