This qualification gives you the opportunity to learn about and build on the essentials of working within the countryside, such as estate skills, population surveys, safe use of equipment and machinery, land use and recreation and environmental processes. It is designed to provide you with a very wide range of specialist technical practical skills and detailed knowledge and understanding which will equip you to seek a diverse range of employment opportunities, or to further learning and training within the land and wildlife industries.

You will study ecological concepts and application, environmental interpretation and fresh water and wetland management, as well as further areas such as farm habitat management, heathland habitat management, coastal management, managing volunteers, outdoor adventure activities or overland expeditions.

The following titles are the modules you will complete whist on programme:

Year 1

• Principles of Health and Safety
• Undertake and review work related experience in the land-based industries
• Land based industry machinery operations
• Population surveys, ecology and conservation
• Countryside recreation
• Undertake estate skills
• Fresh water and Wetland Management
• Pest and predator control
• Farm Habitat
• Undertake grassland habitat management

Year 2

• Principles of physical and biological environmental processes
• Woodland habitat management
• Ecological Concepts and Application
• Environmental interpretation in the Land-based sector
• Undertake a specialist project in the land based sector
• Coastal Management
• Heathland Habitat Management
• Urban Habitat Conservation
• Aquatics Eco System

The following information provides students with the entry requirements for this particular course.

• A minimum of 5 GCSEs A* to C or 9 to 4
• MUST include English, Maths and Science

Please note:
Alternative qualifications or experience will be considered on application.

The programme includes a module of work experience. This should be in the countryside, wildlife or supporting industries. A portfolio of evidence of the placement will need to be completed, aspects of which will involve employers observations. This element will count towards the final grade and should be completed throughout the programme.

You may wish to learn more through an Advanced Apprenticeship in Environmental Conservation or Game and Wildlife Management, which allows you to combine working for a wildlife trust or estate, or a similar job, typically attending one day a week at college or with a training provider.

You may wish to progress onto further learning within a Higher Education Institution.

You could take a course such as:

• Countryside Management Degree (BSc)
• Countryside Conservation Degree (BSc)
• Marine Ecology and Conservation Foundation Science Degree