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NPTC Award in Felling and Processing Small TreesApply Now »
Location: Broomfield Hall
Years: 1
Weeks: 1
Hours: 18.00
Start: Roll On Roll Off - Contact Us
Days / Times: Contact Us
Tuition (£): 330.00*
Exams (£): 140.00**
Interview: N
Course Summary
Current legislation states that all those required to undertake chainsaw felling operations on small trees (trees with a basal diameter of less than 380mm) must be appropriately trained and qualified. The training course offered by Derby College equips candidates to undertake an industry-compliant ‘Certificate of Competence’ assessment.
Entry requirements
You will need to be aged at least 18 and you must hold a ‘Certificate of Competence’ in the following units:
- Award in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-Cutting
Verification of this unit must be produced prior to the start of the course.
Course Content
The course will cover:
- An understanding of the legislation and health and safety requirements governing the undertaking of a tree felling operation
- The practical skills to undertake safe and efficient small tree felling operations, completing a range of different cuts for different scenarios
- The practical skills required for the safe and efficient removal of a ‘hung-up’ tree
- The practical skills required for the ‘break-down’ of a felled tree and its cross-cutting into specific timber lengths
How will I be assessed?
External assessment leading to certification should take place as soon as possible following the successful completion of the training course. NPTC assessments are organised through Derbyshire Landskills.
Are there any additional costs or specialist equipment required?
All specialist safety clothing, chainsaws and ancillary tools can be provided by the College, for which a fee will be charged.
Candidates may use their own chainsaw providing that it complies with current legislation.
Please note that equipment is not available for hire for the assessment. You will therefore need to have other arrangements in place for your assessment.
It is recommended that candidates do not purchase specialist equipment prior to the course. During the training, advice on the purchase of all specialist equipment will be offered by the course instructor.
What can I do after this course?
Derby College offers a range of one-day, weekend and evening courses relating to Forestry and Tree Surgery, as well as a wide range of other land-based topics - please see the Derby College Part-time Prospectus for a full list and details.
Did you find the course information on this page useful?
* Tuition - This figure is the tuition fee to be paid - There are no concessionary fees available.
** Exam - This fee is to cover the cost of registration with the relevant awarding body.
Mark Hall
Mark scales the heights after retraining as arborist
Mature student Mark Hall clearly recalls the elation he felt when he conquered his fears and peeped from the top branch of a towering tree across the beautiful Derbyshire countryside.
Mark, 40, took redundancy from his supervisor's job at Tesco in Alfreton and retrained as an arborist at Derby College's Broomfield Hall.
Now he and his colleague Andrew Fretwell, who also took redundancy from Tesco, have launched their own business, Green Line Tree Services.
Mark gained a Distinction on his Level 2 Diploma in Forestry and Arboriculture, second only to Andrew's Distinction*.
He said he gradually built confidence in his climbing skills and in using his equipment.
The moment he first stood at the top of his "target tree" to look at the stunning views around Broomfield Hall is "not one I'm likely to forget."
He said:
It was an excellent course. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I got on very well with the lecturers. They knew so much and it almost felt like an honour to be able to absorb their knowledge as they passed it on.
"The wealth of information that was there throughout, from woodland management, to the practical side: you never felt you weren't getting what you needed.
