This intensive two week field course will introduce students to environmental fieldwork and management. Working with on-going projects, students will learn about the techniques and theoretical considerations involved in estate and countryside management including activities such as managing invasive species, maintaining rural tourism resources and ecological monitoring.

Course will run over two weeks. The first week will be a residential element and the second week will be based on campus.

None

Assessment

Work-based skills diary (60%) 2200 words (±10%)

Environmental fieldwork report (40%) 1800 words (±10%)

The aims of this course are to:

■ Develop appreciation for challenges in collecting and providing evidence to support countryside/estate management.

■ Provide students with an opportunity to gain practical experience in a variety of environmental fieldwork techniques including, for example, sampling of intertidal bivalve populations.

■ Evaluate the theoretical and practical constraints of environmental fieldwork.

■ Demonstrate the opportunities for a career in practical environmental-based employment.

■ Provide a forum for debate on the aims, objectives and practice of different types of environmental fieldwork.

■ Develop students' fieldwork, analytical and written skills.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Utilise a variety of practical field skills to achieve environmental/land management goals.

■ Identify a range of practical constraints related to working in challenging locations.

■ Document a range of practical and managerial skills required for a career in environmental field-based employment.

■ Evaluate current provisions for environmental management and provide plans for future improvements.

■ Design, conduct and analyse data related to environmental fieldwork, and write a structured scientific report.

■ Work as part of a team in delivering a joint project.