The Level 2 Technical Diploma in Blacksmithing is a one year course designed to give you a broad understanding of the industry. It is the ideal qualification if you are intending to progress directly to employment in blacksmithing or may be useful if you are looking towards gaining a farriery apprenticeship. A blacksmith is a metalsmith who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by casting and forging the metal. Blacksmiths practise a highly skilled trade that requires many hours of training in order to understand the properties of metals, to master the tools to hammer, bend and cut, and to develop the skills needed to create objects, including horseshoes. Farriery is the ancient and highly-skilled craft of making and fitting horseshoes. It demands the skills to handle horses and identify any health and fitness problems. All farriers must be registered, and today there are more than 2,600 in the UK.
This qualification has been developed in consultation with employers in the blacksmithing sector to ensure that you learn the skills and behaviours that will give you the best opportunity to be successful when applying for work. There are six mandatory units and an optional unit that relate directly to the skills, knowledge and behaviours expected by employers in the blacksmithing sector. If you are looking to gain a farriery apprenticeship, you are required to have 5 GCSE’s at level 4 (grade C) or equivalent to include English, Maths and Science. There is an opportunity to gain GCSE level 4 in Maths and English whilst completing this course. Costs that are optional for the course: Total Cost Range £50 - £100
Protected Landscapes + Heritage Skills
Starts July 2025
Are you aged 18–30, living in Cumbria, and curious about herd dynamics, conservation grazing, and the life of semi-feral Fell Ponies? Join us for a powerful three-day immersive experience, taking place 11th–13th July 2025 at Gowbarrow Farm, CA11 0JP by kind permission of the Beaumont family. …
Starts September 2025
By the end of the session, attendees will be able to discuss a range of approaches that can be adopted in gardens to make them more ‘wildlife friendly’ and implement measures in their own gardens, community spaces and apply at larger scales.
Protected Landscapes + Heritage Skills
16th - 19th June, 2025
Training available at Level 1 and Level 2 for people looking to follow a career in dry stone walling or interested in increasing their skill level. Led by Master Craftsman Instructor at our National Training Site, Crooklands, LA7 7NH. Training is held Monday - Thursday with an optional Assessment…
Flexible learning
Introducing Regenerative Agriculture: Core Principles. This course provides a detailed introduction to the core principles of regenerative agriculture and offers valuable insights into the benefits of adopting these principles on-farm.
MSc Conservation Management Online Event
Restoring Hardknott Forest Volunteer Day
Wildlife Walk at Hardknott Forest