Landscape Skills
Setting Out and Levels / Site Prep & Basework / Brickwork / Paving / Pruning / Plant Identification / Turf Maintenance
Setting Out and Levels
COURSE OBJECTIVES
To enable course members to:
understand the use of scale
understand basic geometry
set out basic shapes and contours to scale
make basic calculations for area and volume
carry out a simple survey to produce a simple ground plan
This is a fundamental course designed for any ground staff and new operators. An LTG certificate of attendance is awarded upon completion of the course.
Duration: One day: 6 hours
Max: 1:8 Min: 1:4
Course Content
Introduction
Scale
Measuring
Setting out - regular shapes
Setting out - irregular shapes
Basic survey
Final session
Venue Requirements
Warm well lit room with adequate tables and chairs. Covered work area and water supply. Washroom/toilet facilities.
Participants will be asked to provide:
Pens/pencils
Suitable clothing for working outdoors
Dumpey or Cowley level
Scale rule
Setting out pegs
Line
Straight edge
Spirit level (min 1m length)
100m nylon measuring tape
30m tape x 3
Whiteboard and markers
Pins
Marker spray paint
Site Prep & Basework
COURSE OBJECTIVES
To enable course members to:
state the reasoning for good preparation
interpret and use scale drawings
understand site safety/underground hazards/services
understand the variations in basework for different purposes
This is a fundamental course designed for any ground staff up to foreman level. An LTG certificate of attendance is awarded upon completion of the course.
Duration One day: 6 hours
Max: 1:8 Min: 1:4
Course Content
Introduction
Site Safety
Plan interpretation
Site preparation - practical
Bases and foundations
Practical
Protection of bases and foundations
Final session
Venue Requirements
Warm well lit room with adequate tables and chairs. Access to site for excavation and preparation. Washroom/toilet facilities.
Brickwork
The course below outlines our basic and most poular brickwork course, however there are other options for more experienced landscapers and there is an option of a two day course for beginners to give them more time to practice their newly learned skills.
Intermediate Brickwork covers different bonding techniques, copings and cappings. Advanced Brickwork is shown below.
BASIC BRICKWORK
COURSE OBJECTIVES
To enable course members to:
understand the manufacture and types of bricks
use and select appropriate materials
set out and erect low walls using stretcher bond including straight run, return, pier
This is a fundamental course designed for any ground staff and self-employed persons interested in brickwork. An LTG certificate of attendance is awarded upon completion of the course.
Duration One day: 6 hours
Max: 1:8 Min: 1:4
Course Content
Introduction
Bricks
Mortar
Bonds
Practical
Jointing
Protection of brickwork
Final session
Trainees will be asked to bring
adequate hand tools/materials,
and possibly bricks, blocks and sand cement if not available at the venue.
Venue Requirements
Warm well lit room with adequate tables and chairs. Covered work area and water supply. Washroom/toilet facilities.
ADVANCED BRICKWORK
COURSE OBJECTIVES
To enable course members to:
Correctly select and make use of a broad range of materials
Set out and erect spiral pillar, arch, or ornamental panel
Improve brickwork skills and advance their knowledge of techniques
Experience and practice using a range of materials
Perfect pointing and finishing skills
This is not a course for novices; staff should already be experienced with basic brickwork techniques and able to work at a good pace. For staff wishing to enhance their existing skills.
The content may be altered to suit specific requirements.
Duration One day: 6 hours run as a workshop with PRACTICAL emphasis
This course goes beyond requirements for Hard Landscape NVQ Level 2.
Max: 1:8 Min: 1:4
Course Content
Introduction
Discussion
Previous experience
Personal aims and objectives
Advanced brickwork techniques & application
Panels
Shapes
Pillars
Arches
Other (if time)
Practical
Final session
Trainees will be asked to bring
adequate hand tools/materials, a form if the trainee wants to build an arch,
and possibly bricks, blocks and sand cement if not available at the venue.
Paving
COURSE OBJECTIVES
To enable course members to:
understand the range of materials
understand the range of uses for paving
understand the components for paved areas
interpret simple plans
install paving (pre-cast slabs or blocks) using safe practices
This is a fundamental course designed for any ground staff and all persons interested in practical paving. The basic preparations for surface finishes will have been made, so ideally the trainee will already have attended the course ‘Site Preparation and Basework’.An LTG certificate of attendance is awarded upon completion of the course.
Duration One Day: 6 hours
Max: 1:8 Min: 1:4
Course Content
Introduction
Types of paving
Methods for laying paving
Setting out/patterns
Practical
Jointing/sand filling
Site clearance
Final session
Trainees wil be asked to bring
pens/pencils
lined writing paper
Venue
Warm well lit room with adequate tables and chairs. Covered work area and water supply. Washroom/toilet facilities.
Paviors, blocks, setts etc, and sand, ballast, cement.
Adequate hand tools/materials,
Paving Handouts from manufacturers
Pruning
COURSE OBJECTIVES
To enable course members to:
state the reasons for pruning
understand the relevant aspects of plant anatomy/growth
select and use safely the appropriate hand tools
carry out basic pruning to a range of trees and shrubs
This course will benefit ground staff and all persons interested in tree and shrub pruning. An LTG certificate of attendance is awarded upon completion of the course.
Duration One day
Max: 1:6 Min: 1:3
Course Content
Introduction
Plant growth/characteristics
Timing of pruning
Pruning trees/shrubs of different types
Final session
Trainees will be asked to bring
Secateurs and other pruning equipment, eg saws
Venue Requirements
Warm, well lit room with adequate tables and chairs.
Close to site with a good range of plants for practical pruning, (small trees, shrubs & climbers) Washroom/toilet facilities.
Plant Identification
COURSE OBJECTIVES
To enable course members to:
appreciate the need for plant identification
understand the features of plants
compile profiles of plants
be able to discuss plants on site
understand the diversity of plants and their requirements
compile lists of plants for specific purposes
understand the need for careful plant selection/choice
understand appropriate plant associations
This is a fundamental course, which will benefit new staff and established operators. An LTG certificate of attendance is awarded upon completion of the course.
Duration One day
Max: 8 Min: 3
Course Content
Introduction
Plant botany
Important families
Plant groups by usage
Collection of specimens and profiling
Poisonous plants and chemical controls
General plant knowledge & garden planning
Final session
Turf Maintenance
COURSE OBJECTIVES
To enable course members to:
state the basic needs for good turf growth
carry out the basic turf maintenance tasks
carry out basic turf repair operations
Who is the Course For?
This course will benefit ground staff and all persons interested in turf care.
Duration/Format One day
Instructor/Trainee Ratio Max: 1:8 Min: 1:3
Course Content
Introduction
Basic needs of turf - the requirements for good growth
Practical maintenance - scarifying, aerating, fertilizing
Turf repair
Weeds, pests and diseases
Final session
Facilities/Equipment required:
Trainees may be asked to provide some of the following depending on the venue -
Cylinder mower
Scarifier, Spiker
Wheelbarrows, Shovels
Trulutes, Besoms
Measuring tapes, Lines
Edging irons, Turfing irons
Straight edges
Top dressing 1m3
Scales
Fertiliser, 1 bag
Spreader
Polythene
Venue
Warm, well lit room with adequate tables and chairs. Close to area of turf for maintenance.
Materials: turf, seed
Suitable area of fine turf, e.g. bowling green
Washroom/toilet facilities.