Horticulture and Garden Design

Two years full-time or three years part-time.

The range of this course allows students already working in the industry to top-up their qualifications within the vocation in a practical and hands-on manner which integrates both managerial and business methods.

Employability and working environment skills are developed. Students will also develop general horticulture skills alongside skills relating to garden design principles.

Stage one

Students study horticultural principles including a detailed study of plants and their use in garden design. Principles of garden design will be studied as well as techniques of hard landscaping that can be applied to garden designs and planting schemes.

Stage two

Students study aspects of small business and contract management as well as completing further industrial experience. Garden history and changing design trends over time will be considered as well as the impact of historical trends on contemporary designs. Students also complete an individual study on a topic of relevance to garden design.

• Enhances employability
• Develops skills in design and construction
• Industrial placement forms a significant part of this course

• Garden design processes
• Garden history
• Hard landscape features
• Individual project
• Industrial placement
• Plant and soil science
• Planting design and principles
• Plants and landscape

Assessment methods used for this course include written work, presentations, practical project work and time constrained assessment. Assessment is continuous throughout the course.

Career opportunities may include employment as a senior groundsman, head and assistant head gardeners, local authority parks managers, landscape managers, garden designers and landscape maintenance contract managers.