A Distance Learning Course of 12 Lessons

Explore the art of garden design in this comprehensive course. You will learn the fundamental elements of style, basic techniques and professional tricks necessary to design the gardens of your dreams.

Professional garden design is something that is inspirational and is essentially solving the various logistical problems associated with what you have to work with, where to position such items as pathways, swimming pools, tennis courts, water features, flower beds and which plants would be most suited. Good garden design adds these ingredients to create a style in keeping with the site, the house and your client's requirements.

The whole process of design begins long before you put pen to paper. Your initial job is to find out just what you have and then what you want to achieve based on this initial fact finding.

Once this basic analysis is completed, you can then move on to the fun job of preparing the design.

Introduction - Garden Design Influences

Client-Designer Relationship -The Basic Principles of Garden Design

Planning the Garden

Taking measurements

Drawing the Plan

Preparing the garden

Equipment, Tools, Soil and Irrigation

Surfaces

Lawns and Steps

Planting

Garden features

Costing and estimation

Qualification 1: Garden Design Diploma

Garden Design Diploma issued by Stonebridge Associated Colleges, entitling you to use the letters SAC Dip after your name.

Qualification 2: Level 3 Garden Design Award

This Course leads to an NCFE Level 3 Award Certificate for successful learners. This means that it is independently accredited at a level of learning equivalent to level 3 on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland (in which case GCSE's are at levels 1 and 2 and A Levels are at level 3). In accrediting the programme at level 3, NCFE attests that its learning outcomes are at an equivalent level to a level 3 national qualification.

This award has been designed by Stonebridge Associated Colleges to meet specific learners' or employers' requirements. Accreditation by NCFE is a guarantee of quality. It means that this learning programme has been scrutinised and approved by an independent panel of experienced educational professionals and is quality audited biannually by NCFE.

With this course you will have unlimited access to your own personal tutor who specialises in their field of study. It is your personal tutor's role to ensure that you receive constructive feedback and to deal with any queries you may have. You are more than welcome to telephone, fax or email your personal tutor. You will also have access to a dedicated and friendly team of administrators and course advisors who offer sound and professional guidance and advice when you need it. This ensures that you will never feel neglected and that you will always succeed!

There is no experience or previous qualifications required for enrolment on this course. It is available to all students, of all academic backgrounds.

This is only an approximate figure and is dependant upon how much time you can dedicate to your studies and how well you grasp the learning concepts in the course material. Furthermore, at the end of each lesson there is a question paper that needs to be completed and returned to your tutor. You should allow at least 1 - 2 hours of study to complete each question paper.

The approximate amount of time required to complete the course is: 120 hrs.

Additional Information

Available in paper or online versions. Please select at bottom of the page.

Assessment Method
After each lesson there will be a question paper, which needs to be completed and submitted to your personal tutor for marking. This method of continual assessment ensures that your personal tutor can consistently monitor your progress and provide you with assistance throughout the duration of the course.

What's Included
All study materials
Study Guide
Full Tutor and Admin support
The course fee includes the awarding body registration and certification fee (valued at up to £30.00).

What is NCFE
NCFE is the UK's longest established awarding body, recognised as a highly professional and responsive organisation, committed to maintaining excellent customer service and a friendly approach.

NCFE is recognised as an awarding body by the qualification regulators ('regulators') for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. The regulators are the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) in England, the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS) in Wales and the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) in Northern Ireland.

Accreditation by NCFE is a guarantee of quality. It means that a learning programme has been scrutinised and approved by an independent panel of experienced educational professionals and is quality audited biannually by NCFE. Learners successfully completing NCFE accredited programmes receive an externally accredited and nationally recognised NCFE certificate.