Forestry & Arboriculture
Forestry focuses on the management of forests and woodland, from planting through to thinning and felling.

Forests and woodlands are an important renewable resource for timber, amenity and recreation, tourism and biodiversity. Trees in a variety of locations help combat climate change as well as being widely recognised as providing benefits for health and wellness. Skilled people are needed to work in a range of jobs, to help maintain, manage, and utilise forests, woodlands and trees in both rural and urban settings.
Forestry is defined as the science and practice of all tree management and includes:
- Establishment and maintenance of new and regenerated woodlands
- Harvesting and Thinning
- Arboriculture and Urban forestry
- Environmental and amenity woodland management and maintenance
- Education and training in all these fields
Forestry focuses on the management of forests and woodland, from planting, maintenance through to thinning and final harvesting.
Arboriculture centres on the cultivation, management and care for individual trees, or groups of trees, with the primary aim of maintaining them for amenity purposes.
SRUC Barony, Dumfries has excellent facilities and equipment ranging from the Scottish Forest Industry Technology Centre (SFITC), tree nursery and arboretum with access to specialist machinery like our sawmill, simulators, and technology such as drones and decay detection equipment.
We use our own 25 hectares of forest and estate woodlands as well as our long-established relationship with local landowners for a range of activities from tree felling to forest surveying.
These facilities are used to enable a wide range of forestry and arboriculture courses, many of which are run in partnership with organisations such as John Deere Forestry, Ponsse, Forest and Land Scotland and a range of other local businesses.
SRUC Forestry and Arboriculture graduates can expect a great deal of employment opportunities with a well-rounded education in these respective areas.
Featured courses

Forestry
Forestry involves sustainably managing trees and woodlands in rural areas for a range of benefits, including commercial and social.
- Certificate
- HNC
- HND

Advanced Forestry
Following on from the Certificate in Forestry, this course this course develops specialist knowledge and skills in forest mechanisation.
- Advanced Certificate

Arboriculture
Following on from the Certificate in Forestry, this course develops specialist knowledge and skills in general forestry and forest machinery.
- Advanced Certificate

Trees and Timber
This Modern Apprenticeship is a work-based qualification designed to give you the basic skills of a craftsman forestry worker.
- MA at SCQF level 6
- MA at SCQF level 5

Land-based Engineering (Forestry)
Land-based engineering is a career for anyone with an interest in machines and how they work — this course combines that interest with the desire to work in the forestry environment.
- NC

Wildlife and Conservation Management
These courses are aimed at those who care about wildlife and the environment and want to protect it so that everyone may enjoy it.
- HNC
- BSc/BSc (Hons)
- HND
- MSc
- PgDip
- Top-up degree
- PgCert

Scottish Forestry Technology Centre
With the major expansion of Scotland's forestry sector, the need to manage this renewable resource and the significant investment in the region's wood processing sector has created demand for suitably qualified people to grow and harvest these trees that the sector needs.
Forests are an important part of the rural economy as well as being an important habitat resource for plants and wildlife. Trees in a variety of locations help combat climate change as well as being widely recognised as providing benefits for health, wellness, and recreation. Skilled people are needed to work in a range of jobs, to help maintain, manage, and utilise forests, woodlands and trees in both rural and urban settings.
SRUC Barony, Dumfries has excellent facilities and equipment ranging from the Scottish Forest Industry Technology Centre (SFITC), tree nursery and arboretum with access to specialist machinery like our sawmill, simulators, and technology such as drones and decay detection equipment.
We use our own 25 hectares of forest and estate woodlands as well as our long-established relationship with local landowners for a range of activities from tree felling to forest surveying.
These facilities are used to enable a wide range of forestry and arboriculture courses, many of which are run in partnership with organisations such as John Deere Forestry, Ponsse, Forest and Land Scotland and a range of other local businesses.

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