EV2802: WOODLAND CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT (2020-2021)

Course Aim:
To demonstrate various aspects of forest ecology, conservation and management in Great Britain.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course the students should:
1. appreciate the diverse functions of forests and trees
2. be familiar with some examples of forestry practice in the private and public sectors in Britain
3. be able to identify some common woodland plant species, including trees
4. be able to use simple ecological sampling techniques.

Course Content:
After a weekend visiting woodlands near Aberdeen we head south, spending four nights at Langdale Youth Hostel in the heart of the Lake District. The initial visits to woodlands in Aberdeenshire will introduce students to multi-functional forestry in both a state owned forest and one owned by the Woodland Trust. There will also be an introduction to tree identification.
In the Borders and the Lake District we visit more woodlands, including ancient semi-natural woodland, long established plantations and newly planted woodlands, in a range of ownerships. Several sites include conservation designations. The local forest managers will explain what the specific challenges of woodland management are on their sites and how they are met. Students are expected to enter into active discussion with these hosts.
A small proportion of the week is spent on tree identification and also identification of some other common woodland plants. Student will learn not just the different plant names, but what the key identification characteristic features are and how to use identification guides. These identification skills, rather than the tree and other plant names, are important transferrable skills that students should be able to use in the future in other woods both in Britain and in other parts of the world.

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

More Information about Week Numbers