Environmental Conservation Courses at Idle Valley Rural Learning Centre

From September 2010 North Nottinghamshire College will be offering Work Based Diploma’s at Level 2 and 3 in Environmental Conservation at the Centre, in partnership with Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust. These courses are aimed at people wanting to gain practical experience and qualifications in protecting wildlife and managing habitats.

Both courses focus on practical conservation work such as tree felling, coppicing and hedge laying as well as first aid and health and safety training. The Level 3 course also explores the theory behind conservation work including management plans, conducting field surveys and how to lead guided walks for the public.

Ivan Machin NNC’s Lecturer in Conservation said: “Work Based Diploma’s are a great way for people to gain a qualification that is recognised by employers whilst gaining ‘hands on’ experience

“Much of the study will involve carrying out practical tasks on nature reserves managed by Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, so not only will students be gaining a valuable qualification they will also be contributing to the management of local habitats and gaining first hand experience of working on nature reserves.”

Idle Valley Rural Learning Centre is owned by North Nottinghamshire College. Its construction was funded by the SSP Alliance, ERDF and the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. The Centre is an environmentally friendly building designed to have a low impact on the environment and to minimize the use of resources

About Idle Valley

Idle Valley Rural Learning Centre combines an outstanding teaching environment with leading renewable technologies. Features within the building’s design include: enhanced insulation to minimise heat loss, increasing natural daylight through large areas of glazing and sun pipes; and maximising natural ventilation throughout. To ensure minimal use of fossil fuels the building has been fitted with a number of renewable energy features. These include solar panels and a geothermal heat source from the adjacent lake that provides much of the centre’s heating needs. All materials used in the building were carefully selected for their sustainable properties and capability of being recycled at the end of the building’s life.

The centre has three classrooms, a workshop, fully equipped training kitchen and a large main reception and workshop area. The classrooms are all equipped with the latest Smartboard technology and have beautiful views across the lake.

The centre is used by local groups and businesses for meetings and staff development sessions and the local Wildlife Trust is based within the centre.

Many of the college’s students access Idle Valley facilities to complement their main course activity. The centre is also used to deliver courses to groups of unemployed people to help improve their chances of gaining sustainable employment. Community groups with young children access courses in the centre designed to promote the benefits of healthy living and environmental issues.

Environmental Conservation Courses Available at Idle Valley

EDEXCEL NVQ Level 2 – a one year full time course which will provide the entry requirements needed to go on to further study at Level 3. The course is portfolio based involving classroom and outdoor practical activities. Subjects studied will include habitat managements, survey techniques and health and safety.

How to find us



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Contact Us

You can contact us by post, telephone, fax or email: Idle Valley Rural Learning Centre, Off Great North Road, Retford, DN22 8RQ

Tel: 01777 712000 Fax: 01777 712001

Email: heshelby@nnc.ac.uk