A regional centre of excellence
Castle Ashby Training and Assessment Centre’s aim is to provide a regional, centre of excellence; providing opportunities to develop skills, vital to our industry. We wish to promote a culture of Continued Professional Development (CPD), within seasoned operators and instil confidence within new candidates; that they have received professional and comprehensive training and independent assessment, to support them throughout their careers.
Castle Ashby Forestry Centre is located within the 500-year-old Estate, steeped in centuries of history; a 10,500-acre site; designed and modernised by Capability Brown. It has a number of large forest areas from which an operational Bio-mass farm; producing much of the energy consumed by the local villages and of course, our Estate. Within these private forest areas; one of which is recognised and registered as Site of Scientific Interest, (SSSI). These facilities being available to us enables us to have on-site training and Assessment.
With access to 1000’s of owned trees, we can cater for candidates of all experience and skill levels.
So, whether you are a beginner, learning how to maintain a chainsaw, or an experienced candidate learning how to handle compression and tension within windblown trees; enabling safe processing of timber and arisings; we can accommodate this, without leaving the grounds of the Estate.
Along with the field asset of the tree stock itself! We have an academic centre, suitable and comfortable enough to provide a learning environment to satisfy the academic challenges within your courses.
NPTC Instructor Assessors ensuring you receive world leading tutelage; satisfying the exacting standards City and Guilds set for tree operations.
On-site accommodation which is not only comfortable, but professionally maintained.
Castle Ashby Forestry Centre’s facilities include:
- Academic centre which enables focused learning, dedicated to completion of your assessment.
- Practical environments enabling operational elements of your training to be covered in depth.
- NPTC registered ‘Assessors’ to provide a wealth of experience and authentic accreditation.
- On site Air B&B, (Available for select courses).
Tout Bien Ou Rien
‘Do it well or not at all’
Safe and effective chainsaw operations, demand proper training and recognised certification. Whether you are looking to cut up your log wood for the fire at home, or professional Arborist/Forester; being competent with a chainsaw, significantly reduces risk of harm, if you apply the appropriate training and Assessment feedback you receive.
HSE‑compliant First Aid training with optional +F forestry component. Emergency First Aid at Work, 3‑day First Aid and refreshers at CAFTA, Castle Ashby, Northamptonshire.
NPTC Level 2 forestry machine operations training at CAFTA. Forwarder, felling, processing, skidder, cable crane, stump grinders and more. Expert assessment in Northamptonshire.