Pick the Countryside Conservation Skills Pathway if you want to work outdoors, exploring woodland management & rural craft skills, with the emphasis on ‘learning while doing’ using woodlands around our site.

Our primary professional partner who will lead all lessons on this pathway is Mr James Mitchell, an experienced woodsman with a wealth of experience in managing rural locations, especially forestry areas.

Countryside Conservation Skills is a Level 2 Pathway that students start in Year 10 and complete in Year 11.  Students can start to apply for a place on the course when they pick their Options during Year 9.

For local links in this Pathway, we continue to build on our relationships with the Woodland Trust, our local National Parks and associated Estates, sawmills, and renewable energy companies.  We also invite guest specialists to share traditional rural craft skills such as dry-stone walling.

Plus points for Countryside Conservation Skills include – practical project-based learning in the School Woodland, eg ‘hands on’ projects such as traditional fencing, steps & footpaths, as well as learning traditional rural craft skills – complemented with a holistic approach to learning and personal development – promoting wellbeing, healthy eating and physical activity.  The course also addresses current thinking in conservation, environmental and sustainable issues.

In terms of future directions, this Pathway leads into a variety of career options in areas such as Environment and Forestry Management, Farming and Landscape Conservation, Horticulture, Landscape Design & Build and Rural Craft Skills.