Horticulture Operative or Landscape Construction Operative

Course overview

Horticulture and Landscape Construction Operatives work in public parks and
gardens, green spaces and historic gardens, private gardens, estates, and
production nurseries and retail outlets.

Employers may be charities, commercial businesses or governmental
organisations and range in size from micro businesses through to large
employers. Many organisations will be specialised in their activities, such as
grounds maintenance or landscape construction.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to undertake practical operations
required to create and maintain horticultural spaces. This includes both the
soft aspects (plants and soil) and the hard elements (surfaces, features and
structures). Some will carry out the full range of operations from landscape
construction through to maintenance, although the majority will focus on one
specialism due to the breadth of skills required. Horticultural specialists
maintain soft and hard elements of the space. This will include planting and
maintenance activities. Landscape construction specialists will install
landscapes including building hard surfaces, structures and features and
planting.  This will include planting and maintenance activities. The
distinct nature of these two specialisms means this apprenticeship has two
specialist pathways available; horticulture or landscape construction.

Qualifications Awarded

• Apprenticeship Certificate


• Level 3 Award in Emergency First Aid at Work (both pathways)


• Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of Pesticides (horticulture pathway
  only)


• Level 2 Award in the Safe Application of Pesticides Using Pedestrian Hand
  Held Equipment (horticulture pathway only)


• Abrasive Wheel Machines Course (construction landscape pathway only)


• Level 1 in maths and English (if applicable)

Delivery model

• Attendance at Plumpton College’s Horticulture and Landscaping Centre one
  day week during term time (approx 32 full days a year) alongside quarterly
  workplace reviews and assessments.

End Point Assessment

• Professional discussion based on apprentice’s portfolio


• Online knowledge test


• Practical assessment

Modules

• Importance and application of health and safety legislation
• Codes of practice and policies, including risk assessment, manual handling etc
• Concepts of good environmental and sustainable good practices, including an understanding of how to contribute to government led sustainability and zero carbon targets
• Environmental controls and compliance with regulations including pollution control, waste reduction, management and recycling.
• Impact of environmental conditions on plant growth and health
• Soil science including soil formation, characteristics, texture and components, biological processes and their impact on plant growth.
• Situations where special care should be taken including where heritage, environmental or planning designations may be present. The importance of complying with rules in place to protect the site.
• Maintenance, operational requirements, pre start checks and legislation for tools, equipment and machinery including operator competence requirements.
• The importance of maintaining records in a business setting.
• Methods for idenitfying plants and plant biology
• Main introduction routes for plant pests and diseases
• Biosecurity and phytosanitary measures
• Techniques for clearing sites and controlling weeds including identification and reasons for removal, techniques for control (including chemical) and situations for use
• Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching
• Types of turf, installation of turf and mowing of turf
• Use of digital tools and techniques for research and collaboration
• Put safety first and customer care
• Role of business policies, vision and values
• How project management informs a team to achieve objectives

Horticulture pathway

• Propagate plants by cuttings and seed sowing (this might be indoors or outdoors). Including selection of suitable growing media and or soil
• Provide aftercare to recently installed turf and maintain established turf or species rich meadows including irrigation, maintenance, monitoring health and protection from use
• Identify if plants are suitable to site, purpose and aesthetics
• Maintain soft landscapes for example – staking or support, division, seasonal clearance, and re-planting
• Monitor and control plant pests, pathogens, and disorders using basic control methods (including application of chemicals or organic equivalents)Plant herbaceous and seasonal planting (for example bedding, herbs or bulbs)
• Prune plants to achieve healthy growth and form (including natural habit and formal or trained form)

Construction Landscape pathway

• Measure and set out an uncomplicated site in preparation for landscape construction activities
• Use free hand cutting and or bench cutting of hard landscape materials using abrasive wheels.
• Repair constructed landscape features (simple and noncomplex) for example re-grouting, re-sanding, damaged fencing
• Construct paved feature for example path, patio or shed base. Including setting levels, sub bases, laying bases, finishing
• Construct vertical landscape features including fences, ornamental vertical features, and wall
• Install drainage in landscaping
• Construct horizontal landscape features (excluding paving).