News Pitchcare training ... Management Training
Chainsaw, Felling and other Ground - Based Forestry and Arboricultural Operations - Refresher
LANTRA has just launched its new Refresher Model. The suite of training courses consists of one mandatory module, plus a selection of further short, sharp and focused modules each carrying their own delivery and consolidation times.
These refresher modules are designed to be completed by operators who have previously attended Lantra Awards training or have received certification from another awarding organisation relative to the refresher module they wish to undertake.
Module Name Safety, Health & Welfare
Mandatory Biosecurity
Chainsaw Maintenance Felling up to 200mm Felling up to 380mm Felling over 380mm Branch Removal -
Snedding and Delimbing Cross Cutting
Hung Up Trees Using
Hand Tools Hand Winching
Powered Pole Pruner
Maximum Delivery & number Consolidation of learners
time 12
12 4 4 4 4 4
4 4
4 4
1.5 hrs 1 hr
3 hrs 3 hrs 3hrs 3hrs 2hrs
2hrs 2hrs
4hrs 2hrs
It is recommended that chainsaw operators take regular refresher training every 3-5 years, depending on how frequently they use their equipment.
If your operatives would benefit from this training, let Chris Johnson at Groundsman Training know which of the modules above are of interest to you, and the number of operatives you wish to be trained, and she will send you a quote.
Email:
chris@pitchcare.com CPD Scheme
PITCHCARE are delighted to announce that our Pesticide Spraying and Stem Injection Treatment courses have been accepted by City & Guilds for inclusion in the NAsOR (National Amenity Sprayer Operators' Register) CPD Scheme.
The scheme is open to anybody who holds a City & Guilds NPTC Safe use of Pesticides Certificate of Competence; a minimum of a PA1 foundation module, plus one or more of the Pesticide Application Modules (PA2-PA13). So you can sign up and claim your CPD points as soon as you pass your assessments.
Membership of the NAsOR CPD Scheme supports your career development, and shows that you demonstrate good operator standards. Further information is available at
www.nasor.org.uk
10 PC DECEMBER/JANUARY 2014
Pesticide ban to protect bees comes into force
Chemical companies and farmers
associations continue to voice concerns over ban
AS of December 1, farmers in the European Union will no longer be able to make large-scale use of pesticides suspected of killing bee populations.
The ban, approved by the European Commission in April of this year, affects three pesticides from the group of the so-called
neonicotinoids: clothianidin and imidacloprid, which are manufactured by the German company Bayer, and thiamethoxam, made by the Swiss manufacturer Syngenta.
Farmers will no longer be allowed to use the chemicals to spray such crops as corn, sunflowers, rapeseed and cotton - all plants that attract bees. The ban is to be implemented on a trial basis for two years, after which it is due to be reviewed on the basis of new scientific information.
The neonicotinoids are believed to be dangerous to bees, affecting their sense of orientation and disrupting their immune system.
The ban has aroused considerable controversy, with environmentalists saying it does not go far enough, whilst chemical companies call its effectiveness into question.
Greenpeace agricultural expert Dirk Zimmermann says the ban is too
small a step to have a real effect in preventing the disappearance of bees. “Illnesses, parasites and climate changes unfortunately cannot be banned,” he said, and also criticised the fact that there are too many exceptions on the ban.
Chemical companies such as Bayer and Syngenta, who stand to lose money through the ban, have long warned that it will lead to much reduced harvests. The German Farmers Association
(Bauernverband) has also voiced concern that the restrictions could lead to increased spraying with other, less effective pesticides.
Dwindling bee populations throughout the world have long concerned scientists, who continue to research the reasons for the drastic rise in the disappearance of many bee colonies over the past few years. The causes are thought to be the widespread use of pesticides and an increase in the number of parasites and pathogens.
Bees are essential, pollinating more than eighty percent of all crops. The EU estimates that bees benefit the economy to the tune of 22 billion euros ($29.9 billion) annually.
Pitchcare’s Supervisory Essentials course for Head Groundsmen,
Greenkeepers and their Deputies
We held the first two workshops in this season’s Lantra accredited Supervisory Essentials in December. They were intense days with lots to take in but, as usual, Frank Newberry made the learning active and enjoyable, and we received great feedback from the delegates, including:
- Very enjoyable day and has given me plenty to think about for self improvement and improvements to others
- Excellent - Frank fantastic
- Thoroughly enjoyed the course - looking forward to the next workshops
The good news is, it’s not too late to book for either, or both, the remaining two workshops which will be held in Milton Keynes, as follows:
Tuesday 4 February 2014 - Enhanced Communication Skills
Tuesday 25 February 2014 - Problem Solving and Decision Making
The workshops may be taken in tandem, or as individual days.
Each of the workshops now attracts 7 BIGGA CPD points.
Visit
www.groundsmantraining.com to book your place, or email me,
chris@pitchcare.com, for further information.
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