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) |
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) |
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 |
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 |
* 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.
