Gardening Courses Info 2020/21

greenhouse walled garden flowers flowerbed stately home

We are delighted to be open and running courses with all of the necessary COVID-19 related precautions in place. We really look forward to welcoming you to the School soon.

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. Class sizes are small to give you the best experience and to optimise any practical elements.

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 and very popular course which 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 FULLY BOOKED

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. 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, looking at design principles and features in practice, as well as 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 lots of input and support from the tutor.

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

Border Design

2 day course £150

This new two-day course will equip you with skills and ideas to draw up your own border design. You'll learn how to compose a planting scheme by exploring colour theory, plant combinations and styles, layering, seasonality and scale. We'll also look at practical considerations, such as soil type and aspect, and learn how to choose the right plant, for the right place.

19th & 26th March 10-3

25th June & 2nd July 10-3

12th & 19th November 10-3

Designing Pots and Containers

1 day course £75

We will take a look at different styles of container and different approaches to planting them for the coming months. This will include an overview of design principles and colour theory and how to use them to create impact with your containers in both small and large gardens, as well as examples of specific planting combinations for you to try out yourself.

7th May 10-3

10th September 10-3

PLANTS AND PLANTING
The Cutting Garden

1 day course £75

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.

9th February 10-3

7th September 10-3

22nd October 10-3

Dahlia Workshops

Workshop A, 3 hour workshop £55

This first workshop will look at how to propagate, grow and get the best from these beautiful plants. This will include overwintering, planting, cultivating and protecting from pests. Sarah will look at the cultivars which are most suitable for cut flowers.

25th March 10-1

Workshop B, 3 hour workshop £65 (takes place at Sarah’s farm in Knapton and includes flowers)

A follow up workshop where we will explore cutting, conditioning and arranging dahlias. You will make an arrangement to take home with you.

9th July 10-1

These workshops can be booked separately.

Peony Masterclass

1 day course £90 (inc flowers)

This will take place at Sarah Hammond’s farm in Knapton where she grows her famous peonies. The workshop will cover how to propagate and grow peonies as well as how to harvest, condition and arrange them.

The day will include a visit to the peony field and you will make a hand-tied bouquet to take home using peonies and other flowers from the cutting garden.

11th June 10-3

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 £75

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 and interest in your garden all year.

5th March 10-3

8th June 10-3

17th September 10-3

18th November 10-3

Scent in Your Garden

1 day course £75

Scent can have a really beneficial effect on mood and is often highly evocative of places and people we have known. It should be as important as colour, texture and structure and yet it is often overlooked when designing a bed, a collection of pots or a whole garden. It may be a surprise to learn that many winter plants are highly fragrant, or that climbers, trees and hedges can be scented as well as herbs, roses and other flowers. This course will look at how to maximise the effect of fragrant plants in your garden, whatever the size or style of your space.

14th April 10-3

Gardening For A Changing Climate

1 day course £75

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 2020 wasn’t as hot there were many weeks with no rain at all. 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.

12th March 10-3

1st October 10-3

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

Border Renovation

1 day course £75

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.

5th February 10-3

15th October 10-3

Plants For Free – Propagation and Seed Saving

1 day course £80

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. Includes growing medium, containers and all plant material.

16th March 10-3

14th May 10-3

21st September 10-3

16th November 10-3

Gardening Under Glass

1 day course £75

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.

23rd March 10-3

18th June 10-3

19th October 10-3

Fruit Tree Care

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.

11thDecember 10-3

2nd February 10-3 £75

25th November 10-3 £75

contact us to find out more or to book a place

Trees, Hedge & Shrub Planting

1 day course £75

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.

13th January 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.

26th February 10-3

9th April 10-3

8th September 10-3

Developing An Annual Maintenance Plan

1 day course £75

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.

18th March 10-3

24th June 10-3

11th 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.

21st May 10-3

7th July 10-3

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

workshop £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.

15th April 10-2

9th October 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.

14th July 10-3

Pruning Shrubs and Roses

1 day course £75

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.

23rd February 10-3

11th May 10-3

2nd November 10-3

Renovation Pruning

1 day course £75

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.

22nd January 10-3

30th November10-3

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 £60 (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 refreshments.

Friday 5th November 10-1

Christmas Wreath workshops

Morning or afternoon 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 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

Thursday 3rd Dec 2-5

Friday 4th Dec 10-1 FULLY BOOKED

Sunday 6th Dec 10-1

Thursday 10th Dec 10-1 FULLY BOOKED

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 Printmaking

6 week course, once a week, £425 inc all materials (with optional 2 week extension, £125)

This hugely popular course is for anyone who loves the natural world and would like to create beautiful, unique prints. Explore, collect and sketch in the beautiful grounds of Ketteringham Hall. Develop your creative skills using techniques including Dry Point Etching, Collagraph and Lino Printing. Experiment with surface treatments and colour processes to transform your foragings 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. Class size will be small, with a maximum of 8 students.

Monday 11th Jan - Monday 2nd Feb or 8th March (with half term break on 15th Feb) 10-3

get in touch to book a place

HARD LANDSCAPING

We keep these classes very small to ensure a highly practical, hands-on experience. All materials are included.

Basic bricklaying

1 day course £85

The course will cover tools, equipment and materials - what to use and why, quantifying materials, foundation types, setting out correctly, mortar mixes, building a brick corner.

Tuesday 2nd March 10-3

Tuesday 25th May 10-3

Creating a small wildlife pond

1 day course £85

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.

Wednesday 9th December 10-3 FULLY BOOKED

Tuesday 9th November 10-3

Basic slab laying

1 day course £85

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.

Wednesday 16th December 10-3

Erecting panel fencing

1 day course £85

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