Certificate in Crop Protection – Amenity (Invasive & Injurious Weeds)

Course Outline

The Amenity Horticulture examination is divided into four parts, all of which must be passed:

1. 2 multiple choice question papers (core modules and specialist skill area)
2. Practical identification test (core and specialist module)
3. Simulated site exercise (specialist module)
4. Site station and panel viva (core and specialist module)

The examination (and course associated with it) has a number of central, core modules, all of which the candidate must pass, plus a more specialised module(s) for a skill area that the candidate (and their employers) must select prior to starting the course tuition.

To achieve the Basis Certificate in Crop Protection – Amenity Horticulture, the candidate must pass the core modules and at least one other (skill) module.

Course Content

1. Impact of amenity activities on biodiversity, the environment and water
2. Recognition, biology and control of weeds
3. Recognition, biology and control of pests
4. Recognition, biology and control of diseases
5. Composition, activity and persistence of pesticides
6. Application of pesticides
7. Safe use, handling, transport of pesticides

Skill area modules:

8. Hard surface areas
9. Amenity grass and sports turf areas:

• Golf courses
• Bowling greens
• Parks
• Garden areas
• Sports pitches
• Grassed areas around industrial areas
• Other amenity grass areas

10. Shrubs, borders and container plants

• Plant growth and development and plant propagation systems
• Recognition and causes of plant disorders

11. Invasive and Injurious weeds

Course content:

The Amenity Basis course covers amenity grass and sports turf areas. Hard surface areas are also covered on this course.

Hard surface areas (skill module, 8) shrubs, borders and container plants (Skill module, 10) and invasive and injurious weeds (skill module, 11) are separate courses that can be arranged, subject to demand.

Skill area Module 8 – Hard Surface Areas

Competence 

Develop an understanding of the maintenance of hard surface areas through the control of weeds, pests and diseases, with a knowledge of the economic and environmental implications of each option available.

Performance Criteria 

Candidates will be able to: 

• Understand the risks and problems caused by weeds on hard surfaces. 
• Understand which weeds are a problem; how they cause problems; how they proliferate and how best to control them. Particular emphasis should be given in tuition to: 

1. 1.  Japanese Knotweed 
   2.  Ragwort 
   3.  Giant Hogweed 
   4.  Brambles, Buddleia etc. 

• Develop a knowledge of types of hard surface area and the types of treatment required. 
• Develop an understanding of the options for controlling weeds in hard surface areas, with due consideration for safety, efficiency, economics and the environment.

Essential Knowledge & Skills

Candidates must have the ability to:

• Understand how best practice should be implemented for the different hard surface weed control options, having regard for operators, the public, site workers, wildlife and water safety.
• Explain the high priority to ensure water quality is maintained and understand which weed control practices must be avoided to ensure water is not polluted by weed control activities.
• Describe which pesticide options are permitted for use on hard surface areas; how they work; what doses should be used and where they may be used.
• Explain the importance of timing of the different weed control options and how that affects standards of control.
• Understand the different types of application equipment used for hard surface weed control, with particular regard to types of sprayer, their method of operation and how to calibrate and maintain equipment in good condition.
• Understand the various support schemes available to assist good working practices and how they are implemented e.g. National Sprayer Testing Scheme (NSTS) and the National Register of Sprayer Operators (NRoSO).
• Identify different weed, pest or disease situations on hard surfaces and recommend how best they should be dealt with, having regard for the biology of the problem; the safety of operators and the public; safety to water and the environment, and the economics of control.
• Understand how certain vertebrate pests can be problematic in hard surface areas or nearby, and how they can be controlled e.g. rabbits, moles, and squirrels.
• Understand the implications of actions taken to control weeds (and/or pests) in hard surface areas, with regard to biodiversity and the environment; how best they can be (at least) maintained and where possible enhanced.