Practical Trail Surface Construction and Repair

Course Aim:

To equip learners with the necessary skills and knowledge to undertake practical trail construction and maintenance works on trails.  

Course Topics:

• Site & Hazard Awareness
• Basic path building Techniques (including reversal trails, bench cutting, turnpike construction)
• Construction of timber and stone water bars and drains
• Step Construction using timber and stone
• Building bog-bridges
• Use of Ecogrid/cellular surfacing

Courses will be ran over 1 day and combine classroom and practical sessions. Course sizes will be capped at 16 to ensure maximum benefit is received by participants.

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the main types of trail surface damage and the main causes
• Discuss the application of what they have learned to establishing maintenance programmes
• Demonstrate a range of essential techniques (inc. water management/drainage, steep ground/step construction, wet ground/path techniques) to minimise and repair trail surface damage
• Demonstrate an awareness of risks and mitigation measures associated with trail maintenance operations.

Target Audience:

The course is suitable for anybody with an interest in trails and the outdoors but will be of particular interest to:

•  CE Schemes, RSS and Tus supervisors and staff
• Local Authority staff
•  Forestry staff
• Trail management committee members
•  Volunteers and other persons likely to be working on trail maintenance.