The Institute of Chartered Foresters - Being an ICF Assessor

Peter Wharton MICFor - Company Director

Peter Wharton BSc(Hons) FArborA MICFor (Chartered Arboriculturist), Director of Wharton Natural Infrastructure Consultants and Professional Membership Exam (PME) assessor for the Institute of Chartered Foresters (ICF), describes how he now has the pleasure and privilege of sitting on the other side of the table...

It feels like I’ve been in the industry for a long time, having first taken to climbing aged 16 in 1997, during a week-long work experience placement for James Tonks Tree Surgery in Lichfield. Never did I imagine for one minute that I would progress my career from being an apprentice tree surgeon to becoming the Director of a multi-discipline consultancy, let alone being asked if I would consider being a PME assessor for the ICF. I recently decided to take a trip down memory lane, locating my Record of Achievement (if any of you remember them the red folder) and found the following, which made me smile:-

Since becoming chartered myself, I have always spoken highly of the PME process, as well as being critical of it on the odd occasion. I will never forget the day that I was interviewed by Alan Motion FICFor and Donald Rogers FICFor, where I came out feeling that there was slim chance that I’d be successful. I was in my mid-twenties with a few life-experiences behind me, having been a tree officer, a consultant, and being cross-examined in public enquiries. However, nothing could have prepared me for the reality of the PME interview! This was because it was all about professionalism, impressing my peers and it being so vitally important to my future career path at that time. Fortunately, I was successful in 2009 and 10 years on in 2019, I had the privilege of interviewing a candidate, sat beside as opposed to in-front of Alan.

Since getting The Envelope through in 2009 confirming my success, I felt it was essential to not only elevate the importance of being chartered in my role as an arboriculturist, but to also assist those going through the process. Our industry is relatively open however, when working as a sole trader, or even within a larger organisation, sometimes the support, mentoring or simply having the right people around you can be of significant help.

To that end, I would often find myself helping others who were striving to become chartered. This was not because I knew the perfect way of dealing with the application process, or because I was an expert in all subject matter. I enjoyed and felt it important to simply help others in reaching a goal within their career journey. I personally, found it invaluable having the likes of Graham Garratt FICFor assisting me, not least as we have very little in the way of mentoring, coaching or guidance in the arboricultural industry and as a result, people are left to their own devices which can be an isolating experience. Consequently, I am a strong advocate for mentoring, particularly when the end result of becoming chartered, can have such an impact on someone’s career. In the years of either being a verifier of work or simply an ear to bend, I have managed to assist 8-10 applicants become chartered. Having travelled the journey with them, the resulting experience is the same every time:- that of pure professional achievement on their part and joy on mine for their success.

Sign at Edinburgh Airport

So, what does it take to be an assessor?

I’m not sure there are any hard and fast rules, when it comes to being an assessor. The main elements from my perspective are: having enthusiasm, being completely transparent, professional and have an understanding of professional competency, along with a balanced viewpoint. All of these I explore in little more detail below.

Transparency

Complete transparency is critical to the process, particularly in the arboricultural world, as it is relatively close knit. For example, in the past two years of being an assessor, I have been asked to review and assess the work of a number of applicants that I know or have had dealings with, prior to a formal application. As a result, it is paramount to declare a conflict of interest. Thus, no one is put in an awkward or unfair position. This was true when two of my employees Sebastian Onslow and Jack Barnard, now both MICFor and Chartered Arboriculturists, were in the PME process of submitting work. (Obviously it was slightly more challenging, being their Director, and I only discovered the results of their application once they had!)

Competency

Professional competency is apparent on both sides of the table in the interview and is also true when being a verifier of work, such as assessing various critical analysis pieces of work from a completely non-technical perspective. One recent scenario was in relation to deer management within a woodland. This was well beyond my professional knowledge base, of which the applicant was made aware. However, what I was able to do was assist from a viewpoint of how they had implemented the ICF’s Code of Ethics within the project. Therefore, as an applicant, please be reassured that whoever is assessing your work, will have both experience in the relevant competency field and is likely to understand the finer detail of the subject matter.

Balanced

A good assessor must have a balanced view. Something which only comes with experience. The PME process for most, is part of a longer planned journey. The aim is to help develop an applicant to achieve a greater standard of work and working practices, develop an appreciation that reflecting on work, both the good and bad, is an essential in achieving professional accreditation. As assessors, we must remain balanced from the very start – from when we receive an application, through to the final interview. We completely understand that each applicant will react differently during the interview process, simply due to pressure and the importance of becoming chartered. We therefore weigh this up against what we would expect, having read the written work and having discussed it at great length with the other assessor. This results in a fair and objective process.

Although I have only been an ICF assessor for a couple of years, I have sat with numerous assessors who have 20 years plus experience. I can honestly say it is one of the most rewarding elements of working within our industry. From personal experience knowing the effort that’s put into submitting an application, the anticipation of being offered an interview and then being successful, there is no better feeling. The role is not taken lightly by any of the assessors. It’s also fair to say that some of us are stricter than others, however through discussion, and sometimes disagreement, we come to a resolution. To ensure we can do you justice at an interview, you must know your work, guarantee that no stone is left unturned and be secure in the knowledge that you are in a completely safe pair of hands.

In my opinion, being chartered puts any person in great stead for their career; it will open doors and allow you to be seen on the same professional level as other industries.

My advice is to surround yourself with those who have been through the process, be confident in your ability and practice for the interview. As assessors we want to see you succeed. Most of all enjoy the journey and you will get out as much as you put in…

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Designing greener spaces with Mood Landscape

Wharton Natural Infrastructure Consultants are delighted to announce a new partnership with Sarah Gibson of Mood Landscape. By working together, we are now able to provide a great new landscape architectural arm to the company. This addition complements our topographical, tree and ecology consultancy giving a full natural infrastructure service to enable you to achieve planning permission and implement development.

Sarah Gibson, Director of Mood Landscape, runs a forward-thinking landscape architecture practice that is passionate about how people experience places and the effects that landscape has on health and social interactions.  Like Wharton, Mood embraces projects of all sizes: - from community parks to business parks, urban realm and nature reserves. 

“Working in collaboration with Wharton is an exciting opportunity for us to combine our skills and shared values in order to approach the landscape design in a holistic way from the outset.  This will enable us to create places that respond to the wellbeing of the existing natural infrastructure of the site whilst also creating dynamic and imaginative places that are inclusive for all, improve social interactions and benefit our environment, adding real value through landscape.” Sarah Gibson.

One of the specific values held in high regard by both companies is that we see nature:- trees, green spaces and ecology - as an asset rather than an obstacle; enhancing development, protecting and creating invaluable natural spaces and realising the hugely positive impact that they have on everything from property value and salability to health, wellbeing and the natural environment.

“Having met with Sarah on a number of occasions it was obvious that we hold very similar values in relation to how development should be considered: principally, creating easily accessible green space which provides benefits to all end users. I’m really looking forward to working in partnership with Sarah to influence how site design is implemented from concept to onsite build out. This ultimately provides our clients with a complete service:- from initial topographical survey to detailed landscape design.”  Peter Wharton

Wharton are now able to advise and consult on a variety of projects such as advising on tree planting to input into ecological management plans as well as providing full LVIAs and landscape design services.

Don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your current or future land, tree, ecology and Landscape Architecture needs.

Dormice: Feeling sleepy?

Photo sourced from insideecology.com

Hazel Dormice (Muscardinus avellanarius) are identifiable by their fluffy, ginger tails and big, dark eyes and this time of year are often seen curled up fast asleep inside a snuggly nest. Hazel dormice are afforded protection under UK and EU law, transcribed as the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981 and Annex IV of the European Habitats Directive, respectively.

It is therefore a legal obligation for developers to ensure that hazel dormice are not captured, injured or killed and their habitats are not damaged, destroyed or disturbed at any point during the development process. This may include noise or light disturbance, removal of suitable habitat such as hedgerows and woodland, and habitat fragmentation or isolation of retained habitat.

Dormice prefer to reside in woodland, scrub or well-established hedgerows, ideally where hazel trees are present, so these characteristics are searched for during the initial site visit. Biological records are obtained from local records centres to determine whether there is a history of dormice in the local area of the site. A site visit is then carried out to identify whether the site has suitable habitat to support dormice. Once a site’s suitability to support dormice is established, a series of further surveys will then be undertaken to determine presence or likely absence within the site.

Ecologists attach nest tubes to branches and leave them for a minimum of a month before returning to see if any dormice have created nests in them. The nest tubes are checked by opening them over a bag and the contents inspected to identify if it contains a dormouse nest or if you’re particularly lucky, an actual dormouse!

Nut searches can also be carried out depending on the time of year, as it is possible to identify the species of mouse eating a nut based on the pattern of teeth marks surrounding the opening. This process is then repeated over the course of several months to establish the likelihood of dormouse presence on a site.

Between the months of September and November conditions are at their peak for spotting dormice. This is because they’re easier to find in nesting tubes and boxes when they are preparing themselves for hibernation.

Our ecologists recently carried out a dormouse survey on a site with lots of dormice potential. On this survey only wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) were found. However, with one more survey to go, this could change. Keep an eye on our social media to see what we find during the next survey!

For more information visit Woodland Trust for an easy read on all you need to know about the protection of Dormice.