Practical Horticulture Skills Diploma

This course is for adults aged 19 and over.

It will suit people who enjoy working outdoors with plants and in green spaces. It is suitable for people who want to develop their horticultural skills, begin a career in horticulture, or for people who want to simply explore their personal interest in gardening.

Below are the units delivered on this course, for each unit you’ll learn theory and practical skills.

Units:

• Prepare ground or area for planting
• Plant out container-grown plants
• Plant a tree
• Apply fertiliser to plants
• Prune deciduous spring-flowering shrubs
• Plant out plants in rows by hand
• Propagate plants indoors from seed
• Sow seeds outdoors by hand
• Propagate plants by stem cuttings
• Propagate plants by leaf cuttings
• Identify plants by botanical name

4 GCSEs at Grade 3 or above, including Maths and/or English or a Level 1 Diploma in a relevant subject plus GCSEs in Maths and/or English, or a Functional Skills qualification in Maths and/or English.

We will invite you to a Course information meeting event where you will receive information, advice, and guidance about the course you have applied for. This will be an opportunity for you to gain valuable information about the course and give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have.

You will provide a copy of your last school report and/or a reference from an employer or relevant professional other. This is to ensure we can support you to be able to achieve well on the course.

Some Level 2 Technical qualifications may require a slightly higher entry requirement based on the specific content of the course. This may include having English or Maths at Grade 4

We are firmly committed to finding the right course for you to ensure that you can flourish.

Talk to us today if you have any concerns about the application process; we are here to help take you to the next level.

This is an intensive course which requires excellent attendance and commitment to study, at college and at home.

To join the course, you must be passionate about horticulture, have an interest in working with plants and soil outdoors and in all weathers.

A good level of physical fitness is also required as the course involves physically demanding tasks.

You will attend college one day a week and for one year during term time the course will be taught through a combination of on-site delivery in the classroom and the Horticulture gardens plus home study each week.

This is a practical course with some classroom-based sessions to provide necessary theory to enhance your learning.

You will be taught by an experienced horticulture tutor at our specialist centre at South Bristol Skills Academy. You will undertake a variety of activities at college. Each topic you study on this course will be assessed separately throughout the year by practical course work and written assessments.

You must pass all practical and written assessments to achieve this qualification.

There are many organisations looking to employ people with a Level 2 horticulture qualification including:

• Garden centres
• Public and private gardens
• Parks and green spaces
• Leisure venues
• Garden design and maintenance companies

You may prefer to set up your own business, for example, as a gardener, a specialist plant grower or an organic vegetable producer, as a landscape designer or in garden maintenance.

Alternatively, you may want to put your knowledge to good use at home in your own garden.

As a City of Bristol College student, you may incur additional costs to attend your course. For example, it is likely you may need to pay for travel, your own safety boots, gloves and suitable wet and cold weather clothing and you will need your own writing materials and folders.

If you are on a limited income, you may be able to receive help from our Learner Support Funding Bursary.