This course is suitable for groundsmen, greenkeepers, contract specifiers, managers, foremen and supervisors of Amenity situations where pesticides are used. It serves as a useful update whilst also discussing the actual pesticides and their application.

Managing pesticide use in a way which is sympathetic to the environment is clearly an important consideration. Candidates achieving this qualification will have the knowledge and understanding to make sure pesticides are used in a way which protects the wider environment whilst achieving the necessary levels of weed, pest and disease control.

Courses are held on different sites dependant on demand. They may also be held on your own site for a group of people if required. Enquiries.  The course is of 3 days duration.  A multiple-choice assessment will be held during the afternoon on the final day.

The syllabus of the course comprises five modules.

• Module 1. Integrated Pest Management

• Module 2. Interpretation of Legislation

• Module 3. Managing Application of Pesticides

• Module 4. Protection of Water

• Module 5. Environmental Protection

The course framework and syllabus content is to prepare candidates to be aware of what is involved in pesticide use and the issues of control needed for safe and environmentally caring outcomes.

The three-day course does not cover the depth of knowledge required to make pesticide recommendations but it will prepare those responsible to be able to implement safely the recommendations made by an individual holding the BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection.

Equally, the certificate, once attained, will not qualify the holder to be a certificated spray operator. Those applying pesticides must be City & Guilds NPTC qualified (PA1, PA2 etc), (or exempt by age if born before 31 December 1964, unless providing a commercial service) and should be a member of NRoSO. This course and qualification covers the knowledge required to properly supervise and understand pesticide use and application. It is recognised that some candidates may well be PA certificated by City & Guilds  NPTC prior to attending this course and as such can act as a useful refresher course.

The qualification and certificate is conducted jointly by BASIS and City & Guilds NPTC, with City & Guilds NPTC as the accredited awarding body and BASIS setting the standards for assessment. The Certificate of Competence awarded to those who pass will carry both the BASIS and City & Guilds NPTC marks of recognition for attainment. Also, an ID card with photograph of the candidate will be issued to those who attain the qualification.

A large number of people in Amenity Horticulture have a need to understand more about pesticides, how they work and why they are needed. However their main employment activity may not involve selling, advising, applying or storing pesticides.

This course is designed for such people and it may also be an introduction for those who wish to go forward to the next level of qualification (FSTS).

The Foundation Award in Amenity Horticulture is split into two separate components:

1) The Foundation Award in Amenity Horticulture – Hard/Permeable Surfaces

2) The Foundation Award in Amenity Horticulture – Turf and Borders

If a candidate wishes to hold the Awards for both elements, then they would not need to cover modules 1, 2 and 3 again in the tuition, but would need to cover the other modules and to take a second exam, covering the additional modules for that element. If they failed the first Award exam, then they would need to pass that before moving on to take a second part of the Award.

The course includes a short examination at the end of 3 days tuition. Those candidates who achieve the pass level will receive written recognition from BASIS of their achievement but this course does not result in a BASIS certificate of competence. This is to avoid any confusion with the Statutory qualification (full BASIS FSTS course).

For candidates wishing to take a second exam to achieve both parts of the Award, they need to allow an additional 1½ days tuition/exam time.

Cost: 3 days (including assessment) from £450 per person.  Additional 1½ days (including assessment) from £200 per person. 

Group rates are at a discount. For dates and further information contact Enquiries or to download a course booklet from the BASIS website click here.

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BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection for Field Sales and Technical Staff (FSTS) (Amenity Horticulture)

This course is aimed at those individuals who are involved in the advice, sale or supply of pesticides in the amenity industry. For example:

• Contractors who sell or give advice

• Distributors who sell or give advice

• Pesticide manufacturers and suppliers

• Consultants, agents, managers, specifiers and local authority managers who are involved in pesticide sales or advice

The amenity industry includes hard surface areas, turf, amenity grass and sports areas, large public and private gardens (eg National Trust type properties), parks and other areas where spraying is carried out by in-house or contract labour, private forestry companies, local authorities, motorway and other road verge maintenance, aquatic and dry areas and industrial site maintenance. This may include amateur gardens where contractors are employed using professional products.

BACKGROUND

The BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection for Field Sales and Technical Staff (FSTS) has been established since 1978 to provide training and certification for sellers of pesticides and those giving advice on their use.

In 1985 the Food & Environment Protection Act (FEPA) made certification a statutory obligation for pesticide sellers.

“No person shall sell, supply or otherwise market to the end-user a pesticide approved for agricultural use unless he has obtained a certificate of competence recognised by the Ministers, or he sells or supplies that pesticide under the direct supervision of a person who holds such a certificate”

The BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection has been approved by Ministers to meet the requirements of Schedule 2 of the Control of Pesticide Regulations for certification of those involved in the sale, advice and supply of pesticides.

It is essential that candidates understand the need for a practical approach to training because in order to be successful, individuals must be able to give sound technical advice on site.  Obviously some of the training will be of a theoretical nature but both the syllabus and training programme is interpreted to provide practical instruction wherever possible.

All of those employed in the sale of pesticides and/or giving advice on their use must, under the Control of Pesticides (Amendment) Regulations 1997, have obtained a Certificate of Competence or exemption from it within three years of entering the pesticide industry. New staff to the industry will be allowed a period of three years in which to qualify, during which they will be working under the direct supervision of a qualified member of staff.

Candidates must have had satisfactory training and supervised field experience before entering for the BASIS examination. If in doubt as to this requirement, please contact us. Courses are run as either day release or in blocks of a week at a time.

For dates and further information contact Enquiries or to download a course booklet from the BASIS website click here.

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BETA Amenity Horticulture

The use of pesticides in Parks, Golf Courses, Sports Turf, Horticulture, Hard Surface and other Amenity areas is a significant part of overall UK pesticide use. There is a wide scope for employers and employees to improve their knowledge of environmental management and help improve the biodiversity of the amenity landscape.

The BETA Amenity Horticulture course and examination is 2½ days in total and is specifically put together for:

• Parks and sports ground managers

• Golf course managers

• Contract specifiers and managers

• Horticultural enterprise managers

• Local authority amenity managers

• Supervisors / managers responsible for pesticide application

This BETA course is designed to compliment and add to the knowledge of those who already hold either the BASIS Field, Sales and Technical Staff qualification, the POWER certificate or the Environmental Pesticide Management Certificate. It is also applicable to many other people who may not be BASIS qualified but who none the less, may have other qualifications which are suitable for entry to the BETA Amenity Horticulture course. Please contact Ian Gower for further information.

The syllabus of the course comprises of four modules:

• Protecting Biodiversity in Amenity areas

• Environmental Information Sheets

• Water management

• Amenity Horticulture Management Plan for pesticides use

Courses are held on different sites dependant on demand. They may also be held on your own site for a group of people if required. Enquiries.  The course is of 2½ days duration.  A multiple-choice assessment will be held during the morning of the final day.

Cost: 2½ days (including assessment) from £400 per person.
Group rates at a discount. For dates and further information contact Ian Gower.

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