Diploma Courses
We offer four Diploma Courses:
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Diploma Course in Garden Design
One Year Diploma Course - Two days per week
Course aims
As our core course, our reputation for training garden designers is internationally respected. In this diverse profession, we provide a structured comprehensive training covering all aspects from surveying and drawing up plans through to visuals, specifications, costing and job management. We aim not only to launch students on a career in garden design, but also to exploit their other relevant talents.
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Tuition
The course takes place over three ten-week terms, each with a half-term of one week, commencing in September. All students attend lectures on Mondays from 10.30am until 3.15pm, and are divided into two groups for studio on either Tuesday or Wednesday, which allows time for one-to-one guidance and review of project work. Progressive lectures provide technical knowledge and a vocabulary of plants; hard landscaping and plant portfolios provide reference material for future use. Work is marked by continuous and individual performance is monitored regularly. Our high reputation for graphics and presentation leads to confident professional drawing skills. Diplomas are only awarded to those who achieve the required pass mark in all exercises and projects including the plant and hardworks portfolios.
Project Work
Several projects of increasing complexity are undertaken, each involving a real garden with individual client problems and restrictions. Students are guided through the design process from initial client briefing and survey, to garden layout and planting plans, details, sections and visuals. Several short design projects for awkward sites are also included. All main projects are assessed. Additional projects must also be submitted to a high standard. All projects form part of a portfolio showing a wide range of garden sizes and styles, plus varying presentation techniques. Portfolios may be shown to future clients as a means of securing work.
Hard landscaping portfolio
This is an ongoing and comparative study of the different inert elements, such as terraces, steps and walls. Critical documentation of materials, their dimensions and how to use them provides an invaluable reference for future use.
Plant portfolio
This compilation of plant groupings for specific situations increases the understanding of plants, where and how they thrive, and how to group them for memorable effect. A learning curve which gives a deep insight into planting design.
Plants and How to Use Them
An important element of the course, students are taught an understanding of plants, appropriate site selection, combining foliage for form and texture, colour theory and using the colour wheel, and how and when to order from trade and retail nurseries.
Business Management
Lectures on how to obtain work, specification, costing, business management, and how to work with contractors help prepare students for individual careers.
The Syllabus
Autumn Term
- Graphics axonometric drawing, colouring and rendering, reprographics, title blocks and sheet layout
- Design theory
- Surveying measuring and drawing up, site analysis and appraisal
- Plants nomenclature and identification
- Trees and arboriculture
- Choosing and using plants for structure and form
- Hard landscaping an introduction
- Practice management, billing and the client/designer relationship
Project Work
Designing a town garden
Planting plans and elevations
Spring Term
Hard landscaping paved surfaces, steps and ramps
Ground shaping and levelling
Roof gardens and timber construction
Water features natural and manmade
Irrigation and drainage
Garden lighting
Business management writing specifications
Garden history from 15th 18th century
Plants climbers, roses, herbaceous perennials, ferns, grasses, annuals and half hardies, seasonal colour
Graphics perspective and visuals, sample and mood boards
Project Work
Suburban garden using water
Communal space area
Personality or themed garden
Summer Term
Hard landscaping theory to practice and 3D visualization
Garden history from 19th 21st century
Plants annuals and half hardies, wild flowers
Business management running your own design business, public relations and self promotion
Visits to specialist and trade nurseries and private gardens
Project Work
Country garden
Additional design projects such as knots and parterres, rose or roof gardens, planting for special situations, hard landscaping project.
Graduation and prize giving
Lecturers include
Rosemary Alexander AI Hort, FSGD - Principal and Course Director
Simon Pyle Dip EGS, Vice Principal
Stuart Gibbs
Caroline Holmes
Martin Kelley
Rachel Myers
Richard Sneesby
Lizzie Taylor
Julie Toll
Nicholas Tripp
For further details and fees, go to Applying for a Course.
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Diploma Course in Practical Horticulture
One Year Diploma Course - One day per week
Course Aims
This course will give the beginner, self-taught enthusiast, garden designer or new garden owner a comprehensive understanding of how to make and maintain a healthy and attractive garden. Basic horticulture techniques are explained, demonstrated and, on many occasions, opportunities arise for active participation in a real garden. Work on a garden log allows students to observe seasonal changes over the gardening year in their own garden, and preparation of a plant portfolio ensures an understanding of a wide range of plants.
Although the emphasis is on the ornamental garden, the syllabus also includes fruit and vegetable gardening. This course requires self-motivation and a degree of commitment from all students, requiring an additional two days per week to be spent on homework. Work must be well executed and submitted on time.
This course has recently been restructured. Now containing all the elements required by the syllabus of the Royal Horticultural Society, students are encouraged to sit the prestigious RHS examination leading to the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture.
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Tuition
The course takes place over three ten-week terms, each with a half-term of one week, and commencing in September. Classes are held on Tuesdays from 10.30am to 3.15pm, with the progressive lectures and visits providing technical knowledge and a plant vocabulary. Teaching is both theoretical and practical; hands-on experience gives confidence in handling plants, tools and machinery. Students require regular access to a garden to complete their project work. Diplomas are only awarded to those who achieve the required pass mark in all written exercises and projects, including the regular plant identification tests, plant portfolio and garden log studies.
Project Work
In addition to regular progressive studies, several seasonal projects are set throughout the growing year.
Visits
Seasonal visits to gardens and nurseries of interest are organised throughout the year. Practical days are held at Sandhill Farm House in Hampshire, Glyndebourne in East Sussex as well as the Royal Hospital in Chelsea.
The Syllabus
Autumn Term lecture subjects include -
- Briefing on garden log, plant portfolio and nomenclature
- Plant life and families
- Autumn and winter interest plants
- Bulbs theory and practical
- Lawns and meadows
- Tree planting and pruning
- Soils analysing and improving the soil
- Manures, mulches and making compost
- Glasshouses, potting sheds, mowers and safety
- Introduction to garden design
Projects
Garden log, plant portfolio, lawns exercise, plant worksheet, soils report and plant identification tests.
Spring Term lecture subjects include -
Early and late spring interest plants
Vegetable and fruit gardening
Plant health pests, diseases and weed control
Garden design site, aspect and association
Weed control and ground cover planting
Gravel gardens and herb gardens
Plants for form and foliage
Propagation practical - cleaning and sowing seeds, pricking out, taking cuttings
Pruning practical training wall plants, work on shrub and herbaceous borders
Visit to RHS garden at Wisley
Projects
Garden log, plant health exercise, propagation exercise, plant portfolio, Wisley work sheet exercise, plant identification tests.
Summer Term lecture subjects include -
Plants for form and foliage
Summer interest plants
Colour in the garden
The wild garden
Maintenance, efficiency and reducing the work load
Water gardens
Organic gardening, conservation and encouraging wildlife
Visit to water, arboretum and organic gardens
Projects
Complete garden log and plant portfolio
Maintenance review, water garden exercise and plant identification tests
Graduation and prize giving
Lecturers include:
Catherine Hayward, Course Director
Rosemary Alexander, Principal
Steven Bradley
Ken Burras
Sarah Cook
Derry Watkins
For further details and fees, go to Applying for a Course.
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Diploma Course in Plants and Plantsmanship
One Year Diploma Course - One day per week
Course Aims
This course gives a deep understanding of plants, their origins and how to grow and use them. Designed to Appeal to those with a working knowledge of horticulture, students are taken progressively through a wide range of ornamentals from the highly bred aristocrat to the reliable good doer, giving them an intimate appreciation of the most desirable stock, where to obtain it and how to combine for an effective grouping.
The course is invaluable for garden designers, authors, journalists and plant enthusiasts, helping guide them through the myriad of plants now available. A degree of commitment, interest, and self-motivation is expected from all students, and an additional one to one and half days per week should be spent on homework. Work must be well executed and handed in on time.
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Tuition
This course takes place over three ten-week terms, each with a half-term of one week, commencing in September. Classes are held on Wednesdays from 10.30am until 3.15pm. Progressive lectures, demonstrations and visits to gardens and nurseries give a deeper insight into growing and grouping plants. Teaching is both theoretical and practical; active participation is encouraged. Leading authorities discuss the difference between individual species and how to plant, propagate, prune and maintain. Diplomas are only awarded to those who achieve the required pass mark in all written exercises and projects.
Project Work
In addition to monthly Plant Observations students will submit four seasonal planting plans and various homework on plant comparisons, associations and groupings.
Visits
During the year several visits are organised to look at seasonal plants and plant combinations.
The Syllabus
Autumn Term lecture subjects include -
- Plant identification in and out of season
- History, habitat and ecology
- Bulbs using bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes
- Year round creative gardening for colour and the changing seasons
- Half hardies and subtropical plants
- Native and garden trees
- Living boundaries, ground cover and coping with shade
- Choice plants for August and November gaps, with Bob Brown
- Experiences of a plant hunter
- The winter garden
- Pruning techniques
- Soils and plant supports
- Visit to Wisley with Roy Lancaster
Projects
Monthly plant observations, study of a plant community, comparative study of trees, planting plan for autumn colour and effect.
Spring Term lecture subjects include -
Climbers and wall shrubs
Annual and conservatory climbers
Evergreens and topiary
Seasonal plant studies eg galanthus, magnolia, sarcococca
Perennials, planting principles, colour, plant hardiness
Ferns, wild flower meadows
Variegated and ornamental foliage
Plant responses, biological clock
Specialist plant studies of seasonal plants
Shrub and rose pruning day
Visit to Kew with Roy Lancaster
Projects
Monthly plant observations, winter planting plan, comparison of species with a genus, comparison of cultivars within a species.
Summer Term lecture subjects include -
Planning for different seasons
New ways with planting; habitats and ecology
Plant day
The evening garden
Early flowering herbaceous and seasonal plants
Ornamental grasses
Poisonous plants
Summer bulbs
Specialist plant studies eg iris, penstemon, philadelphus etc.
Projects
Scented plant associations, plant groupings for different habitats, monthly plant observations.
Graduation and prize giving
Lecturers include -
Rosemary Alexander, Principal
Matthew Biggs, Course director
Bob Brown
Roy Lancaster
Edward Flint
Christine Skelmersdale
Carol Klein
Marina Christopher
For further details and fees, go to Applying for a Course.
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Diploma Course in Botanical Painting
One Year Diploma Course - One day per week
Course Aims
Our Botanical Painting Diploma course, launched here by Anne Marie Evans in 1994, is regarded as partially responsible for the resurgence of interest in this ancient method of depicting plants. The School prides itself on the high level of achievement of its students who have gained places in the collection of the Hunt Institute of Botanical Documentation in Pittsburgh and the Shirley Sherwood Collection. Students have been awarded medals by the Royal Horticultural Society, have held exhibitions and one-man shows in London, the provinces and in the USA.
The training aims to teach the accurate illustration of plant material in watercolour by developing the necessary observational and drawing skills within a historical context. An understanding and appreciation of botany, as taught on the course, is deemed vital to realistic plant depiction.
Although previous experience is not required, a high degree of motivation, commitment and hard work is expected and an additional two days per week should be spent on homework.
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Tuition
The course takes place over three ten-week terms, each with a half-term of one week, commencing in January. Classes are held on Mondays from 10.30am 3.15pm. The rudiments of botanical painting are taught, mainly through a series of highly structured exercises. Practice of techniques and development of skills is expected between sessions. At the end of the academic year and to gain our diploma, students embark on a set project, and our diploma is awarded on its successful completion.
Students will gain an understanding of the principles and requirements of this particular form of art; observe a specimen and be able to select and represent its diagnostic features; draw the specimen to render clearly and accurately its structure and distinctive features; represent in a true and realistic manner the colour and form of the plant; produce work that combines aesthetic merit with scientific truth.
Projects
In order to qualify for the Diploma, students must complete a project in their own time within the year following their course. The set project consists of five paintings on a chosen theme.
Visits
Several visits to galleries and museums are arranged throughout the year.
The Syllabus
Spring Term concentrates on acquiring observational and drawing skills, to include -
- Materials and equipment, different paper surfaces
- Role of light, rendering in two and three dimensional forms, using pencil
- Introduction to perspective
- Drawing instruction, watercolour in monochrome, use of washes and shading
- Botany, morphology and a basic botanical vocabulary
- Drawing a complex form
- Visit to RHS Lindley Library
Summer Term considers colour, the mixing of pigment and application of layers of washes, to include -
Analysis of complex forms; principles of graphic expression
Painting in monotone, drawing in the field
Painting procedure; continuation of form in colour
Leaves
Convex and concave surfaces within a 3D form
Visits to Kew and The Natural History Museum
Autumn Term deals with composition, identifying and solving more technical problems, refining drawing skills, to include -
Problems in colour, tone and texture, shiny surfaces, miniature techniques
Painting detail, texture effects, cross sections, analysis of complex forms
Aerial perspective, rendering of textures, reflected light on contours and curves
Painting on vellum
Botanical dissection procedures, conventions of graphic representation
Presentation, display and reference to botanical artists of the past
Visit to The Linnaean Society
Graduation and prize giving, after completion of the set project
Lecturers include -
Helen Allen BA (Hons) PG CERT, ED - Course Director
Anne Marie Evans
Sarah Gould
Susanna Stuart-Smith
For further details and fees, go to Applying for a Course.
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