Gardening / Horticulture
"The estate provides a beautiful learning enviroment"

Horticulturists use their gardening knowledge and skills in many different ways and in many different settings; some in designing or maintaining gardens, others on golf courses or in parks, although for some gardening is just a pleasure and a pastime.

Our 400 acres of working estate will provide you with an excellent resource for developing your horticultural knowledge and skills, as they are complimented by facilities based on a commercial setting including glass houses, ornamental beds, shrub gardens and design studio.

Our experienced staff are well qualified to train the professional horticulturist, encourage the creative garden designer and develop the budding beginner. We also welcome the opportunity to work closely with employers to expand the skills of your workforce, and have a range of professional development and Work Based Diploma programmes to help build your business and meet the changing needs of the industry.

Many of our Work Based Diploma courses attract Government funding so your course could be free! Call us for more details on 01628 827426.

Courses available: Click on a course to find out more

Apprenticeships (opens in new window)
Work Based Diplomas
Garden Design (opens in new window)
RHS (opens in new window)
Horticulture Courses
Gardening Workshops

 

Work Based Diploma in Amenity Horticulture Level 2

These twelve month, day release programmes, are suitable for new employees and those who have been in the industry for some years and have attained knowledge and expertise and who now wish to obtain a recognised industry related qualification. It is possible to complete in a shorter timescale dependent on level of expertise.

The programmes require you to obtain 37+ credits via 70 mandatory and optional units; units are selected to meet the needs of the individual and their workplace.

Mandatory units include:
• Developing your personal performance
• Monitor and maintain health, safety and security in the workplace

For further information regarding Work Based Diplomas, start dates, and funding, please call 01628 827426.

 

Landscape - Level 2

A programme designed for landscape, garden and amenity area construction and maintenance employees.

Optional units include:
• Establish plants and/or seeds in soil
• Establish decorative amenity areas
• Construct water features
• Use and maintain pedestrian controlled powered equipment

Date Flexible training please contact us for dates and times
Course Code WB201-01A
   
Tuition Fee £850 (£R £30)
Total Fee £850 (£R £30)

 

Sports Turf Greenkeeper - Level 2

A programme designed for golf course and other sports turf employees.

Optional units include:
• Maintaining the health of sports turf
• Renovate and repair sports turf surfaces
• Use and maintain ride on powered equipment

Date Flexible training please contact us for dates and times
Course Code WB202-01A
   
Tuition Fee £850 (£R £30)
Total Fee £850 (£R £30)

 

Work Based Diploma in Amenity Horticulture Level 3

These are one year day release programmes. Learners will need to already have the NVQ Level 2 Amenity Horticulture qualification or equivalent and be planning and supervising projects and maintenance in the workplace.

The programmes require you to obtain 37+ credits via 70 mandatory and optional units; units are selected to meet the needs of the individual and their workplace.

Mandatory units:
• Promote, monitor and maintain health, safety and security
• Manage your own resources

 

Landscape - Level 3

A programme designed for landscape, garden and amenity area construction and maintenance employees.

Optional units include:
• Establish planted areas
• Plan and renovate planted areas
• Prepare and maintain equipment and machines
• Plan and manage the control of pest, disease and disorders

Date Flexible training please contact us for dates and times
Course Code WB210-01A
   
Tuition Fee £950 (£R £30)
Total Fee £950 (£R £30)

 

Sports Turf Greenkeeper - Level 3

A programme designed for golf course and other sports turf employees

Optional units include:
• Establish planted areas
• Safe use and application of pesticide
• Prepare to undertake and report on a field survey

Date Flexible training please contact us for dates and times
Course Code WB211-01A
   
Tuition Fee £950 (£R £30)
Total Fee £950 (£R £30)

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Horticulture Courses


Certificates in Gardening

Accredited by City and Guilds and the NPTC, these Level 2 courses are excellent opportunities for the keen gardener to develop skills in gardening and horticulture.

BCA offers both the Certificate in Gardening and the Practical Certificate. Each is assessed via external tests for each unit studied and students will be successful in these programmes if they achieve all assessments.

Certificate in Gardening*

The Certificate in Gardening covers 5 examined subjects

• Sites, soils and cultivation
• Trees, shrubs and hedges
• Plant propagation
• Growing vegetables and salads
• Wildlife gardening

Date Wednesday 08/09/10 – 11/05/11
Duration 30 weeks
Time 1015-1530
Course Code HO225-01A
   
Tuition Fee £447 (£R £30)
Awarding Body Fee £98
Total Fee £545 (£R £128)

 

Certificate in Gardening (Practical)*

The Certificate in Gardening (Practical) covers 5 examined subjects

• Beds and Borders
• Growing Fruit
• Garden Design
• Practical Gardening Tasks
• Pest, Weeds and Disease

Date Thursday 09/09/10-12/05/11
Duration 30 weeks
Time 1015-1530
Course Code HO278-01A
   
Tuition Fee £447 (£R £30)
Awarding Body Fee £98
Total Fee £545 (£R £128)

 

Certificate in Countryside Management - Level 3*

This course develops individuals knowledge and understanding of the countryside, it will cover conservation with a woodland management overview.

Date Tuesday 07/09/10-10/05/11
Duration 30 weeks
Time 0915-1645
Course Code HO279-01A
   
Tuition Fee £576 (£R £30)
Awarding Body Fee £tbc**
Total Fee £tbc** (£R £tbc**)

 

Gardening through the Year

Talks, demonstrations and hands-on experience covering seasonal topics including bulbs, house and garden plants, pruning, fruit and vegetable propagation, soils and fertilisers, pest and disease control and garden problem solving and advice. Learners will meet once a month for 8 months during the growing season.

Date Friday 17/09/10 – 17/06/11
Duration 8 sessions
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO412-01B
   
Tuition Fee £246 (£R £222)
Total Fee £246 (£R £222)

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Gardening Workshops

A selection of one and half days courses to develop your gardening skills and knowledge:

 

Creating Allotments

Develop the skills and understanding to create a productive allotment.

Date Friday 19/11/10
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO820-01B
   
Tuition Fee £27
Total Fee £27

 

Maintaining Allotments

Develop the skills and understanding to maintain a productive allotment.

Date Friday 10/06/11
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO821-01B
   
Tuition Fee £27
Total Fee £27

 

Climbers and Wall Shrubs

Give height to your garden by growing a range of plants to screen those eyesores. Clothe walls, fences and trellises with beautiful plants for flowers and foliage.

Date Friday 14/05/10
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO486-01B
   
Tuition Fee £24
Total Fee £24
   
   
Date Friday 13/05/11
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO486-01B
   
Tuition Fee £27
Total Fee £27

 

Encouraging Wildlife Gardening

Learn which plants and garden design techniques encourage wildlife for both enjoyment and to keep pest and disease in check.

Date Friday 06/05/11
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO500-01B
   
Tuition Fee £27
Total Fee £27

 

How to Show Plants

Advice on how to pick the right blooms/plants for showing and transporting them to show. Tricks and tips on what the Royal Horticulture Society are looking for when judging certain plant categories.

Date Friday 09/07/10
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO584-01B
   
Tuition Fee £24
Total Fee £24

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Hedge Laying Workshop

Learn the techniques in hedge laying.

Date Friday 11/03/11
Duration 1 day
Time 0915-1600
Course Code HO478-01B
   
Tuition Fee £54
Total Fee £54

 

Hurdle Making for Beginners

Learn the techniques of hurdle making

Date Friday 11/06/10
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO580-01B
   
Tuition Fee £24
Total Fee £24
   
   
Date Friday 10/06/11
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO580-01B
   
Tuition Fee £27
Total Fee £27

 

Organic Gardening

The principles of organic gardening.

Date Friday 18/03/11
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO302-01B
   
Tuition Fee £27
Total Fee £27

 

Pruning Fruit

Why and how do you prune for fruit? This course answers these questions and will demonstrate how to prune correctly to increase fruit production and fruit quality.

Date Friday 07/01/11
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO443-01B
   
Tuition Fee £27
Total Fee £27

 

Plant Identification

This day course is suitable for all who find it difficult to recognise plants or know the common name but find it hard to recall the botanical name, let alone spell it! Dispel the myth of Plant Taxonomy (Classification) and Plant Nomenclature (name) and learn how to simplify plant recognition and identification.

Date Friday 25/06/10
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO531-01B
   
Tuition Fee £24
Total Fee £24
   
   
Date Friday 24/06/11
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO531-01B
   
Tuition Fee £27
Total Fee £27

 

Pruning Shrubs

Learn about formative and routine pruning for trees and shrubs to improve and flowering and shape. The regeneration of mature and overgrown species will be covered.

Date Friday 11/02/11
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO446-01B
   
Tuition Fee £27
Total Fee £27
   
Date Friday 01/04/11
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO446-02B
   
Tuition Fee £27
Total Fee £27

 

Softwood Cuttings

Learn the secrets of getting plants for free. Investigate propagation techniques, including nodal and internodal cuttings, in order to achieve successful establishment and development of new young plants.

Date Friday 21/05/10
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO515-01-B
   
Tuition Fee £24
Total Fee £24
   
Date Friday 27/05/11
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO515-01B
   
Tuition Fee £27
Total Fee £27

 

Understanding your Soil

Investigate garden soil and understand which plants grow best where and why. Analyse your own soil in order to get to know it better to inform your own approaches to soil management.

Date Friday 08/10/10
Duration 1 morning
Time 0915-1230
Course Code HO518-01B
   
Tuition Fee £27
Total Fee £27

 

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* This is not a full Level 2 or Level 3, reduced fee eligibility will differ

** Awarding body fee not currently available. Please contact the College for total fee.

£R Reduced fees and concessions available, subject to conditions click here for more details.

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