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Horticulture or landscape construction operative - Landscape construction operative

Horticulture or landscape construction operative - Landscape construction operative

Agriculture, environmental and animal care

Level 2 - Technical Occupation

Building and managing parks, greenspaces and other areas.

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Reference: OCC0225B

Status: assignment_turned_inApproved occupation

Average (median) salary: £25,974 per year

SOC 2020 code: 5113 Gardeners and landscape gardeners

SOC 2020 sub unit groups:

  • 5113/04 Landscape gardeners
  • 5113/99 Gardeners and landscape gardeners n.e.c.

Technical Education Products

ST0225:

Horticulture or landscape construction operative - Landscape construction operative

(Level 2)

Approved for delivery
  • Career Starter Apprenticeship

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Association of Professional Landscapers (APL), British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), City of London, Continental Landscapes Ltd, English Heritage, Glendale Managed Services, Ground Control, Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme, Holland Landscapes, Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance, National Trust, idverde, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Royal Horticultural Society, Scarborough Borough Council, Wildlife Gardening Forum

Summary

This occupation is found in a wide range of outdoor spaces with horticultural spaces including public parks and gardens, green spaces, schools, tourist attractions, business and retail parks, historic gardens, private gardens, and estates. Some organisations own the horticultural space such as public gardens and private estates. Some will work on a variety of spaces belonging to other people such as domestic gardens, construction sites, retail and business parks. Employers may be charities, commercial businesses or governmental organisations and range in size from micro businesses through to large employers. Many organisations will be specialised in their activities, such as grounds maintenance or landscape construction.

The broad purpose of the occupation is to undertake practical operations required to create and maintain horticultural spaces. This includes both the soft aspects (plants and soil) and the hard elements (surfaces, features and structures). Some will carry out the full range of operations from landscape construction through to maintenance, although the majority will focus on one specialism due to the breadth of skills required. Horticultural specialists maintain soft and hard elements of the space. This will include planting and maintenance activities. Landscape construction specialists will install landscapes including building hard surfaces, structures and features and planting.  This will include planting and maintenance activities. Horticulture or landscape construction operatives frequently work outdoors year-round and in all weathers. They sometimes work at heights for example pruning taller plants and hedges. Horticulture or landscape operatives will require qualifications and or training to undertake activities such as use of machinery.

In their daily work, an employee in this occupation interacts with supervisors and colleagues. Depending upon the employer they will interact with clients, members of the public, other trades and landowners.

An employee in this occupation will be responsible for 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. Horticulture or landscape operatives are responsible for checking their tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) are maintained and safe to use. They report to supervisors, team leaders, head gardeners or clients.

Employers involved in creating the standard:

Association of Professional Landscapers (APL), British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), City of London, Continental Landscapes Ltd, English Heritage, Glendale Managed Services, Ground Control, Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme, Holland Landscapes, Horticultural Trades Association (HTA), John O’Conner Grounds Maintenance, National Trust, idverde, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Royal Horticultural Society, Scarborough Borough Council, Wildlife Gardening Forum

Typical job titles include:

Gardenereco
Grounds maintenance operativeeco
Horticulturalisteco
Landscapereco

Keywords:

Construction
Environment
Forestry
Gardens
Horticulture
Landscape

Knowledge, skills and behaviours (KSBs)

K1: (Core) Importance and application of health and safety legislation, codes of practice and policies including risk assessment, manual handling, use and storage of pesticides and hazards associated with horticultural environment.
K2: (Core) Concepts of good environmental and sustainable good practice, including a basic understanding of how to contribute to government-led sustainability and zero carbon targets.
K3: (Core) Environmental controls and compliance with regulations including pollution control, waste reduction, management and recycling.
K4: (Core) Situations where special care should be taken including where heritage, environmental or planning designations may be present. The importance of complying with rules in place to protect the site.
K5: (Core) Maintenance, operational requirements, pre start checks and legislation for tools, equipment and machinery including operator competence requirements.
K6: (Core) The importance of maintaining records in a business setting.
K7: (Core) Techniques for communicating with technical and non-technical audiences and the importance of effective communication in the workplace with colleagues, customers and the public. The value of effective and timely communication in customer care.
K8: (Core) Methods to identify plants and their limitations including the importance and role of scientific names and terminology.
K9: (Core) Main introduction routes for plant pests and diseases.
K10: (Core) The importance of controlling invasive species including identification features, environmental impacts and legislation and actions that should be taken if present (includes invasive plants, pests and diseases).
K11: (Core) Biosecurity and phytosanitary measures and why they are important.
K12: (Core) Sources of information on plant pests and diseases, their control measures and actions required if listed as notifiable by Government.
K13: (Core) Plant biology and implications for plant health and growth, including plant structures and their adaptations, lifecycles, germination, photosynthesis, respiration, transpiration and requirements.
K14: (Core) Impact of environmental conditions on plant growth and how this affects plant care.
K15: (Core) Soil science including soil formation, characteristics, texture and components, biological processes and their impact on plant growth.
K16: (Core) Soil management practices, when and why to cultivate and when to use other methods. Techniques to achieve tilth, levelling, aeration, drainage, level, pH, nutrient levels. Implications of site types, end use and finish to include fertilisers, soil amelioration, mulches.
K17: (Core) Techniques for clearing sites and controlling weeds including identification and reasons for removal, techniques for control (including chemical) and situations for use.
K18: (Core) Impact of pruning on the plant and the importance of placing pruning cuts correctly.
K19: (Core) Planting techniques for shrubs and trees (using a simple tree pit including support and protection), storage and handling of containerised and bare root plant material and impact of poor storage and planting practice.
K20: (Core) Techniques and tools for maintaining turf including quality standards.
K21: (Core) Types of turf, their characteristics and methods for installing.
K22: (Core) Reasons for maintaining or protecting hard landscape features, maintenance specifications and maintenance techniques including suitability to different situations.
K23: (Core) Role of business policies, vision and values. Workers’ contribution to earning profit and or awareness of implications of actions on business (for example work rate). How project management informs a team to achieve objectives.
K24: (Core) The importance and benefits of green-space and the types of quality standards appropriate to different businesses and horticultural sites.
K32: (Landscape construction) Importance of identification of services, utilities and site hazards. Techniques and tools for measuring and setting out sites for landscape construction. The principles in defining site levels using manual or electrical equipment.
K33: (Landscape construction) Safety and practical considerations when using abrasive wheels.
K34: (Landscape construction) Landscaping materials, their application, uses, maintenance implications, environmental impact, benefits and disadvantages.
K35: (Landscape construction) Indicators that constructed structures require repair and techniques for correcting common problems. Importance of repairs for longevity and aesthetics.
K36: (Landscape construction) Techniques for paving, including setting levels, sub bases, laying bases, finishing.
K37: (Landscape construction) Techniques for constructing vertical landscape features including foundations, fences, brick laying and walls.
K38: (Landscape construction) Purpose of drainage systems including methods for installation.
K39: (Landscape construction) Techniques for constructing horizontal landscape features (excluding paving).

S1: (Core) Apply health and safety processes and procedures including risk assessments and or construction design management (CDM), manual handling, legislative requirements and organisational policies. Follow safe systems of work and safety information in line with employer requirements or site context (for example clearing their route before transporting materials).
S2: (Core) Apply environmental mitigation measures including storage and disposal of waste, for example sorting materials for recycling or composting, acting in compliance with legal requirements, organisational policies and pollution controls.
S3: (Core) Select, undertake a pre start check, set up, clean, store and safely operate tools, equipment and machinery (including pedestrian controlled and handheld) in line with current legislation and business policies.
S4: (Core) Communicate with technical (for example supervisors or managers) and non-technical audiences (for example clients or the public) using language appropriate to the audience.
S5: (Core) Identify plants commonly grown in the UK by scientific names including genus species and or cultivar.
S6: (Core) Maintain the correct phytosanitary and bio-security procedures for the site, in accordance with legal requirements.
S7: (Core) Identify and report symptoms and or signs of commonly found UK plant pests, pathogens and disorders.
S8: (Core) Maintain plant health for example providing for basic needs such as water, nutrition (either organic or inorganic), light.
S9: (Core) Cultivate, improve and preserve soils by mechanical methods and or by hand including amelioration and mulching (these might be imported or natural).
S10: (Core) Clear unwanted vegetation, selecting techniques to be used (for example weeding).
S11: (Core) Remove unwanted or damaged growth from plants using a pruning cut.
S12: (Core) Plant shrubs and a tree using a simple tree pit.
S13: (Core) Install turf for situation.
S14: (Core) Mow turf using pedestrian controlled powered driven mower.
S15: (Core) Maintain or protect hard surfaces, features or structures for example painting, re-gravelling, removing weeds from paving, drain clearance, cleaning.
S16: (Core) Use digital tools and techniques for research, collaboration, continuous professional development and resolution of problems.
S24: (Landscape construction) Measure and set out an uncomplicated site in preparation for landscape construction activities.
S25: (Landscape construction) Use free hand cutting and or bench cutting of hard landscape materials using abrasive wheels.
S26: (Landscape construction) Repair constructed landscape features (simple and noncomplex) for example re-grouting, re-sanding, damaged fencing.
S27: (Landscape construction) Construct paved feature for example path, patio or shed base. Including setting levels, sub bases, laying bases, finishing.
S28: (Landscape construction) Construct vertical landscape features including fences, ornamental vertical features, and walls.
S29: (Landscape construction) Install drainage in landscaping.
S30: (Landscape construction) Construct horizontal landscape features (excluding paving).

B1: Puts safety first for themselves and others.
B2: Respectful of others including customer care.
B3: Sources solutions and seeks to continuously improve and develop.
B4: Takes pride in and ownership of work.
B5: Team focused and works effectively with colleagues and others.

Duties

Duty D1

Comply with health and safety legislation, industry guidance and organisational policies.

Duty D2

Carry out operations to minimise the adverse environmental impact (including pollution control) in line with legislation, industry guidance and organisational policies.

Duty D3

Operate or use tools equipment and machinery.

Duty D4

Process waste from horticultural activities.

Duty D5

Record keeping including digital records and written.

Duty D6

Communicate with supervisor, colleagues, public and others.

Duty D7

Comply with biosecurity and invasive species legislation, industry guidance and organisational policies.

Duty D8

Maintain plant health including pests, pathogens and disorders.

Duty D9

Prepare site for planting, carry out planting and provide appropriate care to plants during and immediately after planting.

Duty D10

Control vegetation including site clearance, weed management, pruning and basic turf management.

Duty D11

Install soft landscape materials for example shrubs, trees, turf and seeds.

Duty D12

Maintain hard surfaces, features or structures.

Duty D13

Works to support the business and wider teams.

Duty D17

Prepare site for landscape construction activities including measuring and setting out site.

Duty D18

Construct hard landscape surfaces, structures and features for example paths, patios, decking.

Duty D19

Assess and repair hard structures or take appropriate other action.