Tree Life Arboricultural Consultancy Ltd

See below for Professional Diploma Learning oucomes

Learning Outcomes - Technician's Certificate

1. Show knowledge of the arboricultural industry and its relationship to horticulture, forestry, urban forestry, dendrology, landscape architecture, and planning.

2. Demonstrate knowledge of plant morphology, anatomy, physiology, reproduction and growth. Show knowledge of the climatic factors that affect plant growth. Understand the importance of these scientific principles in the management of woody plants.

3. Demonstrate knowledge of soil formation and soil types. Understand the nutritional requirements of plants, soil water relationships in plants and soil management.

4. Appreciate the ecological importance of tree cover in the landscape.

5. Correctly identify a wide range of trees and shrubs found in the United Kingdom. Demonstrate knowledge of their aesthetic features, growth potential, growth requirements and limitations. Demonstrate knowledge of the principles of landscape design.

6. Demonstrate knowledge of the principles and practices of plant propagation.

7. Demonstrate knowledge of the production of woody plants to meet British Standard specifications for nursery stock. Demonstrate knowledge of plant purchasing.

8. Demonstrate knowledge of the selection of suitable plant material and the establishment of woody plants in the landscape.

9. Inspect trees for condition, make risk assessment and recommend actions.

10.   Demonstrate knowledge for undertaking tree surveys with specified objectives. Make recommendations; prepare reports and plans following tree inspections or surveys. Show knowledge of estimating costs and pricing of contracts for tree work.

11.   Recognise commonly occurring disorders, physiological and pathological problems of trees and shrubs. Recommend treatment or action to prevent or overcome these problems.

12.   Demonstrate knowledge of the requirements for health and safety in all aspects of arboriculture.

13.   Specify and supervise the full range of tree maintenance practices.

14.   Demonstrate knowledge of Industry Best Practice in relation to safe and efficient use of arboricultural machinery and equipment. Know the criteria for the selection of equipment and machinery. Demonstrate knowledge of the maintenance and storage requirements of equipment and machinery.

15.   Appreciate the principles of woodland management for a range of objectives.

16.   Demonstrate knowledge of the preparation, manipulation and revision of tree inventories. Demonstrate knowledge of the importance of public relations and community involvement in tree management.

17.   Demonstrate knowledge of the possible problems caused by trees when growing close to buildings or other artefacts. Make appropriate recommendations in such cases.

18.   Demonstrate knowledge of the functions of a supervisor in a management role.

19.   Demonstrate knowledge of business and finance principles.

20.  Demonstrate knowledge of the statutes and common laws relating to all aspects of arboriculture.

Learning Outcomes - Professional Diploma

On completion of the course candidates will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a high level of knowledge and sound understanding of the theories and principles of managing tree populations enabling them to move confidently into senior positions.

2. Apply the acquired knowledge and understanding to managing a safe and healthy sustainable tree population.

3. Demonstrate a high level of knowledge of the current issues facing arboriculture and related industries, appreciate their wider social, cultural and economic significance and be able to integrate and apply that knowledge when producing strategic, planning, operational and review documents.

4. Apply concepts, principles and personal transferable skills, to enable them to work in an environment that requires them to use individual ideas and a diversity of understanding in response to complex problems and situations.

5. Critically evaluate a range of data and information provided to them from internal and external bodies to make informed judgements and decisions about work options based on the situation presented.

6. Integrate a high level knowledge of current safety legislation, common law, statute law and best practice into the work situation.

7. Adapt to change and new technologies, and demonstrate a high level of understanding and application of relevant technology to arboricultural matters.

8. Develop, propose plans and supervise their implementation to secure the long term sustainability of tree cover in the urban and countryside environments.

9. Apply high level specialist knowledge of the theoretical principles that underpin ecological and conservation practices and propose and develop plans and working practices that allow arboricultural operations to proceed without harming rare and protected species.

10.   Critically review and evaluate information as work practices proceed and make appropriate judgments that facilitate modification and/or revision of plans or work practices where it is in the interest of arboriculture.

11.   Apply performance indicators to strategic documents and accept accountability for determining and achieving personal and group outcomes and be able to solve problems that arise from the failure to meet targets.

12.   Identify sources of new information and research, evaluate, analyse, interpret and apply the knowledge within scenarios requiring the application of this high level of knowledge to solve complex problems such as could be encountered when planting, establishing and managing trees on difficult sites.

13.   Develop strategies from one’s own ideas and research to proactively manage sites at high risk from vegetation related subsidence and the safety risk that large populations of mature trees that grow very near to people and structural targets present.

14.   Integrate personal awareness and specialist knowledge when preparing to stand in front of an inquiry or a court as an expert witness.

15.   Be able to propose and administer plans that would deal effectively with such circumstances as climate change and threats posed by invasion of pathogens from outside of the UK.

16.   Create all the relevant paperwork and documentation to enable sound tree management to be realised in everyday performance.

All learnining outcomes taken from the ABC Specification on Website