What will I learn?
Taught by industry and academic experts, you’ll develop the practical skills and underpinning knowledge needed to go into the forestry industry, especially lowland woodland, or into higher education. You’ll perfect your skills in our extremely well equipped on-site arboriculture and forestry department, as well as a variety of local off-site facilities, from a private arboretum to Forestry Commission woodland and The New Forest. Field trips to the Savernake Forest, Westonbirt Arboretum, and Stourhead Western Estate will fully immerse you into the arboriculture and forestry industry.
Topics covered
• Principles of plant and soil science
• Silvicultural practices
• Tree felling and chainsaw use
• Tree identification
• Pests and diseases of trees
• Advanced forestry machinery
• Tree surveys and inspections
• Woodland habitat management
What grades will I need?
Five GCSEs including Science, Maths and English at grade 4, or Level 2 at Merit grade plus Maths and English at grade 4.
Mature students may be considered with alternative qualifications or experience.
You must be aged 17 or over at the start of the course due to age restrictions on chainsaw use. There are no exceptions to this rule.
What can I study next?
• FdSc in Woodland/Forestry Management
• BSc in Woodland/Forestry Management
This course gives you UCAS tariff points for entry to University. Complete a full Level 3 qualification with us and we’ll guarantee you an offer of a place on one of our relevant University Centre Sparsholt degree courses. Admissions Terms & Conditions apply – for full details go to Sparsholt.ac.uk/university-centre
Careers
• Forester
• Conservation work
• Local authority employment
• Employment with the Forestry Commission or Woodland Trust
Optional Additional Qualifications
These additional qualifications are not mandatory nor compulsory and therefore learners can undertake these qualifications providing they meet specific criteria in relation to their main qualification
• Chainsaw Crosscut and Maintenance
• Tree Felling
• Tractor Driving
• Woodchippers
• Brushcutters/Polesaws
• Hedge Trimmers
iFrameResize(iframeResizerOptions, ‘#pathways-iframe-518bfa’);
