Loch Park Tree Nursery Development

The Tree Nursery Development project has been running since 1996. It had been developed as an annual training project providing 8 participants over 2 days per week with vocational training and access to employment opportunities. Training is provided in a tree nursery development setting, which is part of an integrated plan of restoration and reinstatement of Community Woodland and part of a National plan to create a Millennium Forest. Through this set up participants gain an ideal supportive training and practical work experience, leading to vocational qualifications, whilst having a direct link to the public/community.

Following the initial needs assessment an individually tailored action plan will provide beneficiaries with a wide range of training opportunities in a work experience and community setting. The acquisition of the training will lead to an increase in self-esteem, and confidence in a work environment from basic skills, literacy and numeracy, confidence building to Health & Safety at work knowledge. Increased dexterity through working with trees, handling tools, machinery will offer the participants new, transferable skills.

In addition to providing pre-vocational training, practical work experience and guidance all beneficiaries can complete SCOTVEC modules in Gardening, Plant Identification (No.78181) and/or Use of Hand Tools in Horticulture (No.1260056).

All beneficiaries will be assisted by support workers, who will provide the pre-vocational guidance, the support for achieving vocational qualifications, identify additional training needs and employment opportunities.

Outputs & Outcomes

Each beneficiary will receive within his or her own personal action plan an average of 14 hours per week over a 48 week period. The training offers a wide range of training opportunities and is structured in the areas of:

• Tree Nursery/Gardening - preparation of seed beds, soil analysis, sowing seeds, using a propagator, picking out and transplanting young trees, planting trees and protecting them in the new environment. The development of coppice.
• Building and Construction - clearing and repairing right of way in the local community. Basic building skills in wood and stone.
• Health & Safety in the Workspace
• Personal Skills - confidence building, communication skills, time keeping.