This qualification provides a route to employment in professional horticulture by developing essential horticultural skills and assessing knowledge of the principles underpinning horticultural practices and supports career developments for those already working in the profession. It also provides a foundation for further horticultural training.
All 16-19 year olds on full-time programmes will be required to retake GCSE English and Maths or to undertake Functional Skills, if they have not already attained the equivalent of a GCSE grade 4/5 in these subjects, every year of their course, until they complete their studies.
Those wishing to gain employment within the horticulture industry or undertake higher level studies.
At Merrist Wood we have over thirty years experience in providing specialist training in landscape construction and amenity horticulture. Practical work is carried out in our dedicated landscape workshops and the extensive college grounds under the direction of skilled and experienced tutors from the industry.
What you'll learn
Course content includes:
Units year 1 –
- Professional working responsibilities
- Plant and Soil Science
- Identification, planting and care of plants
- Routine plant management
- Plant propagation activities
- Work experience in the land-based sectors
- Estate skills
Units year 2 –
- Contemporary issues in the land-based sectors
- Tree and Shrub pruning and maintenance
- Land-based Machinery operations
- Participating in Horticultural tasks at events
- Resource and operations planning for event-based Horticultural Activities
- Nursery stock production
- Landscape and Garden design
- Identification, planting and care of trees
How you'll learn and be assessed
A combination of practical and theory sessions based in the classroom, workshop or extensive college grounds.
Progression
Foundation Degree , BSc, HND or work in the horticulture industry.
Entry requirements
You need to have 4 GCSE’S at grade 4 and above including English, Maths and Science, or a relevant L2 qualification at merit or above. (if the learner has dropped to a grade 3 in Maths only please put through to faculty approval so we can assess overall grade profile)
Additional information
You must be able to demonstrate your commitment to the course and should be aware that individual directed study will be necessary to complete the course. Visits are made to local gardens, work sites and nurseries.
