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Countryside Studies (Land & Wildlife)

Want to work outdoors as a Ranger, Wildlife Conservation Officer, Woodland Manager or Gamekeeper? This course will allow you to develop the specific technical and professional skills that you will need to start your career in the land and wildlife industry or progress to University.

Based on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, our rural College campus will give you access to estates, national parks and leisure facilities through our extensive and well-established employer links. Our facilities include horticulture greenhouses, ATV’s, drystone walling centre and machinery workshops. You will explore a wide range of industry areas including countryside management, environmental conservation, game and fisheries.

Our expert tutors have experience of working with the National Trust, the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Skipton in Bloom and Harrogate Flower Show. With their knowledge and contacts, you will be able to visit relevant exhibitions and demonstration grounds as well as gaining inspiration from guest speakers from a variety of agriculture, countryside and environmental sectors.

In addition to work placements, your programme of study may include additional qualifications such as Brushwood Cutter Usage, Dry Stone Walling and ATV Handling. All our Level 3 students have the opportunity to gain additional qualifications such as Pesticide Application and Chainsaw.

If you are aged between 19-24 and currently do not have a Level 2 or Level 3 qualification, you could receive funding for this course. Speak to our Admissions team for further details when making your application.

Auction Mart
Study Location
1-2 Years
depending on Level
How your qualification is made up

Entry Requirements

  • Level 3 – 5 GCSEs grade 9-4 or equivalent including English & maths
  • Level 2 – 4 GCSEs grade 9-3 or equivalent including English & maths
  • Level 1 – 3 GCSEs 9-1 including English & maths

What you will study

See ‘Access to FE’ course for further details on the Level 1 course

  • Countryside Estate Maintenance
  • Habitat Maintenance
  • Introduction to Game Management
  • Land-Based Machinery Operations
  • Countryside Work Placement
  • Introduction to Plant and Soil Science
  • Introduction to Working in Land-based Industries
  • Principles of Health & Safety
  • Work-related Experience
  • Land-based Industries Machinery Operations
  • Population Surveys, Ecology & Conservation
  • Countryside Recreation
  • Undertake Estate Skills
  • Farm Habitat Management
  • Heathland Habitat Management
  • Working Dogs
  • Undertake a Specialist Project in the Land-based Sector
  • Urban Habitat Conservation
  • Aquatics Welfare & Breed Development Remove
  • Principles of Physical & Biological Environmental Processes
  • Woodland Habitat Management
  • Ecological Concepts & Application
  • Environmental Interpretation in the Land-based Sector
  • Fresh Water & Wetland Management
  • Principles of Tree Felling and Chainsaw Use
  • Plant & Soil Science

What's Next?

Further Study

  • Wildlife & Conservation Management FdSc

Careers

  • Conservation Woodland/Wildlife Officer
  • Forestry Officer
  • Countryside Ranger/Officer
  • Gamekeeper
Select your preferred study programme (subject). You can make 2 choices now and make a final decision in June. We will give you a conditional offer based on your predicted/actual GCSEs.
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