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CAREERS IN ARBORICULTURE
ARBORICULTURE
Arboriculture can be defined as the production and management of trees
and shrubs in urban and rural environs where amenity is the primary
objective. (Whereas Forestry usually has the primary objective of economic
timber production.)
ARBORICULTURAL CAREERS AND EDUCATION
In arboriculture, opportunities exist for people with many skills including
management in both commercial enterprises and local government. The
range of expertise required, combined with the comparative youthfulness
of the industry, is supplied by education and training and career structure
which are still evolving. Both residential courses and alternative routes
of training exist. This note is intended to provide background information
for young people considering a career working with amenity trees and
shrubs.
THE SKILLS OF ARBORICULTURE
Plant selection and production:
In additional to the trees and shrubs that are the natural vegetation
of Britain, arboriculture deals with a wide variety of other woody species
capable of healthy growth in the UK. For example, the space available,
the soil and microclimate to towns, often dictate the use of small or
medium size trees having an ornamental form which have been selected
for particular features. (eg. leaf colour, branch habit, flower or fruit
colour.) These plants are perpetuated in many differing ways, including
vegetatively, (cuttings, budding or grafting) in controlled environments
available in nurseries.
Planting:
Tree and shrub planting is also an important component of amenity horticulture
courses, particularly at County Agricultural Colleges. In addition to
one year and three year residential courses, short training courses
specifically on planting are available, usually arranged on an ad-hoc
basis by colleges, training groups, and/or employers.
Tree Surgery:
Specialist instruction in the skills of tree surgery is offered by a
range of colleges throughout the country and also by individual instructors.
In addition, many amenity horticulture courses include tree surgery
as a component of the syllabus. The Arboricultural Association should
be able to advise you of the nearest course.
Amenity Woodlands:
Specific courses are not available for this work, but the practical
skills required are mainly those of commercial forestry. As such the
courses offered at Cumbria College of Agriculture and Forestry, Inverness
College and some County Agricultural Colleges are appropriate.
Specialist courses on aspects of amenity woodland management are arranged
on an ad-hoc basis.
General Arboriculture:
The specialised practical skills of arboriculture are offered as packaged
courses of three years for the National Diploma (BTEC) at Merrist Wood
Agriculture College, and one year NCH (Arboriculture) also at Merrist
Wood and elsewhere. Aberdeen University is offering arboriculture as
an option in forestry degree courses, while both Aberdeen and Oxford
Universities are including arboriculture at post graduate level.
PRE-COLLEGE EMPLOYMENT
Agricultural colleges require some work experience in the industry before
studies commence. Generally this may be gained in any aspect of forestry
or arboriculture. In the long-term experience in nursery production
of trees and shrubs may be the most valuable because it will assist
the trainee in learning to identify trees and shrubs. Those sufficiently
interested in working with amenity trees should contact their local
nurserymen listed in the Yellow Pages, the telephone directory under
"Nurserymen - Trees and Shrubs), local authority parks departments.
Tree surgeons listed in the Arboricultural Association's Directory of
Consultants and Contractors, and Yellow Pages as "Tree Work Contractors
" or forestry contractors, listed as "Forestry Maintenance Contractors".
QUALIFICATIONS
Qualifications Notes Awarding Body
MSc Post Graduate degree University of Aberdeen
by research Forestry Department
MSc Part of post graduate University of Oxford
degree course option Forestry Department
BSc Forestry Honours University of Aberdeen
Degree course option Forestry Department
Professional Diploma External examination The Royal Forestry in Arboriculture
Society
of England, Wales & N Ireland
102 High St., Tring,
Herts, HP23 4AH
Technician's Certificate Courses offered at some Arboricultural Association
in Arboriculture Agricultural Colleges, Ampfield House, Romsey,
eg. Cheshire, Capel Manor Hampshire S051 9PA
etc.
National Diploma Three year course BTEC
in Arboriculture Merrist Wood College 46 Portland Place
London W1N 4AA
Certificate in No formal course The Royal Forestry in Arboriculture
Society
of England, Wales & N Ireland
102 High St., Tring,
Herts, HP23 4AH
National Certificate Arboriculture option NCH Board (City & in Horticulture
at some colleges Guilds of London
Institute)
46 Portland Place,
London W1N 4AA
Several county agriculture colleges offer amenity horticulture courses,
day release horticulture courses and short courses.
(Prepared by Joint Board of Studies RFS, Arboricultural Association).
ADDRESSES OF COLLEGES OFFERING COURSES IN ARBORICULTURE
Askham Bryan College of Agriculture & Horticulture
Askham Bryan, York YO2 3PR tel. 01904 702121
Brooksby College
Brooksby, Nr Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire LE14 2LJ tel. 01664 434291
Broomfield College
Morley, Derby, Derbyshire BE7 6DN tel. 01332 831345
Capel Manor Horticultural & Environmental Centre
Bullsmoor Lane, Enfield, Hertfordshire, EN1 4RQ tel. 01992 763849
Cheshire College of Agriculture & Horticulture
Reaseheath, Nantwich, Cheshire, CW5 6DF tel. 01270 625131
Clinterty Agricultural College
Kinellar, Aberdeen, AB5 0TN
DeMontfort University, School of Agriculture & Horticulture
Caythorpe Court,Caythorpe,Nr Grantham,Lincs NG32 3EP tel. 01522 522252
Durham College of Agriculture & Horticulture
Houghall, Durham, DH1 3SG tel. 0191 386 1351
Elmwood College
Cupar, Fife, Scotland KY15 4JB tel. 01334 658800
Kirkley Hall College
Ponteland, Newcastle upon Tyne NE20 0AQ tel. 01661 860808
Knowsley Community College
The Kennels, Knowsley Park, Prescott, L34 4AQ tel. 0151 549 1500
Myerscough College
Myerscough Hall, Bilsborrow, Preston, PR3 0RY tel. 01995 640611
Merrist Wood College
Worplesdon, Nr Guildford, Surrey, GU3 3PE tel. 01483 884000
Newton Rigg College
Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0AH tel. 01768 863791
Cannington College
Cannington, Bridgwater, Somerset TA5 2LS tel. 01278 652226
Sparsholt College
Sparsholt, Winchester, Hampshire, SO21 2NF tel. 01962 776441
Pershore College of Horticulture
Avonbank, Pershore, Worcester. WR10 3JP tel. 01386 552443
The Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB tel. 0181 332 5000
USEFUL ADDRESSES
For General Information:
FORESTRY & ARBORICULTURE SAFETY & TRAINING COUNCIL
Room 413, 231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 7AT
telephone: 0131 314 6193/6247
FORESTRY COMMISSION
231 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh, EH12 7AT
telephone: 0131 334 0303
FORESTRY COMMISSION - East England Office
Great Eastern House, Tenison Road, Cambridge, CB1 2DU
telephone: 01223 314546
FORESTRY COMMISSION - South Downs District Office
Bucks Horn Oak, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4LA
telephone: 01420 23666
ARBORICULTURAL ASSOCIATION
Ampfield House, Ampfield, Romsey, Hampshire S051 9PA
telephone: 01794 368717
ROYAL FORESTRY SOCIETY
102 High Street, Tring, Herts. HP23 4AH
telephone: 01442 822028
ENGLISH NATURE
Northminster House, Peterborough, PE1 1UA
telephone: 01733 40345
SCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE
12 Hope Terrace, Edinburgh, EH9 2AS
telephone: 0131 447 4784
THE TREE COUNCIL
51 Catherine Place, London SW1E 6DY
telephone: 0207 828 9928
The Arboricultural Association
Ampfield House Romsey Hampshire SO51 9PA England
Tel (44) (0) 1794 368717 Fax (44)
(0) 1794 368978
Email: admin@trees.org.uk
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