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School Leavers > Countryside Conservation and Environmental Management

Countryside Conservation and Environmental Management – Level 3

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Courses Code
QF3CS540
Study method
Full Time
Location(s)
Rodbaston
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  • Is this course for you?

    This two-year course is a technical qualification that is the equivalent of completing 3 A Levels and will be perfect for you if you want to work in the countryside.

    It is designed to provide you with both a wide range of specialist practical skills and detailed theoretical knowledge that will enable you to progress on to a diverse range of employment opportunities or further learning and training within the land and wildlife industries.

    After first building up your core knowledge, including sound ecological and environmental processes, you will then move onto species and habitats, including how to survey and manage them.

    Upon successful completion of this course, you will achieve the City & Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Land and Wildlife Management (Countryside) (1080).

  • Required qualifications

    To be accepted onto the course, you will need a minimum of 4 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, one of which must be either English or maths, or equivalent qualifications, or you will have passed a relevant Level 2 qualification and also have either GCSE English or maths.

    Adult learners aged 19+ with other qualifications and/or experience are also welcomed and are accepted on a case-by-case basis. If you are aged 19+, you may be eligible to study this course for free depending on your individual circumstances. You can read more about the different financial support on offer at the college here.

  • What skills will I develop?

    Over the course of the two years, you can expect to cover skills and knowledge relating to the following units:

    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
    • Farm habitat management
    • Coastal management
    • Heathland habitat management
    • Aquatics ecosystem

    Year 2:

    • Principles of physical and biological environmental processes
    • Woodland habitat management
    • Undertake grassland habitat management
    • Ecological concepts and application
    • Environmental interpretation in the land-based sector
    • Greenwood crafts
    • Fresh water and wetland management
    • Archaeology and landscape history
    • Undertake a specialist project in the land-based sector

  • Careers

    This course will expose you to the whole industry and the opportunities within it.

    You could choose to progress on to further learning by going to university, you could learn more through gaining a Level 4 apprenticeship, or as you will have gained a breadth of skills and knowledge over a very wide range of units, you could progress straight into employment. Future careers include:

    • Countryside Ranger
    • Ecologist
    • Estate Warden
    • Field Surveyor
    • Grounds Maintenance Operative
    • Landscape Officer
    • Marine Biologist
    • Reserves Manager
    • Species Specialist
    • Volunteer and Engagement Coordinator

  • Work experience

    Throughout the course, you will be expected to complete a minimum of 150 hours of work experience per year in a relevant industry setting and will be responsible for sourcing your own work experience placement.

    Work experience is designed to further develop and enhance the skills being taught during your college practical sessions and is an important part of the course ahead of starting your career.

    Former students have worked at places such as:

    • Cannock Chase Forest (Forestry England)
    • RSPB Sandwell Valley
    • Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
    • Sutton Park in Birmingham

  • English and maths

    If you are aged 16-18 and don’t have a Grade 4 or above in English or maths, you will be required to attend weekly GCSE classes during your time at college.

    If you are aged 19+ and would like to gain a recognised qualification in English, maths, or both, you can explore the range of GCSE and Functional Skills courses we offer for adults at the college here.

    English and maths skills will also be embedded within all units of your main qualification.

    The benefits of improving these skills are not to be underestimated as they can help lead to better employment prospects and higher earning potential in your chosen career.

  • Other important information

    You will need a pair of safety boots and/or wellies with a steel toe cap.

    No specific uniform is required, but warm and waterproof clothes are a must for winter practical sessions.

    Optional equipment if desired would include a range of tree, flower, fungi, and bird ID books, as well as a pair of binoculars.

  • Is this course for you?

    This two-year course is a technical qualification that is the equivalent of completing 3 A Levels and will be perfect for you if you want to work in the countryside.

    It is designed to provide you with both a wide range of specialist practical skills and detailed theoretical knowledge that will enable you to progress on to a diverse range of employment opportunities or further learning and training within the land and wildlife industries.

    After first building up your core knowledge, including sound ecological and environmental processes, you will then move onto species and habitats, including how to survey and manage them.

    Upon successful completion of this course, you will achieve the City & Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Land and Wildlife Management (Countryside) (1080).

  • Required qualifications

    To be accepted onto the course, you will need a minimum of 4 GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, one of which must be either English or maths, or equivalent qualifications, or you will have passed a relevant Level 2 qualification and also have either GCSE English or maths.

    Adult learners aged 19+ with other qualifications and/or experience are also welcomed and are accepted on a case-by-case basis. If you are aged 19+, you may be eligible to study this course for free depending on your individual circumstances. You can read more about the different financial support on offer at the college here.

  • What skills will I develop?

    Over the course of the two years, you can expect to cover skills and knowledge relating to the following units:

    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
    • Farm habitat management
    • Coastal management
    • Heathland habitat management
    • Aquatics ecosystem

    Year 2:

    • Principles of physical and biological environmental processes
    • Woodland habitat management
    • Undertake grassland habitat management
    • Ecological concepts and application
    • Environmental interpretation in the land-based sector
    • Greenwood crafts
    • Fresh water and wetland management
    • Archaeology and landscape history
    • Undertake a specialist project in the land-based sector

  • Careers

    This course will expose you to the whole industry and the opportunities within it.

    You could choose to progress on to further learning by going to university, you could learn more through gaining a Level 4 apprenticeship, or as you will have gained a breadth of skills and knowledge over a very wide range of units, you could progress straight into employment. Future careers include:

    • Countryside Ranger
    • Ecologist
    • Estate Warden
    • Field Surveyor
    • Grounds Maintenance Operative
    • Landscape Officer
    • Marine Biologist
    • Reserves Manager
    • Species Specialist
    • Volunteer and Engagement Coordinator

  • Work experience

    Throughout the course, you will be expected to complete a minimum of 150 hours of work experience per year in a relevant industry setting and will be responsible for sourcing your own work experience placement.

    Work experience is designed to further develop and enhance the skills being taught during your college practical sessions and is an important part of the course ahead of starting your career.

    Former students have worked at places such as:

    • Cannock Chase Forest (Forestry England)
    • RSPB Sandwell Valley
    • Staffordshire Wildlife Trust
    • Sutton Park in Birmingham

  • English and maths

    If you are aged 16-18 and don’t have a Grade 4 or above in English or maths, you will be required to attend weekly GCSE classes during your time at college.

    If you are aged 19+ and would like to gain a recognised qualification in English, maths, or both, you can explore the range of GCSE and Functional Skills courses we offer for adults at the college here.

    English and maths skills will also be embedded within all units of your main qualification.

    The benefits of improving these skills are not to be underestimated as they can help lead to better employment prospects and higher earning potential in your chosen career.

  • Other important information

    You will need a pair of safety boots and/or wellies with a steel toe cap.

    No specific uniform is required, but warm and waterproof clothes are a must for winter practical sessions.

    Optional equipment if desired would include a range of tree, flower, fungi, and bird ID books, as well as a pair of binoculars.

Testimonials

“My first year studying Countryside Management was everything I hoped it would be. It was really great finally being able to learn about subjects I've always been interested in, and the knowledge and teaching methods of the tutors were really impressive.”

Alex Edwards

Former Level 3 Countryside Student

“The doors this course has opened for me have changed my life for the better. Being awarded the student of the year has made it all round an incredible experience! I'm now enrolling with The Open University to study for Master of Environmental Science. I would personally like to thank Rodbaston College, my lecturer, and all my friends I made on the course, it's been extraordinary.”

Craig Hyatt

Former Level 3 Countryside Conservation and Environmental Management Student

“My two years at South Staffordshire College have been amazing. I've grown as a person, met some wonderful friends, and gained a wide range of valuable knowledge and skills. As for my next steps after college, I'll be heading to Keele University to study Ecology and Conservation. It's a path I wouldn't have been able to take had it not been for the college.”

Isaac Rodgerson

Former Level 3 Countryside Conservation and Environmental Management Student

“I have thoroughly enjoyed studying at Rodbaston during the last two years. I have gained so much knowledge and practical experience with the support of the most dedicated and inspiring teachers I have ever met, so thank you! My next step is to continue to work within the conservation sector as well as study a part time Environmental Science degree.”

Michelle Clewlow

Former Level 3 Countryside Conservation and Environmental Management Student

“Studying the Countryside Management course at Rodbaston has given me the industry skills I need for my chosen career including animal and plant identification, estate management, machine and tool use, as well as understanding environmental and ecological principles and issues. I'm confident that after college I will stand a good chance of progressing into the job I want.”

Richard Williams

Former Level 3 Countryside Student

Apply for a course

  • Countryside, Conservation & Environmental Management Level 3 540 Yr 1 of 1 (LE3) (FCFJ)

    Rodbaston College

    Start Date: September

    Code: QRF3CS540-Y1

    Full Time: 35 Weeks

    Day(s): Usually 3-4 days per week

    Apply
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