Frequently Asked Questions

We take training you up to a professional standard very seriously. This includes:

• Limited group sizes
• Lead tutor: Caroline Tatham
• Professional training from other specialist experienced industry experts
• Lots of informative handouts
• Professional guidance with group feedback sessions
• Private tutorials
• Four live projects with real clients on a range of gardens
• Externally assessed and supported by Bridgwater & Taunton College
• Drawing up professional master layout plans
• Planting plans
• Presentation videos
• 3D drawings
• Introduction to how CAD can help
• SketchUp
• Desktop publishing
• Surveying
• Mood boards
• Sketchbooks
• Plant portfolio
• Marketing your new business
• Client process
• Case studies
• Volunteering opportunities

There are 30 days of training over the academic year, lockdowns permitting. In the event of a lockdown, our course content is backed up with pre-recorded videos and Zoom will be used for live feedback sessions to allow the course to continue.

There are three terms of ten weeks each, all with a short half-term too.

The course-specific prospectus includes term dates.

The course has been written so that you get information and feedback in class and that all of your project work is completed at home.

Feedback is offered regularly in class so that you will feel supported in what you are producing at home.

Practical exercises and project work is completed at home to ensure the most efficient use of the time that you are with us.

You will need at least one day per week for homework, and of course, the more time and effort that you are able to put into the course, the more you will get out of it.

It does not matter at all.

This course has been written for students of all levels.

We have years of experience in getting students to a standard of work, they never imagined possible.

You don't need any previous plant knowledge at all.

Learning about plants is a lifelong journey and it's lots of fun.

During the course, you will be undertaking a close study of 50 well-chosen plants with our help.

These plants will form the core of your future design plans.

Just as Caroline still uses her nifty fifty top plants, again and again. 

You'll be learning about those too.

Please don't worry! 

All of our courses are written to suit all levels of experience including absolute beginners.

We have a long track record of helping people to find their natural creativity.

We all have it - but some of us have been convinced otherwise by past teachers or our own inner doubts.

Getting in touch with your innate creativity can be a deeply rewarding experience. 

You will find a list and an explanatory video by clicking on the button above.

You will have the professional skills to help you establish a new career in garden design.

Most of our graduates go on to set up their own garden design practice.

You will meet some of our past graduates on the course when they come back to share their experiences and portfolios. 

You will be learning to use a basic desktop publishing package called Affinity Publisher. This will help with your professional drawings as well as your plant portfolio.

We will be encouraging you to try out SketchUp for 3D modelling - but if it's not for you - we will be offering lots of alternatives.

You will be using email and Dropbox regularly and if there is a lockdown we will be using Zoom to keep in touch.

Not a problem! 

Most students who come to us have no drawing experience at all.

You will be learning to draw with technical drawing pens but this will come with practice and does not require any artistic skill.

We follow the government guidelines carefully and remain open as long as it is legal to do so.

Lectures are backed up on video 'just in case' and we have successfully used Zoom this year where Lockdown has prevented students from coming into the school.

During lockdown, project feedback and live lectures have continued as usual - just with our students at home rather than in the school.

This is an intensive course with one day per week in class and at least one day of homework - ideally more.

Thirty study weeks form three terms of ten weeks each to make up the year.

This course is supported by Bridgwater & Taunton College who act as our external assessors and your certificate will bear their logo as well as ours.

Topics covered

1. Surveying

2. The creative process

3. Mood boards

4. Master layout plans

5. Planting plans

6. 3D visuals

Professional skills from using sketchbooks to working with reprographics centres, designing with computers, and using technical drawing equipment right through to specifications, costing, and advice about marketing your new business

Students join us from all walks of life and at all stages in their careers.

We do ask that you are willing to work hard and are highly motivated for a career in professional garden design.

We are very proud of the quality of our teaching and of the high standard of work that we set.

We start at 10:00 and finish at 16:00 on in-class days apart from events like project site visits and nursery visits.

The course costs £5,250 plus the cost of your equipment which you will source independently, but do ask for help finding everything if you need it.