What is the Forest Landscape Design training course?

The Forest Landscape Design training course is a 2-day course which explains what is meant by 'landscape' and explores the principles of forest landscape design as outlined in the UK Forestry Standard (UKFS) guidelines 'Forests and Landscape'.

The course demonstrates how the application of these principles can contribute towards the effective design of both new forests and felling and restocking an existing forest, all in a variety of Scottish landscapes.

The course profile provides more information about the course.

Course audience

The course is primarily intended for forest managers and their advisers, but will be useful for anyone who has an interest in forest landscape design.

How to register interest

Email our Landscape and Culture Adviser - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - if you'd like to register interest in attending the course.

Forest Landscape Design course materials

The documents below are provided for reference for those who have attended the course.

1. Course introduction - an introductory presentation covering the purpose and scope of the course and the appreciation of landscape character.
2. Landscape character assessment and shape- a presentation about reading landscape character and the influence that shapes have on what we see in the landscape.
3. Landscape character assessment and scale- a continuation of reading landscape character and assessing relative scale in the landscape.
4. Landscape character assessment and visual diversity - continuation reading landscape character and appreciating visual diversity in different landscape character types.
5. Landscape and visual sensitivity - a presentation about landscape sensitivity and the designation of valued landscapes. Also, the assessment of visual importance and selecting viewpoints to aid the design process.
6. Observation and drawing skills - a presentation on how we perceive landscapes and how our powers of observation can be enhanced through mastering basic pencil drawing skills.
7. Forest design principle of shape - the first of a series of presentations on the UKFS Forests and Landscape Guideline forest design principles explaining the influence of ‘shapes’ in the landscape.
8. Forest design principle of landform - a continuation of forest design principles with ‘landform’ and the influence it can have especially in upland landscapes.
9. Forest design principle of enclosure - a continuation of forest design principles with ‘enclosure’ and the influence this pattern can have especially in lowland landscapes with subdued landform.
10. Forest design principle of scale - a continuation of forest design principles with ‘scale’ explaining how scale is relative to the landscape and the position of the viewer. Also explained is the relationship of proportion to scale and the ‘one-thirds two-thirds’ rule.
11. Forest design principle of diversity - a continuation of forest design principles with ‘visual diversity’ explaining the multiple benefits of achieving appropriate diversity in different landscape types.
12. Forest design principle of unity - a continuation of forest design principles with ‘unity’ explaining how the component parts of a landscape can be brought together to complement each other and reinforce local landscape character.
13. Visual design issues and achieving unity - a continuation of forest design principle of ‘unity’ explaining how the appreciation of common visual design issues can be resolved to achieve a unified landscape.
14. Identifying design objectives for existing forests - a presentation on analysing a forest landscape to identify design objectives for the restructuring of an existing forest.
15. Application of design principles to existing forests - a presentation on the application of the forest design principles in the visual design process of restructuring existing forests through felling and restocking.
16. Workshops for the application of design principles to existing forests - workshops on the application of the forest design principles in the visual design process of restructuring existing forests through felling and restocking.
17. Workshops for the application of design principles to existing forests - a continuation of the visual design process of restructuring existing forests through felling and restocking, with presentations on the visual consequences of different design options.