Micro-Scholarship, What it is, How can it help me.pdf
Rhs level 2 certificate week 26 2014
1. RHS Level 2 Certificate
Year 1 Week 26 –
Garden planning: site
appraisal. Revision
techniques.
2. Learning Objectives
Site Appraisal
1.1 Describe potential restrictions which may limit work on the site,
including financial constraints; difficulties with access for plant,
equipment and materials; topography (degree and extent of slopes);
boundary constraints; and restrictions on the time the works can be
carried out.
1.2 State what existing garden features need to be identified, including
buildings, hard landscape features, and the trees and plants that are to
be retained.
Plants
2.1 Name FIVE evergreen and FIVE deciduous trees (large shrubs),
suitable for planting in a domestic garden. State details of their
decorative merits, height and spread and site requirements; describe a
situation where each could be used effectively.
Revision
Identify THREE active revision techniques
Identify TWO less effective revision techniques
3. Site appraisal
A methodical review of the site
Use questionnaires and a sketch plan to
gather the information.
Consideration of the views, aspect and
climate, soil, existing features and services
and a measured survey to produce a scale
plan.
4. Site characteristics
Make a sketch plan and take notes – keep careful
records.
Location and physical character– aspect, climate,
micro-climates, views, slope, drainage
Existing features – to keep or to remove?
Soil – pH, depth, structure and texture. Several
samples needed across the site as it will not be
uniform.
Existing services – issues for safety and for
construction.
5. Environmental factors in design
Prevailing wind – where should windbreaks go?
Aspect – where does the sun fall at different times of
day? Where should seating areas be positioned,
what need for shade is there?
Views – borrow favourable views and hide ugly ones.
Views into the garden – creating privacy
Soil – pH (hard to change and will therefore affect
what can be planted); depth (if insufficient then
raised beds can be used).
6. Limitations on design process
Budget – a properly defined and controlled
budget prevents failure to complete
Access – lack of access for machinery or
deliveries will impact on what can be
achieved; better to design with this in mind.
Boundary constraints – ownership, planning
restrictions etc.
Timing – for excavations and building works;
planting etc. The design process should
include a plan for implementation.
7. Exam Preparation - introduction
Registration – complete form, fee, to be
returned ASAP.
Revision – how to get started?
Revision planning – ‘if you fail to plan, you plan
to fail’
Revision techniques – reading, remembering
and ‘doing’. The more active your approach the
more you will remember.
Get started now!
8. Revision – Getting Started
Do what you can. If you only have half an
hour a day then study for half an hour.
Plan how you will cover the material – aim for
three reviews of each topic
Just reading the material is not effective – try
working with the information, making
connections and using varied approaches
Little and often is better than hours on end
and then nothing for days.
9. Revision techniques
Teach someone – if you can explain it, then you know
it.
Mind maps – the learning is in the ‘doing’, make them
fun. Useful as an overview.
Index cards – force you to focus on the key points. Use
them to test yourself.
Self testing – use the questions in the Red Book,
Moodle quizzes, exam past paper questions.
Three repetitions in different forms = information moves
from short to longer term memory.
10. Learning outcomes
Site Appraisal
1.1 Describe potential restrictions which may limit work on the site,
including financial constraints; difficulties with access for plant,
equipment and materials; topography (degree and extent of slopes);
boundary constraints; and restrictions on the time the works can be
carried out.
1.2 State what existing garden features need to be identified, including
buildings, hard landscape features, and the trees and plants that are to
be retained.
Plants
2.1 Name FIVE evergreen and FIVE deciduous trees (large shrubs),
suitable for planting in a domestic garden. State details of their
decorative merits, height and spread and site requirements; describe a
situation where each could be used effectively.
Revision
Identify THREE active revision techniques
Identify TWO less effective revision techniques