Now published: CJS Focus on Countryside Skills (traditional & modern) in association with the Field Studies Council

23 pages in total, the lead article is from the Field Studies Council; FSC are concerned about a lack of taxonomic skills. In this article they describe the recent decline in field skills and detail how they are working to improve the skills set of people entering the conservation sector. David Molloy from Cotswold Rural Skills talks about the importance of rural skills and how they can be preserved. Dry stone walling: a living craft for the present day? The Dry Stone Walling Association says yes and explains why. Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust has supported many Trainees over recent times, with 2 case studies they describe how a rural apprenticeship can help you gain the skills you need for work in the conservation sector. Project Management is an important part of working in the countryside. You may have lots of great ideas but can you nurture them to reality? The Staffordshire & S & W Wales Wildlife Trusts give some pointers to help you succeed in this dark art. The National Coppice Federation describes how important the act of coppicing is to woodland management. Our Bright Future is a programme being delivered across the UK by lots of different organisations and aims to create the next generation of environmental leaders through skills provision. Could you develop a career in Conservation Grazing? Ruth Dalton from the Rare Breeds Survival Trust provides a whistle-stop tour of conservation grazing and some of the skills you will need to embark on a career in it. The National Hedge Laying Society describes how complex the art of hedge laying is and why it is so important to develop the skill in to the future. We couldn’t get away without an article on the use of social media in the conservation sector. Cheshire Wildlife Trust gives some pointers on how to use this technology to maximum potential and the skills needed to have successful campaigns. Finally the North York Moors National Park Authority say more Countryside Apprenticeships should be offered to improve the skill set of people entering our sector. They describe why they offer the opportunities and why more should be available. Read it here