BSc (Hons) - Woodland Ecology and Conservation

Year one

• Introduction to Managing Trees, Woods and Forests
  Provides students with a basic understanding of the history of forestry in the UK and worldwide, the underlying principles of soil and plant science and an overview of current practice of sustainable forest management to protect biodiversity, produce timber and other benefits to human society.
• Measuring Trees and Forests
  To learn to apply the standard methods of tree and woodland measurement used in British forestry.
• Silviculture
  Aims to give a grounding in silvicultural practice, to include a thorough and applied understanding of plantation, conservation and amenity woodland establishment and maintenance.
• Woodland Ecology
  Gives a broad introduction to ecology and ecological processes. Ecology, the study of interactions between organisms and with their environments, provides a theoretical and practical framework for managing and working with natural and semi-natural ecosystems, but also in managed landscapes.
• Forestry Fundamentals
  The aim of this module is to enable students to learn the key writing and presentation skills necessary to succeed in their studies and their future career.
• The Tree of Life
  The Tree of Life will introduce you to the incredible range of biodiversity on our planet, focusing on multicellular organisms such as fungi, lower plants, flowering plants, protists, invertebrate and vertebrate animals. You will develop an understanding of the taxonomical hierarchies and classifications that underpins the tree of life. You will study aspects of their anatomy and gain identification skills through practical sessions in the laboratory and the field. This module forms a useful base for other modules that you will go on to study at levels 5 and 6 of your programme as well as providing fundamental knowledge and skills that are appropriate in employment within various fields within natural resource management.
• Form and Function
  Form and Function introduces you to fundamental cell biology and the genetic, physiological, and morphological adaptations exhibited by organisms in a variety of habitats. You will learn about the structure and function of cells as the fundamental building blocks of life. You will investigate how fundamental components are integrated into physiological systems and how anatomical features have evolved to meet different physiological functions and how these need to be considered in wildlife conservation. Examples will draw on broad range of animals and plants, but also consider microbes and fungi.

Year two

• Ecological Census Techniques
  Ecological Census Techniques introduces you to the wide range of standard survey techniques commonly used in environmental impact assessments and ecological research across a broad range of taxa. It will introduce you to the equipment and methods necessary to conduct surveys and provide hands-on practice to improve your competency in survey skills and survey design. This experience will be essential for modules and projects later in your programme, and will develop the practical, personal, and academic skills required by graduates for careers in ecological or environmental consultancy, management, and research.
• Geographic Information Systems
  The aim of this module is to provide students with a sound understanding of the theory and application of GIS in a manner relevant to their field of study and potential future employment.
• Research Methods and Data Analysis
  Research Design and Data Analysis supports the development of your competencies undertaking research and analysing data. You will be guided though the research process, learning how to formulate research questions, critically evaluate published literature and develop suitable aims and objectives. You will learn how to collect data in a robust manner, with awareness of assumptions, context, process, and design. The module will also develop your ability to evaluate and apply a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods to describe, measure, analyse, discuss, and communicate these data. These skills will develop your competence in the planning and analytical skills required to complete an undergraduate honours dissertation research project at Level 6.
• Forest Policy and Governance
  Throughout the module, students will develop the knowledge and skills required to manage modern, sustainable, multipurpose forestry within the constraints of national and international legislative and policy frameworks.
• Forest Health and Protection
  The aim of this module is to enable students to identify, understand and manage the main biotic (pests and pathogens) and abiotic (nutrient and climate) factors that adversely affect trees and forests.
• Forests & People (Optional)
  Forests and woodlands in both the rural and urban environments have always played a wide and varied role for communities throughout our history, both as a physical resource to be exploited and also providing spaces for our mental and physical health and wellbeing.
• Valuing the Environment (Optional)
  Students will explore the concepts associated with valuing the environment including: natural capital, nature’s contribution to people and ecosystem services. You will critically evaluate these as frameworks for enabling people to “value” the environment.
• Environmental Change: Past Present Future (Optional)
  Explores the evidence for and forcing of past climate change through the Quaternary period, how this has impacted upon the landscape, and also the evolution of humans and society.
• Field Ecology and Wildlife Conservation (Optional)
  Field Ecology and Wildlife Conservation is a field-based module, delivered as a residential field trip in a national and/or international location rich in wildlife and of conservation importance. The module allows you to put your learning at Levels 4 and 5 into practice to address research questions about ecosystems and their conservation. It encourages you to extend theoretical and practical knowledge using data-driven approaches and accessing specialist literature. You will learn about local ecosystems and the interest groups that depend on them. You will collect data related to ecology and wildlife conservation to address a specific research question.

Year three

• Dissertation
  You will develop objectives for a self-selected business; evaluate in a structured way the impacts upon a business and plan the resources requires. You will learn to apply a range of business tools and how to write and present a business plan.
• Woodland Conservation
  Comparing the concept of conservation to those of ecology and sustainability. Examining how British Romanticism inspired by the English Lake District landscape contributed to the start of the conservation movement alongside with developments in the USA.
• Forest Plan
  Provides opportunity for students to engage in a systematic and integrated approach to objective-led forest management planning in accordance with the principles and criteria of sustainable forest management.
• Advanced Silviculture (Optional)
  Aims to develop further your understanding of silvicultural practices and their role in ensuring the productive and sustainable management of forests across a range of objectives in both temperate and tropical regions.
• Business Skills (Optional)
  You will develop objectives for a self-selected business; evaluate in a structured way the impacts upon a business and plan the resources requires. You will learn to apply a range of business tools and how to write and present a business plan.
• Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing (Optional)
  The aim of this module is to provide students with the skills and knowledge to plan and implement projects using GIS and remote sensing to solve issues in the fields of conservation and natural resources management.
• Climate Smart Forestry (Optional)
  To provide forest managers an overview of the causes and impacts of anthropogenic climate change and the adaptation strategies necessary and mitigation options available.
• Ecosystem Management (Optional)
  Ecosystem Management demonstrates how ecosystem management ideas have arisen from more traditional methods for management of wildlife and natural resources, reflecting our improved knowledge on the disturbance and resilience of ecological communities as interdependent components within a holistic environmental system. We will explore the intrinsic links between humans and nature, and focus on how interactions within and among ecosystems can inform policy and practice to sustain and restore ecological function.