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Garden Design Home Study Courses

GardenersWorkGardenersWork Posts: 5
in Garden design

I'm hoping to embark on a home-study Garden Design course/diploma and have discovered that there are several different colleges/groups that offer courses.

RHS courses seem to be really expensive generally and I would need to do a college-based course (which I can't as I need to work full time)

Has anyone here done the courses run by either the British Academy of Garden Design or the National Design Academy?

They are both accredited to various national/government bodies but is one better than the other?

Thanks

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Posts

  • Dave2356Dave2356 Posts: 42

    I'm also looking at HCC courses. These have been recommended by some people on the forum. Too much choice!

    I'd be interested in any replies, so I'll watch this thread

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 54,353

    I used KLC, based in London, some years ago. It was an open, distance course as I had to be able to work from home. I got about two thirds of the way through it but had to stop for various reasons. I think they advertise in all the gardening mags but you could try googling them image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Dave2356Dave2356 Posts: 42

    I've been looking at KLC for a while, but the course is up to 3 times more expensive that the others. Looks professional though

  • NorthernLass2NorthernLass2 Posts: 407

    Are you doing it for pleasure or because you're wanting to change career and do it for a job.    I ask because if it's the latter then it might be worth the investment for the RHS course and they do have distant learning providers so you might not have to attend much.

    I've never even heard of the other two.

     

  • GardenersWorkGardenersWork Posts: 5

    I'm doing it for work. I've found the RHS price two to three times more expensive than some of the others. ... I'm currently a self employed gardener with no qualifications in this field but would like to be able to add garden design for residential customers to my skill base. I know the RHS courses are recognised in the industry so will be properly laid out courses. The other two 'academies' look like good courses on their website but I wanted to know if anyone had actually done them and could warrant that they were. ... my finances are tight. But I don't want to waste my time and money on a course that means nothing to no one! Thanks

  • sand8sand8 Posts: 23

        i did the RHS L2 course last year at my local college, wasn't garden design though it was the planting, propogating side etc. It was very good but it could have done with more content and at £700 it wasn't cheap.  

    Any course will only be as good as the college provider so although the RHS courses are recognised in the industry, I agree with you and would rather go for a good provider than just pick a course because of the RHS badge.

  • GardenersWorkGardenersWork Posts: 5
    Thank you Sand8. image
  • Glen PatrickGlen Patrick Posts: 2

    I would love to know what your findings were Gardeners Work? Who did you choose in the end as I am now in the same predicament  regards Glen.

  • tommy btommy b Posts: 1

    I too am considering enrolling on a course at British Academy of Garden Design and would be very grateful to hear about first hand experiences with them or what people have heard about them?

  • david negusdavid negus Posts: 10

    Would also like to know about this! 

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