Allotments 4 All

what is the best way to get some qualification or training in horticulture ?

Preferably part time or night course (so I can do this after work)

anyone done anything like this ?

Thanks
Chris

The RHS Certificate in Horticulture would be a good place to start:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/education/exams.asp

This can be done as an evening course over about 18 months. There are also self study options you can do.

I have not done it but I am tempted if I could find the time.

Jerry

Hi Chris H, yes i've done long distance courses, a leisure gardens course and recieved a CREDIT, and now i'm doing and RHS garden course with www.learning-curve.org, really enjoying it, check out the courses & prices.
10-12 Modules, course work assignment sent to you, you can return by post or e-mail,
hope you have fun
hope this helps
windy :D

Yeah, I'm doing the RHS Level 2 wossit as an evening course at the local college. Seems to cover a nice range of material, though if you go to college expect a fairly low standard of teaching and you'll need to nerd over gardening books a lot as well. 18 month course costs a couple of hundred quid, too.

Melanie

I started a correspondence course 30 years ago - it was c..p!!

Quote from: fluffygrue on March 08, 2006, 17:41:07
though if you go to college expect a fairly low standard of teaching
Melanie

I think this must depend on the college, as I am currently doing an RHS course at the BCA and find the teaching very good, though it obviously has to cater for complete beginners so at times it can be slow, but it does mean there is less pressure  ;D  Really the RHS course is geared towards the "more you put in, the more you'll get out"  The RHS certificate course is very diverse and covers a bit of everything and I think is an excellent starter.

mat

Oh, I'm sure - my thing was not from any college. It was DISMAL. Only goes to show what pains you suffer to find a good place?

Thanks all

time to start looking at all the different courses to see what looks interesting

The best college course is experience. I have 2 good qualifacation in Horticulture. They are good on paper but the best way to learn is like I said get out there and get your hands dirty and make mistakes.

The_Snail

Quote from: the_snail on March 08, 2006, 21:22:14
but the best way to learn is like I said get out there and get your hands dirty and make mistakes.
The_Snail

Yep, and the garden and allotment help me do this  ;D

mat

I would always advise doing a course at a college if you possibly can. It is so much better to be able to talk things through with both your teacher/lecturer & indeed others on the course. I think the info you pick up that way is as valuable as the course itself. You can then link it to your own experiences.

You might look at City & Guilds in addition to the RHS. I believe they are more practical, but someone else might have more info.

Good idea to study.  I did RHS one day a week.  Lots of work but lots of fun too.  C & G Practical Gardening is another option.  Both course can be done as an evening class.  I went to Shuttleworth College in Bedfordshire, part of Writtle College.

Having your own lottie will help as you can relate the teaching to what you've already learned on your plot.

If you just use a search engine (google or similar) and put in NVQ horticulture, it gives lots of courses, from level 1 to level 5. When I was working I was an NVQ assessor. To my mind, NVQ is the right way to go about learning skills. Hope this is of assistance.