Gardening Courses Info 2020/21

greenhouse walled garden flowers flowerbed stately home

We are delighted to have reopened our doors in July with all of the necessary COVID-19 related precautions in place. We really look forward to welcoming you back.

Choose a course then get in touch to make a booking or for more information. Alternatively, if looking for someone else you could always get them a gift voucher.

All of our courses and workshops include refreshments and homemade biscuits or cake.

COURSE PROGRAMME 2020/21

QUALIFICATIONS

RBGE Certificate in Practical Horticulture

10 week course once a week £750

The Certificate in Practical Horticulture (CPH) is a unique course that focuses on the essential skills needed by budding horticulturalists today. As a CPH student you will learn key practical skills, taught by experienced and enthusiastic horticulturalists. The essential theory behind the practice is explained, then most of the time is spent learning practical skills and getting your hands dirty. Subjects covered on the course include Soil Care, Feeding & Watering, Seed & Vegetative Propagation and Growing Media. At the end a certificate is awarded by The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) who developed the course.

Please note that there may be funding available to help with course fees. Contact us for further details.

20th January for 10 weeks on Wednesdays, 9.30-4.30

21st April for 10 weeks on Wednesdays, 9.30-4.30

24th April for 10 weeks on Saturdays, 9.30-4.30

15th September for 10 weeks on Wednesdays, 9.30-4.30

DESIGN
Introduction to Garden Design

8 week course once a week £550

The course gives a basic foundation in the art of garden design, from site survey to final plan. You'll be able to work on your own garden design if you would like to. We will look at the principles and processes involved, and discuss how great design is not about being artistic. We will visit an inspiring private garden, look at the key importance of right plant, right place. We will create planting plans using many different resources. It will be a collaborative process, with as much input as you want from the tutors.

14th January for 8 weeks on Thursdays 10-3 - FULLY BOOKED

22nd April for 8 weeks on Thursdays 10-3

9th September for 8 weeks on Thursdays 10-3

PLANTS

Planting Pots and Containers

1 day course £80 (includes plants, bulbs, growing medium, bring pots or buy on the day)

This looks at different styles of container and different approaches to planting them for the coming months. You can bring containers with you to plant up, or there will be some available to purchase. Plants, bulbs and growing medium are included. Spring/summer and autumn/winter course available.

The Cutting Garden

1 day course £60

This course is taught by leading local cut flower grower, Sarah Hammond, and covers the planning and establishment of a cutting garden, however small or large your space.

15th September 10-3 FULLY BOOKED

9th October 10-3 FULLY BOOKED

Peony and Dahlia Day

One day course £85 (including flowers)

This is a new course during which we will focus on two very special summer flowers, the peony and the dahlia, which Sarah Hammond of English Peonies grows here in Norfolk. We will first look at how to propagate and grow peonies as well as how to harvest and condition them. We will then look at dahlias, including overwintering, planting, cultivating and protecting from pests. Sarah will also look at the cultivars which are most suitable for cut flowers. You will make an arrangement of Norfolk summer flowers including dahlias to take home with you. We will provide all materials, flowers and foliage, plus homemade cake and refreshments.

contact us for more info or to book a place

Planting for Pollinators (inc Wildflower Meadow)

1 day course £75

How do you attract more insects, small mammals and birds into your garden and how do you keep bees and other pollinators happy? We will look at how to garden and what to plant in order to attract wildlife. We will make some habitats for different creatures and look specifically at wild flower meadows.

23rd April 10-3

Planting for Year-Round Colour

1 day course £60

We will look at how to plan and plant for year-round colour, using shrub stems and a range of leaf colours as well as flowering bulbs, perennials and annuals. The course will also cover techniques to extend summer flowering. There will always be a high and a low season in the garden but with some careful planting you can have colour in your garden all year.

25th September 10-3 FULLY BOOKED

19th November 10-3

Gardening For A Changing Climate

1 day course £60

Many of us are finding that plants which we used to be able to grow just don’t survive any more. A hot summer like 2018 killed off perennials and even trees which had been flourishing for years, and even though 2019 wasn’t as hot as the year before it was certainly a fairly dry summer. We need to begin to change our planting to cope with changing average rainfall and temperatures. In this course we will look at how to plant a ‘drought’ garden, a gravel garden such as Beth Chatto’s famous example and a rain garden. We will also look at how pests and diseases are evolving with the change in climate, and how we need to garden accordingly.

13th October 10-3

contact us to find out more info or to book your place

Border Renovation

1 day course £60

You may have taken on a new garden or have a mature border which needs some attention. We will look at how to lift and divide perennials, prune and renovate shrubs, refresh the planting plan and increase the season of interest. We will look at how using colour, height and shape, as well as successional planting can provide year round interest. We will also talk about improving the soil structure with a range of organic mulches.

16th October 10-3

Plants For Free – Propagation and Seed Saving

1 day course £60

This highly practical course shows you how to propagate many of your favourite plants and shrubs and create new plants for free. We will collect material for cuttings or you can bring your own. We will also look at seed saving and storage. Expect to leave the course with newly propagated plants and some envelopes of seeds.

29th September 10-3 FULLY BOOKED

17th November 10-3

Gardening Under Glass

1 day course £60

You may have recently acquired a greenhouse or inherited one and you may be wondering how best to use it. The things you can grow under glass are endless: flowers, tropical plants, vines, vegetables. You can also use your greenhouse to get going early with seeds and to protect tender plants through the winter. You can have things growing and looking good all year round if you’d like to. This course will look at all these options and cover the key tips for what to grow and how to get the most out of your greenhouse, including watching out for potential pests and diseases.

6th October 10-3

Care of Fruit Trees

1 day course £60

This course will cover everything from selecting fruit trees to planting and staking them, and from training fruit trees (espalier, cordon, pleached) to annual pruning and protection from pests and diseases. We have examples of plum, apple and pear trees trained on the walls of the Walled Garden which we will look at, as well as the original orchard on the estate.

20th November 10-3

contact us to find out more or to book a place

Planting Trees, Shrubs & Hedges

1 day course £60

This is the best time of year to plant new trees, shrubs and hedges. The key to establishing them successfully is planting correctly. We will look at planting methods, support, protection and irrigation. The day includes tree planting practice.

15th November 10-3

Lawn Care and Maintenance

1 day course £75

This course will show you how to care for your lawn, whether it is a hard working family lawn or a pristine ornamental lawn. We will look at the right equipment for the job, at the best seed mixes for the lawn you want, weed control, common diseases, lawn repair and the lawn care calendar.

Developing An Annual Maintenance Plan

1 day course £60

Whether you look after your garden yourself or have some help it is really useful to create your own maintenance plan to make sure you know what needs doing each month. There are things which need doing at particular times of year, but much of the plan will be specific to your own garden. We will cover the whole gardening year and how to make sure you do all of the key jobs at the right time. This is a useful exercise for any gardener, including professional gardeners who can use this to create a work plan for each garden they look after. We run this course after every Introduction to Garden Design as it is a good follow up, but anyone is welcome to join.

12th November 10-3

contact us to find out more or to book a place

Creating A Green Wall

1 day course £75

If you would like a herb garden outside your back door but don’t have the space, or if you would like some vertical greenery on your patio or even on a balcony this could be your solution. We will create a green wall using a pallet and two different ways of planting. We will also show you how to incorporate irrigation to minimise maintenance of this mini garden. Come and get creative.

contact us to find out more or to book a place

VEGETABLES AND COMPOSTING

Your Veg Patch

1 day course £75

Have you started growing vegetables for the first time recently or have you just taken on an allotment? If you are new to growing edibles this covers all you need to know about establishing and maintaining a vegetable garden. We will cover crop rotation and successional sowing to ensure you eat your own vegetables for most of the year. We will look at what you could be eating now and what you should be sowing now to eat later in the year.

Friday 12th February 10-3

Friday 16th April 10-3

Thursday 8th July 10-3

Friday 8th October 10-3

Composting Made Simple

1 day course £50

This looks at why and how to compost. We’ll cover all the different ways to compost including wormeries, what you can compost and how you can use your wonderful compost to improve your garden. We will also design and build a compost box.

20th Oct 10-2

PRUNING

Summer Pruning

1 day course £75

This is an introduction to what and why to prune in summer as well as to the different pruning methods required for a range of shrubs. There will also be a hands-on, practical session where we will use various tools and methods to carry out seasonal pruning including spring flowering and tender shrubs, fruit trees, hedges, climbers, evergreens and specifically rambling roses and Wisteria.

Pruning Shrubs and Roses

1 day course £60

This is an introduction to the different pruning methods required for a range of shrubs including roses. We will also do a practical session where we will use various tools and methods to carry out seasonal pruning.

2nd Oct 10-3

Renovation Pruning

1 day course £60

This is an introduction to pruning, combining essential theory with a practical session on renovating shrubs and small trees. This will cover how to restore overgrown shrubs which may not have been pruned for some years, when to prune fruit trees and bushes, when to prune evergreen and deciduous shrubs.

6th November 10-3

FLORISTRY AND ART

Floristy

Sarah Hammond teaches our floristry and wreath making workshops as well as our cutting garden courses (see above for these and our Dahlia and Peony workshops). She runs English Peonies, a very successful local cut flower and floristry business. Her hand-tied bouquets are available at various local outlets, farmers markets and direct from the farm. Sarah also arranges flowers for events, weddings, funerals, private clients and local businesses. She grows her flowers and peonies on her family farm in North Norfolk and uses no foam at all in her arrangements.

See above for details of Dahlia and Peony Masterclasses.

Autumn Flowers – cutting, conditioning and arranging

Morning workshop £55 (including flowers)

Sarah Hammond will talk about how to select, cut and condition flowers to make them last longer. Using locally grown autumn flowers and foliage you will then learn how to create your own beautiful hand-tied bouquet. We want to inspire you to make your own unique bouquets with your home-grown flowers or ones you have bought. We will provide all materials, flowers and foliage, plus homemade cake and refreshments.

Friday 23rd October 10-1

Christmas wreath workshops 2020

Morning workshop £60 (including all materials and refreshments)

Sarah will show you how to make your own gorgeous and unique festive wreath from scratch using locally gathered seasonal foliage and berries as well as moss (and no foam at all). We will start the morning with coffee and homemade mince pies to get you in the mood and finish with a festive glass of fizz. Classes are small and if you book early you may be able to arrange a private workshop for you and your friends.

Friday 27th Nov 10-1

Thursday 3rd Dec 10-1 - 1 SPACE LEFT

Friday 4th Dec 10-1

Sunday 6th Dec 10-1

Thursday 10th Dec 10-1

Print making
Gillian Francis has 26 years' experience teaching art and design to all age ranges and is a specialist tutor for vulnerable young people. She works in film and theatre as an Art Director and as a freelance creative practitioner. Gillian is Director of Make Play Ltd which is a venue for arts, well-being and education in Norwich.

Botanical and Textural Print Making

6 week course once a week £360

This is for anyone who loves the natural world and would like to create beautiful, unique prints. Explore, collect and sketch in the beautiful autumnal grounds of Ketteringham Hall. Develop your creative skills using techniques in Dry Point Etching, Collagraph and Lino Printing. Experiment with surface treatments and colour processes to transform your mementos into rich and detailed prints. You can be a complete beginner with no drawing or print making experience. We will provide all materials and homemade refreshments.

Monday 28th Sept - Monday 9th Nov (with half term break) 10-3

HARD LANDSCAPING

Basic bricklaying

1 day course £60

The course will include:

Tools, equipment and materials - what to use and why; quantifying materials; foundation types; setting out correctly; mortar mixes; building a brick corner.

Wednesday 28th Oct 10-3 FULLY BOOKED

Creating a small wildlife pond

1 day course £60

The aim of this course is to show participants how to build a basic pond using a flexible liner. We will make a small pond on site by the end of the day. You will be taught about the types of pond, formal, informal or nature pond, how to site your pond, tools and equipment required and how to quantify materials, how to choose an edging. Following this we will mark out, excavate and level then line with underlay and liner, before filling and edging.

Date tbc

Basic slab laying

1 day course £60

This course will teach the basics of the patio laying process from measuring up and quantifying through excavation and levelling to slab laying to a fall and final pointing up. Aimed at gardeners who want to add construction techniques to their repertoire.

Date tbc

Erecting panel fencing

1 day course £60

The aim of this course is to show students how to erect a panel fence using wooden or concrete posts, You will be taught about the different types of fence available, how to quantify and order materials and practically how to mark out and erect a panel fence.

Date tbc

get in touch to book a course or find out more

Norfolk School of Gardening

Gardening Courses Info 2020/21