The first forest machine operator skills development course to be run at Barony College in 2009 will start in September, following confirmation of Scottish government support for the initiative.
The eight-week course will begin on September 7 and will be followed by two further courses, provisionally scheduled in March and May, 2010.
On the first course, the aim will be to further improve the skills of people already employed by harvesting contractors, and will involve the use of John Deere harvesters and forwarders.
The skills development programme has been developed by the UK Forest Products Assocaition, in partnership with Barony College, Forestry Commission Scotland, John Deere, Ponsse UK and Wm Clark & Son (Parkgate) Ltd.
The Scottish government funding comes through the Scotland Rural Development Programme.
