Arboriculture students benefit from our sawmill donation

Arboriculture students at Bridgewater & Taunton College are benefitting from hands-on experience with industry-standard equipment thanks to our donation of a Norwood chainsaw sawmill.

We provided a Portamill PM14 to enable students gain practical skills in timber processing and sustainable forestry management as part of their studies.

Our Technical Consultant, Andy Dudley, installed the sawmill at the college and demonstrated how it works before allowing the arboriculture tutors and students to have a go at milling for themselves.

The mill will now be included within students’ training and not only allow them to turn raw timber into finished materials, but also prepare them for real-world challenges in the arboriculture and forestry industries.

Andy said: “The Porta Mill PM14 is ideal for the college as it’s so easy to move from site to site and mill lumber and beams wherever the students are being trained.”

Jason Gunningham, Principal at Cannington Campus where the course is delivered, said: “We’re thrilled to introduce the Norwood sawmill into our curriculum. It’s a fantastic example of how collaboration with employers directly benefits our students, providing them with the tools and experience to excel in their chosen fields.”

Tom Cunningham, Deputy Head added: “It is incredibly generous, these pieces of kit are expensive, we could not be more grateful to Global Machinery Solutions for their donation. It will ensure students are well prepared for a successful future in the industry.”

Andy added: “This was a great opportunity to support students looking to qualify and develop a career in forestry. It also provides a glimpse into the wide range of equipment they may use as part of their arboriculture future. Developing young people’s skills is vital and we’re delighted to support Bridgewater & Taunton College.”