BTEC Forestry and Arboriculture Past Papers & Mark Schemes

Tree biology questions in Unit 1 often ask about the mechanisms of water transport (cohesion-tension theory in the xylem) and nutrient transport (source-to-sink flow in the phloem). Know the roles of the cambium (producing xylem and phloem), the sapwood and heartwood distinction, and the process of compartmentalisation of decay in trees (CODIT model). Arboricultural assessment questions in Unit 3 test knowledge of the QTRA (Quantified Tree Risk Assessment) framework. Understand the three risk components: likelihood of failure, likelihood of impact, and consequences of impact. Know how each component is scored and combined to produce an annual probability of harm. Compare this with the simpler VALID approach and understand when each is appropriate. Legal protection questions cover Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs), Conservation Area notification requirements, and wildlife legislation. Know that works to TPO trees without consent are a criminal offence, that dead TPO trees retain their protection until removed, and that nesting birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 regardless of whether a TPO exists.