Post & wire (strained wire) fences are a well established and often cost-effective method of enclosing areas (creating features such as fields) and controlling access.

This course will provide sufficient information to enable you to construct a length of post and wire fence. It will provide both theoretical guidance and a hands-on opportunity to learn how to do so. There will be an opportunity to have a look at some examples of fencing from different locations around the country (via an illustrated presentation). It will include an overview of their use and relative value compared with other ways of controlling access, cover how to construct the various elements that make up a strained wire fence (such as straining posts, turning posts, struts and tie-downs, etc), how to select the materials used, how to deal with changes in direction/elevation and how to decide upon the best line to build one along, as well as the safety precautions you need to be aware of to help ensure you can construct a fence safely and effectively.

The course will start with a classroom session which will last about an hour, to be held at Stoke Row Village Hall. This will be followed by a trip to nearby Greyhone Wood to replace part of the boundary fence between this lovely Forestry Commission property and the neighbouring woodland. You will have the opportunity to help construct each element of the fence and have a go at using both Monkey Strainers and Gripples to strain up lengths of wire.

Stoke Row is the village famous for the Maharajah’s Well. The fence you will be helping to construct runs through the heart of a beech wood so is a lovely place to work; it would also offer some degree of shelter if the weather was poor. Greyhone Wood enjoys full public access and is located a few miles north-west of Reading, in the Chilterns Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The area is also home to a thriving population of Red Kites.

Access to the fence is through the woodland. However, as fencing involves a range of activities which can include walking considerable distances at times, you will need to come prepared to do so.

The trainer is Paul Forrest-Jameson, BTCV’s Thames & Chilterns Area Manager. Paul is a contributor to BTCV’s ‘industry standard’ Fencing Handbook and has been constructing fences with conservation volunteers for over 22 years.

This course is being delivered in partnership with the Forestry Commission, with support from South Oxfordshire District Council.

Between January 2006 and June 2008, BTCV in Thames & Chilterns delivered 30 training courses; 92% of the people that attended these rated their overall learning experience as "excellent" or "good".

No prior skills or experience needed.

This course may be suitable for people under the age of 18. Please contact us for further details.

Everyone who completes the course will get a Certificate of Attendance from BTCV.

An optional Certificate "An Introduction to Post & Wire Fencing" accredited by the NCFE (a national Awarding Body) is available to everyone who completes the course to a satisfactory standard. This includes providing written answers to a short series of questions at the end of the course. (Alternatively, you can choose to provide verbal answers to these on a one to one basis with the trainer.)

For further information, contact the office using the contact details below.