PlumptonCollegeUniversity of Brighton
Foundation Degree (FdSc)
in
Countryside Management
Student Handbook
(September 2006)
Contents
Introduction
Course Aims
Course Team
Equipment
Timetable
Course Structure
Brief Module Descriptions:
Level 1 Compulsory:
Botany
Business Management
Ecological Methods
Ecology
Estate Machinery
Estate Skills
Field Biology Skills
Interpreting the Environment
Landscape Assessment
Soil Science
Work Placement 1
Level 2 Compulsory:
Agriculture & the Environment
Countryside Law
Level 2 Project
Habitat Management
Habitat Management Plan
Level 2 Options:
Behavioural Ecology
Career Development
Conservation Grazing
Contemporary Study
Ecological Processes 2
Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology
Field Trip
Game Management
Geographical Information Systems 1
Managing Volunteers
National Vegetation Classification
Project Management
Statistics
Sustainable Forestry
Teaching Field Studies
Wildlife Conservation
Woodland Ecology
Work Placement 2
Course Assessment
Book list
Introduction
Welcome to PlumptonCollege, East Sussex, whether you are new to us or are returning to complete a course or start a new course.
This Student Handbook is important. Together with the HE Student Handbook, It provides you with all the essential information you need about your course, so keep it safe. Our courses are vocational courses and are designed to fit you for employment. PlumptonCollege is well-regarded by employers and has an excellent record of graduate employment. We hope that you will enjoy your course and wish you every success in finding employment afterwards.
PlumptonCollege is committed to ‘excellence in education’ and is a particularly good place to study Countryside Management. Set at the foot of the Sussex Downs, Plumpton has a 600-hectare estate including a commercial farm, ancient semi-natural woodlands, chalk downland and a network of small streams. Its proximity to the SouthCoast with its varied coastal habitats is also an advantage. The estate is managed for habitat conservation, agriculture, forestry, gamekeeping and general recreation, providing an excellent learning resource for Countryside Management students who need to understand the various needs of the different land-uses.
This course will equip you for employment in a wide range of Countryside Management activities including ranger, biological surveyor and working in environmental education. As well as school-leavers, it is aimed at those wishing to change career path and those who work in the countryside already and wish to improve their qualifications.
Here is a selection of the jobs that recent Plumpton graduates have found:
Katie Archer Ranger, SussexDownsJoint Committee
Peter BallEstate Manager (private estate at Warninglid)
Margaret BryantEducation Assistant, Sussex Wildlife Trust
Pauline Chandler Low Weald Ranger (WestSussexCounty Council)
Prim DuplessisAssistant Advisor, Farming & Wildlife Group
Heli Gittins Ranger, EastSussexCounty Council
Helen Jones BTCV Green Gym Project Officer
Wayne Miller-Hudson Rights of Way Officer, ESCC
Peter NegusTreasurer, Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group
Veronica ReedAssistant Education Officer (Sussex Wildlife
Trust)
Simon RowledgeHigh Weald Ranger (WestSussexCounty Council)
Stephen SibbaldCommunications officer, Sussex Downs Joint
Committee
Alex StephensRanger, SussexDowns Conservation Board
Michael YatesForest Ranger, AshdownForest Conservators
This course is a University of Brighton degree delivered at PlumptonCollege. Students will have access both to the resources centre at Plumpton and to the library of the University of Brighton, both of which have an excellent range of books and periodicals and information technology facilities.
This course is designed to be extremely flexible in its delivery in order to meet the needs of the widest possible range of students. It is available on either a full-time (2 years) or a part-time (maximum 6 years) basis.
Course Aims
The aims of the programme are for the student to demonstrate:
- The knowledge and skills required for employment within the countryside management industry.
- A thorough knowledge and understanding of the established principles of Countryside Management, and of the ways in which these have been developed.
- An ability to apply underlying concepts and principles outside the context in which they were first studied, and employ those principles in Countryside Management-related industries or other relevant work-related context.
- A familiarity with the main methods of enquiry in Countryside Management and the ability to evaluate critically the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems in Countryside Management and apply these in a relevant work-related context.
- An understanding of the limits of their knowledge and how this influences analyses and interpretations based on that knowledge in Countryside Management and in a relevant work-related context.
Holders of the foundation degree will be able to:
- Use a range of established techniques to initiate and undertake critical analysis of information, and to propose solutions to problems arising from that analysis in a Countryside Management or relevant work-related context.
- Effectively communicate information, arguments and analysis in a variety of forms, to specialist and non-specialist audiences, and deploy key techniques of Countryside Management effectively in a relevant work-related context.
- Undertake further training, develop existing skills and acquire new competencies that will enable them to assume responsibility within relevant Countryside Management organisations.
And will have:
- Qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment and progression to other qualifications requiring the exercise of personal responsibility and decision-making.
Students withdrawing from the course with at least 120 credits at level 1 will be awarded a Foundation Certificate. This will not be a nationally-recognised award, but holders of a Foundation Certificate will be able typically to demonstrate:
- Knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles associated with Countryside Management, and an ability to evaluate and interpret these within a work-related context.
- An ability to present, evaluate, and interpret qualitative and quantitative data, to develop lines of argument and make sound judgments in accordance with basic theories and concepts in Countryside Management.
Typically, holders of the Foundation Certificate will be able to:
- Evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving problems related to Countryside Management in a work-related context.
- Communicate the results of their work/study accurately and reliably, and with structured and coherent arguments.
- Undertake further training and develop new skills within a structured and managed environment.
And will have:
- Qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment requiring the exercise of some personal responsibility.
The Course Team
PetraBillings BSc (Hons), Ph.D. Course Leader, Module Leader for Landscape
Assessment, Soil Science, Botany, Field Biology Skills, Ecology, Ecological MethodsWork Placements 1 & 2, Countryside Law, Teaching Field Studies, Field Trip, Contemporary Study, Habitat Management Plan, Final Project, Career Development, National Vegetation Classification, Managing Volunteers
Paul Atkins, BA(Hons) Module Leader for Habitat Management
Jon Cornford, Module Leader for Interpreting the Environment, Estate Machinery
Ken Duckett BA (Hons), Module Leader for Business Management, Project Management
Phill Hart, Module leader for Conservation Grazing
Linda Mitchell BA (Hons), Development Tutor
Rae Notman, Module Leader for Agriculture & the Environment
Martin Ray, Module Leader for Estate Skills
Jenny Watkins, BSc (Hons), PhD, Module Leader for Wildlife Conservation, Behavioural
Ecology,Statistics
Kevin Warwick PhD, Module Leader for, Sustainable Forestry, Woodland Ecology
Equipment/material requirements
Students are expected to arrive for all timetable commitments promptly and equipped appropriately.
Students should note that it is a requirement that appropriate clothing is worn for all practical activities. In particular:
- Laboratory coats for all laboratory practicals
- Overalls and safety boots for all Estate Skills & Estate Machinery practicals
Students who do not attend appropriately dressed will not be allowed to participate in these activities.
For classroom-based sessions, the following equipment is the norm: file, paper, pens, pencil, ruler, eraser, calculator, prior notes for the topic.
Previous experience has shown that notes can become confused/disorganised if not managed correctly. To avoid this problem, and aid easier revision, it is advisable to head all notes week by week in the same manner for example:
Lecturer’s InitialsSubjectDate
PBEcology12/03/06
A system is particularly useful if files get broken, as notes can be replaced in subject and chronological order.
Timetable
Your timetable will be fully explained to you by your course tutor during your first session with them in Induction Week. You will have a new timetable for Semester 2, which begins after the Reading Weeks.
It is essential that you attend each timetabled session on time. If for any reason you are unable to attend any session, it is your responsibility to inform the member of staff in charge where you are, and why you are unable to attend. This can be through reception or personal contact with the module or development tutors.
Students will also be required to attend for the following college events.This is non negotiable and it is the student’s responsibility to ensure their attendance.
a)Open Day - all students
b)Prizegiving in year of graduation
Course Structure
The course is offered over a two-year period on a full-time basis. Each year is split into two semestersand the modules offered in each semester are shown in the following table. Modules given in bold are compulsory, and the others are options.
Students must achieve a minimum of 240 credits overall, including at least 120 credits at Level 2. By the end of Year 1, students will have a minimum of 120 credits at Level 1. At this stage they may opt to accept the Foundation Certificate as an exit award. This award is offered at Pass level.
Part-time study
Part-time students can take up to 6 years to complete the course, though normally they will take 3 or 4 years, depending on the amount of time and hence number of modules they are able to attend each semester. It may be possible to APA or credit some modules if you can provide evidence that you can meet their outcomes. Check your general handbook for details of the procedure for APA. Also, some modules can be taken on a self-study basis which will further reduce the number of taught modules required. Check the module descriptions on StudentCentral to find out which modules this applies to.
Progression
In addition to fulfilling the vocational and educational needs of many learners, this foundation degree programme also provides a progression route to other qualifications. Students can progress to Level 2 or Level 3 of an appropriate honours degree subject to achievement of the learning outcomes required for that programme. Graduates of the Foundation Degree in Countryside Management will normally progress either to BSc (Hons) Biological Science, BSc (Hons) Ecology and Biogeography or BSc (Hons) Environmental Science.
Level 1 / Status* / Module Title / Semester / CreditsPL110 / C / Botany / 1 / 10
PL103 / C / Business Management / 1 / 10
PL121 / C / Estate Machinery / 1 / 10
PZ105 / C / Estate Skills / 1 / 10
PZ100 / C / Landscape Assessment / 1 / 10
PL109 / C / Soil Science / 1 / 10
PZ102 / C / Ecological Methods / 2 / 10
PL118 / C / Ecology / 2 / 10
PZ104 / C / Field Biology Skills / 2 / 20
PZ101 / C / Interpreting the Environment / 2 / 10
PL102 / C / Work placement 1 / 1 & 2 / 10
Level 2
PQ214 / C / Agriculture and Environment / 2 / 10
PZ201 / C / Countryside Law / 3 / 10
PZ200 / C / Habitat Management / 3 / 20
PL204 / C / Level 2 Project / 3 & 4 / 20
PZ205 / O / Contemporary Study / 3 or 4 / 10
PZ203 / O / Field Trip / 3 or 4 / 10
PZ204 / O / Game Management / 3 / 10
PZ209 / O / Managing Volunteers / 3 & 4 / 10
PL203 / O / Statistics / 3 / 10
PL205 / O / Career Development / 3 & 4 / 10
PZ202 / O / Teaching Field Studies / 3 / 10
PL206 / O / Work Placement 2 / 3 & 4 / 10
BY213 / O / Evolutionary & Behavioural Ecology / 3 / 10
PZ207 / C / Habitat Management Plan / 4 / 10
PX230 / O / Behavioural Ecology / 4 / 10
PZ208 / O / Conservation Grazing / 4 / 10
BY230 / O / Ecological Processes 2 / 4 / 10
BY216 / O / Evolutionary Ecology / 4 / 10
PZ206 / O / National Vegetation Classification / 4 / 10
PL207 / O / Project Management / 4 / 10
PF242 / O / Sustainable Forestry / 4 / 10
PX222 / O / Wildlife Conservation / 4 / 20
GY271 / O / Geographical Information Systems 1 / 4 / 10
PF235 / O / Woodland Ecology / 4 / 10
C = Compulsory O = Optional
Brief descriptions of the modules are given below. See StudentCentral for further details.
Level 1: Compulsory (no options at this level)
Botany
This module aims to give students a good understanding of plant anatomy, plant processes, and plant growth. It provides an essential background for all subject areas that are based on plant cultivation or the selection of plants for different sites including Agriculture, Arboriculture, Countryside Management, Forestry, Garden Design, Viticulture. The module is delivered through a combination of lectures (approximately 50%) and laboratory-based experiments and microscope studies of plant structure (approximately 50%).
Business Management
The purpose of this module is to provide students with the opportunity to bring together and develop business management techniques and understanding. Students will be able to investigate and apply the understanding of the need to review and evaluate the resources of a business in order to create, seek and develop new business opportunities. The module will also provide students with the skills necessary to develop their own businesses and careers. The module is delivered through a combination of lectures, seminars and class activities. If appropriate and available, industrial visits and guest speakers will be utilised.
Ecological Methods
This module provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake scientific ecological investigations. It includes field methods as well as data analysis and report-writing. This module will be delivered through a combination of lectures/computer workshop sessions and fieldwork.
Ecology
This module aims to provide a basic knowledge and understanding of the relationships between animals and plants and their environment. It has relevance and applications to a range of land-based disciplines and will give students an understanding of the rationale behind operations carried out in Countryside Management, Forestry, Arboriculture, Garden Design and Viticulture. This module is delivered through a combination of lectures, workshops and fieldwork.
Estate Machinery
This module will equip students with the skills and knowledge to safely operate chainsaws and brushcutters. The safe and efficient operation of this machinery will be carried in the appropriate situations. This module will be delivered through practical training sessions and workshop activities.
Estate Skills
This module aims to equip students with the basic practical skills used in countryside management. Students will survey a given area within the estate and agree a maintenance plan. They will then work in groups to implement the plan and develop a range of relevant practical skills. The module is delivered through practical sessions focusing on work-related estate tasks.
Field Biology Skills
Field biology skills underpin all habitat management activities from simple recognition of habitat types to planning species or habitat management, or interpretive activities. In this module you will learn to identify a wide range of plant and animal groups, with the emphasis on flowering plants. You will be allocated an area of the estate to survey and will write a detailed report on the wildlife in your study area. The module is delivered through a combination of lectures and fieldwork, the emphasis being on the fieldwork.
Interpreting the Environment
Environmental interpretation is an important part of visitor management at nature conservation sites. It also helps to develop an understanding of the need for sustainable management of the environment. This module aims to give the student first-hand experience of interpreting the environment, through observation of environmental activities carried out with children, then through the development of the student’s own selected activity. This may be a guided walk, a nature trail or other environmental activities.
This module is delivered through observation of interpretive and educational activities with visiting school groups and active participation in selected activities supported by lectures and workshops on interpretive techniques.
Landscape Assessment
This module provides the student with a basic understanding of the processes involved in landscape development including geological processes and impacts of prehistoric communities. Students will learn the skills of landscape assessment as the basis for planning land management.
This module will be delivered through a combination of lectures and associated field visits. Also students will be expected to carry out fieldwork in their own time and to undertake research from various sources including books, the Internet and the local records office.
Soil Science
To understand the requirements of plant production, whether in viticulture, agriculture, arboriculture or horticulture, or why certain plants prefer certain soils, it is essential to understand the basics of soil science. In this module you will learn why and how soil properties vary and will carry out practical methods of soil analysis. This module will be delivered through a combination of lectures, fieldwork and laboratory work.
Work Placement 1
This module will enable the student to gain a general overview of the scale and structure of the industry surrounding their field of study. It will also motivate the learner and encourage the development of personal qualities and work skills, which will assist them in gaining employment.
With guidance from tutors, students will prepare and plan the period of work experience or work-related project. The student will then complete the work experience and assess their performance and the value of the placement or project towards their chosen career path as a written report.
Level 2:Compulsory
Agriculture and the Environment
As a large proportion of south-east England is farmland, it is important to understand the effects of agriculture on the wider landscape and on biodiversity. This module aims to give you a broad understanding of farming practices and policies and of how good conservation practice can be integrated into farming practice. The module is delivered through a combination of formal lectures, workshops and farm visits.
Countryside Law
This module will provide the student with an understanding of the legal framework within which countryside management, in particular rights of way management, is carried out in the UK. Land-use activities sometimes conflict with each other, particularly on rights of way and access issues, and it is important for the student to be able to deal appropriately with such situations. The module will also cover UK conservation organizations and protected area designations. The module is delivered through a combination of formal lectures, workshops and role play, with guest lecturers on rights of way and the planning system.