Hob&Jill 258 Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 I went to merrest wood last year to do FD countryside which I found ok. Glad I done it but I doubt I would do it again. It will be hard work for you going strait into the ND as there is alot of things to know, also alot of the other students will have done the first diploma and gained knoledge. Get revising on your tree species and latin names, it wil give you a good head start. atb, HJ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shepp 2,285 Posted August 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 Good luck in the course Cheers Mackem Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Molie1337 35 Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 Both me and my old man went to merrest wood, i did arboriculture (tree surgery) and my old man did (and still works in) countryside management, he loves it, gets out with the dog in the woods more than hes in the office anyway! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
craftycarper 0 Posted August 30, 2008 Report Share Posted August 30, 2008 wish i had stuck with the countryside management, worked on there in my teens with the local authority had some great times, it was a scheme at the time and i left and went onto to work in the parks dept running a local sports stadium athletics and football which i left years later due to council cutbacks, privatisation and the bringing in of bidding for contracts/tenders which in my mind is when local authorities fell to pieces, the quality and care of work went spirraling downhill. I got my phase 1 horticulture followed by two years of sports turf management, pesticide spraying module and a few other certs...as i said they were great times and a great bunch of people, but times a change and now i do what i do which is a world away from that scene, money is fairly good and it gives me plenty of time to pursue my hobbies. I have looked recently at a few jobs back in that line of work but the money is nowhere near as good as mine and the positions are far and few between, as much as i dislike my job, it pays the bills and for my little luxuries, animal feeds, guns and cars etc. Cost of living is getting incredibly expensive what with fuel costs and the so on, so i say good luck to you and keep at it if its really what you want.... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ratkilla 35 Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 If you are going to guildford college be prepared to be on a course with bunny lovers and more hippy type students than countryside folk. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mackem 27,406 Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 Better knit yourself a lentil-sweater then Shepp,to blend in I did my course years ago at Houghall agricultural college in county Durham,I never worked in the field(sic) afterwards though as there wasnt the money in it,and I wasnt the sort to labour for love Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hob&Jill 258 Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 If you are going to guildford college be prepared to be on a course with bunny lovers and more hippy type students than countryside folk. Thats very true.. I was hoping to meet other like minded people but most didnt even know what ferreting etc was. Saying that none were antis, alot of them thier got the grades but didnt really have a clue about the countryside or wildlife Quote Link to post Share on other sites
shepp 2,285 Posted August 31, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 If you are going to guildford college be prepared to be on a course with bunny lovers and more hippy type students than countryside folk. Thats very true.. I was hoping to meet other like minded people but most didnt even know what ferreting etc was. Saying that none were antis, alot of them thier got the grades but didnt really have a clue about the countryside or wildlife That was a concern of mine and I was hoping the hippies would go for the more conservation side of things. I'm not one to keep quiet so I could well be involved in a few arguments. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mattydski 560 Posted August 31, 2008 Report Share Posted August 31, 2008 I did a 4 year degree in Rural Environmental Management in 1990 at Silsoe College in Bedfordshire. I never managed even to get an interview in any related job, so went in to farming, then got made redundant, so went in to industry and engineering. Been there ever since. Hate working behind a desk 4/5 days a week, its like being in a cage. The problem then was whatever qualification you had, you still needed 2-3 years experience, but without experience you couldn't get the job. Viscious circle i'm afraid. Even did voluntary work. Still it pays the bills now, and buys nice toys, so cant complain I s'pose. If i had my time again, i would do aboriculture..... Matt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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