With over 40 years industrial and training experience between them, Matt Bate and Adam Thompson have joined forces to create Wood Life Training. Working in association with a small team of expert trainers and assessors, we aim to provide the highest possible standard of instruction in a positive, friendly and professional way.
Matt has worked for over 25 years as an arborist (tree surgeon) in both the private and utility sectors of the industry, including several years managing a high-voltage power line clearance team. He has worked on trees at The Lost Gardens of Heligan and Westonbirt Arboretum. With over 20 years’ experience of teaching – Matt has worked with both NPTC City and Guilds and Lantra as well as Cannington College and Bicton College.
He has also delivered specialist training for the Fire Service USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) teams and the Royal Marine Commando Assault Engineers. He also runs a woodland glamping business with his wife, Amanda, and manages several small woodlands. Matt is passionate about trees and teaching new tree surgeons, conservationists and other land managers to value their importance and conduct work to a high standard.
Adam has been working in arboriculture for over 15 years, much of the
time in the utility arb sector – managing teams of contractors for
clients such as Network Rail, Highways, Ground Control and UPM Tilhill. He continues to advise Ground Control on its health and safety procedures. Adam has also worked as a trainer for EDF Energy, as a specialist scuba dive instructor and a Forest School leader with South West Outdoors Group.
He’s worked with Taunton and Bridgewater College and the Arb Academy (Focus Training Group). Adam is an enthusiast in woodland skills never happier than when he’s tying knots, building shelters foraging and cooking in the woods.
Both Matt and Adam are NPTC City and Guilds assessors.
