Course Aim

This course provides students with a wide range of skills. It prepares them for entry into the National Diploma course or for employment as landscape operatives, nursery workers or groundspersons. This is a practically based course where the emphasis is on gaining skills that will improve employment opportunities.

Course Content

“…green plants would have been growing on land well before the sudden appearance of many new species of animals…” (Earth story: Plants arrived early , BBC website)

Green plants are essential to life on earth as they produce the oxygen most life forms depend on.  They provide food, building materials (wood, straw) fibre (cotton, hemp and linen), medicines and playing surfaces for sports as well as being aesthetically pleasing providing the green space of parks, the beauty of the countryside, and ornamental displays in gardens.

In this course you will learn how to handle and nurture plants from seed through to maturity or harvest and undertake vegetative propagation of ornamental species (cuttings).

You will learn about plant nutrient requirements and water requirements. You will look at the pests, diseases and disorders that can affect plants and the methods used to control these. You will also learn about laws and regulations that influence your work with plants.

Finally, you will have the opportunity to develop your horticultural skills in practical out-door skills training .

The units you will study are Horticultural machinery, Turf establishment and maintenance, Decorative horticulture, and Estate skills. Your core units are Industry experience which will mean you spend at least 120 hours in a placement, we encourage you find your own placement which will meet you learning and skill needs best. The other core unit is Industry and Organisations where you get a chance to investigate the sectors of Horticulture and the allied industries.

Career Destinations

Students can follow careers in garden centres, nurseries, golf courses, landscape companies and local authorities in a wide range of jobs. Other options include horticulture therapy, education and training or becoming self-employed.