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T Levels focus on vocational skills and can help students into skilled employment, higher study or apprenticeships. Each T Level includes an in-depth industry placement that lasts at least 45 days. Students get valuable experience in the workplace; employers get early sight of the new talent in their industry.
This occupation is found in forestry and land management. This includes governmental, non-governmental, private, public, charitable and local authority organisations in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland that have an interest in forestry and woodland creation and management. Landowning organisations or private estates may employ their own forest craftsperson(s) and or use contractors who employ forest craftspersons.
The broad purpose of the occupation is to carry out the practical operations required to create, maintain and harvest forests and woodlands. Most employers will specialise in either establishment and maintenance, or harvesting. Employees in both sub-sectors would be expected to be aware of the full range of forestry operations, and to understand the commercial, environmental and social impacts of forestry. Establishment and maintenance operatives will carry out the range of duties required to prepare the ground, plant trees and undertake ongoing maintenance, including weeding, beating up and pruning. Harvesting operatives will carry out the range of duties required to fell, process and extract trees and timber. This occupation works predominantly in either established forests, woodlands or on open land. They need to be able and willing to do practical work outdoors in all weathers. Forestry and woodland sites are often in remote locations and the ability to travel independently to access sites is advantageous.
In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with colleagues including land owners, team leaders or work supervisors, and forest craftspersons. They may need to communicate with members of the public and other land management operatives in the course of their work.
An employee in this occupation will be responsible for initiating and completing their own work to specification, with minimal supervision, ensuring they meet set deadlines. They are responsible for meeting quality requirements and working in accordance with legislation, environmental, health, safety and welfare considerations. They are accountable for the health and safety of themselves and others. They are expected to exercise responsibility, autonomy and judgement within limited parameters. They perform tasks that are complex and non-routine and may be in a variety of contexts. Forest operatives are responsible for checking their tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) are maintained and safe to use. They report to team leaders and or works supervisors.
| Duty | KSBs |
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Duty 1 Implement health and safety legislation, industry guidance and organisational policies, (for example erecting warning signs at entry points to a worksite.) |
K1 K7 K8 K11 K12 K14 K15 K16 K22 K23 |
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Duty 2 Implement biosecurity legislation, industry guidance and organisational policies, (for example disinfecting footwear, tools and equipment before entering, leaving and travelling between work sites.) |
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Duty 3 Implement pollution control in line with legislation, industry guidance and organisational policies, (for example positioning a spill-kit appropriately prior to refuelling a chainsaw.) |
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Duty 4 Plant trees |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K8 K9 K10 K12 K14 K15 K16 K19 |
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Duty 5 Clear vegetation (for example cleaning, brashing) |
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Duty 6 Measure and select trees for removal. |
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Duty 7 Fell small trees. |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K7 K9 K12 K14 K15 K16 |
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Duty 8 Maintain forest infrastructure, (for example repair a damaged deer fence.) |
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Duty 9 Operate and maintain forestry tools, equipment and machinery. |
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Duty 10 Monitor and control the impact of pests, diseases and disorders. |
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Duty 11 Maintain records including digital records and reports. |
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Duty 12 Communicate with supervisor, colleagues, public and others |
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Duty 13 Use geographical tools including Global Positioning Systems (GPS), maps and plans. |
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
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Duty 14 Manage vegetation (for example pruning and high pruning) |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K7 K9 K15 K16 K18 K19 K21 |
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Duty 15 Maintain trees (for example weeding and respacing.) |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K7 K8 K9 K12 K14 K15 K16 K20 K22 |
| Duty | KSBs |
|---|---|
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Duty 16 Measure and select trees for harvesting |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K5 K6 K10 K11 K13 K15 K23 K24
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Duty 17 Harvest trees and prepare timber for extraction |
K1 K2 K3 K4 K6 K12 K15 K16 K23 K24 |
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Duty 18 Extract timber |
K1: Health and safety legislation, codes of practice (including Forest Industry Safety Accord guidance) and policies, including risk assessment.
Back to Duty
K2: Biosecurity and environmental legislation, codes of practice and policies including pollution control.
Back to Duty
K3: Principles of silvicultural practice in the UK including those most commonly used, their application, and the UK Forestry Standard.
Back to Duty
K4: Methods to identify trees and woodland plants including botanical keys taking account of seasonality.
Back to Duty
K5: Plant and tree biology, physiology, lifecycles, growing conditions, landscape and timber properties.
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K6: Techniques for measuring standing trees.
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K7: Techniques for felling small trees and removing unwanted vegetation.
Back to Duty
K8: Techniques for planting, supporting and protecting trees and their suitability to different situations including site conditions.
Back to Duty
K9: Implications of tree establishment activities on the end product and impact on decision-making process.
Back to Duty
K10: Timber supply chain (for example timber markets and processing) and the actors within it including roles and responsibilities.
Back to Duty
K11: Maintenance requirements for forest infrastructure, for example boundaries and rides.
Back to Duty
K12: Maintenance, operational requirements and legislation for tools, equipment, machinery, vehicles and attachments.
Back to Duty
K13: Techniques for identification and control of tree pests, diseases and disorders, including impacts of pests and diseases on timber and the wider environment, and the principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Back to Duty
K14: The importance of maintaining records including digital records and reports.
Back to Duty
K15: Techniques for communicating with technical and non-technical audiences and the importance of effective communication in the workplace with colleagues, customers and the public.
Back to Duty
K16: Implications of changes in conditions, situations and working environments.
Back to Duty
K17: The importance of recording a portfolio of experience and learning to aid career progression.
Back to Duty
K18: The environmental, social and economic value of sustainable forest management.
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K19: Methods for storing, transporting and handling trees and importance for tree health and establishment.
Back to Duty
K20: (Establishment & maintenance) Techniques for protecting and maintaining plants after planting including purpose, timings and suitability to site conditions.
Back to Duty
K21: (Establishment & maintenance) Methods of managing and controlling unwanted vegetation throughout the life cycle of the tree(s).
Back to Duty
K22: (Establishment & maintenance) Methods for controlling vegetation or pests by chemical means (for example pesticides or organic equivalents).
Back to Duty
K23: (Harvesting) Harvesting and extraction systems including tree felling and the factors affecting the cost of bringing timber to market.
Back to Duty
K24: (Harvesting) Techniques for calculating timber in standing and felled trees.
Back to Duty
S1: Plan, implement, monitor and review health, safety and welfare of self and others, including creating risk assessments, legislative requirements and organisational policies.
Back to Duty
S2: Plan, implement, check and report environmental mitigation measures, including legal compliance, organisational policies and risk assessment.
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S3: Identify common forestry trees and woodland plants using scientific names.
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S4: Measure trees for assessment of timber volumes.
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S5: Identify and control unwanted vegetation including felling small trees using hand and motor manual tools.
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S6: Plant trees including providing support and protection.
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S7: Monitor and maintain forest and woodland infrastructure for example boundaries and rides.
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S8: Operate and maintain tools, equipment and machinery safely in line with legislation and manufacturers guidance, for example winches, chainsaws or tractors.
Back to Duty
S9: Monitor and control the impact of pests, diseases and disorders.
Back to Duty
S10: Maintain records including digital records and reports.
Back to Duty
S11: Communicate to technical and non-technical audiences including the use of verbal and written techniques.
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S12: Interpret maps, plans and Global Positioning Systems (GPS).
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S13: Store and dispose of waste in accordance with regulations, for example chemicals, organic and inorganic waste, pollution and biosecurity controls.
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S14: Load, unload and transport materials and equipment relative to the business.
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S15: Process information and communicate using digital technology for example emails, word processing software, video meeting software or applications for recording and sharing information.
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S16: Store and handle trees to minimise negative impacts and maximise establishment potential.
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S17: (Establishment & maintenance) Protect and maintain plants after planting including weeding, cleaning, re-spacing, beating up and application of products to prevent unwanted vegetation (for example mulch mat).
Back to Duty
S18: (Establishment & maintenance) Improve quality of tree crop, including brashing and formative pruning.
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S19: (Establishment & maintenance) Control vegetation or pests by chemical means (biocides or organic equivalents).
Back to Duty
S20: (Harvesting) Select trees for harvesting.
Back to Duty
S21: (Harvesting) Fell large trees motor-manually including use of assisted fell techniques.
Back to Duty
S22: (Harvesting) Use hand winches in forestry.
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S23: (Harvesting) Prepare timber for extraction including snedding, measuring, cross cutting and sorting timber to product specification.
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S24: (Harvesting) Calculate timber volumes using mensuration techniques.
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B1: Takes ownership of work including attention to detail, spatial awareness and stamina.
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B2: Team-focused and works effectively with colleagues and others.
Back to Duty
B3: Committed to keeping up to date with industry best practice and seeks to continuously improve and develop.
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B4: Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions.
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B5: Puts safety first for themselves and others.
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B6: Respectful of others and tailors communication to audience.
Back to Duty
Qualification type: T Level
Qualification level: 3
Awarding organisation: City & Guilds
Approval date: 01/06/2023
Available from: 01/09/2023
Occupational specialism: Tree and Woodland Management and Maintenance
ST0223 Arborist
ST1321 Forest craftsperson
Options: Forest establishment and maintenance craftsperson , Forest harvesting craftspersonCrown copyright © 2024. You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. Visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence