Overview
Garden Design Gateway Level 1This short, introductory course is ideal for complete beginners, new to drawing.
You will gain a basic understanding and an introduction to the skills required in garden design.
You can study this course as a taster course if you are considering a career change or as a gardener wanting to broaden your knowledge and go on to design your own garden.
Ready to apply?
Course information
Need to know
What qualification will I gain?
Gateway Level 1 Certificate Introduction to Garden Desiqn.
How will I be assessed?
You will be assessed through the completion and submission of coursework assignments. This will include a design of a garden space including a variety of sketches and plan drawings. You will create a portfolio of work for submission by a set date. There is no exam.
Successful completion of all three modules (Module I Design Project, Module 2 Drawing Portfolio, and Module 3 Plants in Garden Design) will guarantee a pass for this course.
To gain the absolute maximum from your studies, it is expected you will complete some of your garden design portfolio and additional research away from college (minimum 4 to 6 hours per week).
Course content
Topics include —
- Technical drawing: use of a drawing board, technical pens, pencils and equipment. Also, the importance or of hierarchy of line.
- Landscape Graphics and Plant graphics: learn to draw in-plant trees, plants, water features, hard and soft landscape elements etc.
- Principles of Garden Design: introduction to the principles of garden design and the elements to consider when designing a garden.
- Elevation & Perspective Drawing: learn to turn a design plan into a visual drawing.
- Garden Styles: introduction to selected design styles such as arts & craft, cottage, modern & contemporary etc.
- Garden elements: symmetrical, asymmetrical, use of gridlines, 45 degrees and curves.
- Other Elements: inspiration boards, rendering drawings (colouring in), writing client brief.
- Plants in design: the role of plants in a design — function, shape, form and texture.
- Planting plans: create a planting plan including plant schedules for costing and supply.
Next steps
Course progression:
The course can lead to a progression onto Level 2 Garden Design Certificate or if you have a Level 2 Horticulture Qualification (such as RHS), you can also use this course to progress to a Level 3 Garden Design Course.
Additional information
Costs
If you are successful in your application to the course, you will be supplied with a list of equipment to purchase prior the start of the course. (approx. cost of equipment is £130 in addition to the course fees).
See the FAQs further down the page for suggested reading.
Disclaimer
Whilst every effort is made to ensure the information on the Website is correct, some details may be subject to change. The Bedford College Group reserves the right to make amendments to the courses, dates, fees or other details, and to make cancellations or changes if numbers are insufficient. In the unfortunate situation that we have to cancel a course we will refund your fees in full, but we regret we are not able to offer any refund if you withdraw from your course or fail to start, and you will be liable to pay any outstanding fees that may be due.
FAQs
Generally, students are a broad range of ages from school leavers to people who have retired, with a common interest in garden design. Some are gardeners, as well as people from a design background such as the alts, film or theatre, some are professionals, others are changing career or learning purely for interest. You can study this course as a taster course if you are considering a career change or as a gardener wanting to broaden your knowledge and go-on to design your own garden.
Typically group sizes are around 15.
For Level I courses, we recommend approximately 4 to 6 hours independent study per week. Although this will fluctuate depending upon the timing of assignments.
Our courses are taught in a classroom setting, with a screen and whiteboard. Drawing boards are provided for use during lesson time.
A notebook and pen are required, plus a ring-binder for course hand-outs. Additional you will be provided with an equipment list of items that you will need to purchase prior starting the course. This includes trace paper, fine liner pens, scale rules, coloured pencils etc. The cost of this is approx. E130 in addition to the course fees.
No, a desire to try is more important. Each person has their own style; there is no right or wrong.
This course does NOT cover this topic — all work is done by hand.
No, the library will be a useful source for reference books. Only purchase books that inspire you and provide good reference material.
See download below for suggested reading -— this is a small sample of what is available, please search Amazon Marketplace for 2nd hand copies, online 2nd book sellers may also have good quality copies for a fraction of the normal list price.
Suggested reading
Part-Time Funding Information
Some courses may be free depending on the qualification and if you are unemployed and on a qualifying benefit.
Please contact our Customer Contact team on 0345 658 8990 to find out accurate fees information.
Additional Learning Support
If you have a specific learning difficulty or disability, are deaf or hearing impaired, our Additional Learning Support team are on hand to give you assistance whenever you need it. Email: ALSteam@bedford.ac.uk or call us on 01234 291333.
Financial Support
For information regarding financial support, please visit the Financial Support section to see the support you may be entitled to apply for.
Accessibility
We have access arrangements in place to help students with disabilities or any other particular needs. Call us on 01234 291000 or 01536 413123 for more information.
Any questions?
If you would like to find out more about this or other courses, please use our Livechat below, email info@bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk or call us on 0345 658 8990.