Horticulture & Forestry
Horticulture and Forestry are other career options for students who are interested in working in the rural sector. There are job opportunities working as park rangers, arborists, gardeners, in orchards, vineyards, conservation, forestry and much more. Many jobs require knowledge of the land and its uses, so if you like working in the outdoors then a career in Horticulture or Forestry may be for you. The students on our Horticulture and Forestry course are responsible for looking after a vegetable garden and also farmyard animals, such as chickens, ducks, lambs and pigs. Students can study towards one, or both of the qualifications in Forestry and/or Horticulture, depending on their personal goals and preferences. This is a great practical course for students who want to get into working on the land.
Structure:
This course has a 'roll-on, roll-off' nature, which means that students can start at any time, depending on waiting lists. The course runs from Monday to Thursday, 9am until 4pm, with Fridays set aside for self directed learning or work experience. The qualifications each take about a year to complete, however we support students for as long as it takes to gain full-time employment or further training. This may be more, or less, than a year, depending on the student's personal goals. The course runs from January to December for 47 weeks, including two weeks recess. The Horticulture and Forestry course is run as one group with two tutors, so students can do both qualifications, or specialise in one area.
Content:
The course will cover a variety of topics including;
- Chainsaw operations
- Conservation
- ATVs and motorbikes
- Agri-chemical use and handling
- Growing vegetables and other crops
- Composting and vermiculture (worm farming)
- Health and Safety
- Fencing and shelter
- Soils and fertilizers
- Seeds and propagation
- Life skills
- Permaculture (sustainability and life-cycles)
- Arborist skills
- Silviculture (forest plantation management)
- Fruit production (orchards)
A qualification from the National Trade Academy is your pathway to a career working in the great outdoors.
