Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Practical Certificate in Horticulture (NEW)

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The RBGE Certificate in Practical Horticulture (CPH) is for anyone who wants to acquire the fundamental practical skills of a horticulturist.

There are many courses that teach horticultural theory, but this formal 10-day course (eight full-day taught units plus assessment) is structured within a standard framework to focus on practical skills taught by experienced and enthusiastic horticulturists.

There is some theory provided to aid your understanding (in the form of short, highly visual presentations), but the course is designed to be delivered and assessed using a predominantly practical approach. Therefore, for the majority of your time in the classes you will be “doing stuff” and will be getting “dirty hands!”

The CPH is a formal qualification and students must therefore pass the assessment to achieve the award. A practical exam at the end of the program forms the bulk of the assessment marks, but students are also required to show they understand the key points. This is done either as a notebook which is a record of their classes, or as worksheets with questions or as quizzes on PropaGate, RBGE’s Online Learning Environment. Students are also expected to practice their practical skills in their own time in addition to the formal classes, in order to prepare for the practical exam.

The CPH was devised by the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and is endorsed by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI - who are the global organisation for botanic gardens) and is supported by the UK Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, which is funding the development of delivery and support materials to facilitate the course being taught in a range of locations.

As well as in Edinburgh, the CPH is also delivered by partner centres supported and validated by RBGE. These include the Eden Project in Cornwall and the Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanic Garden in Istanbul, Turkey, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Bute Produce on Bute, Norfolk School of Gardening and B.E.S.T in Horticulture Education Limited at three of its centres. RBGE also delivers the CPH in countries as diverse as Oman and Laos, as part of global capacity building and conservation programmes.

What will I study?

Ten-day course, September 2023 to June 2024

The CPH programme is delivered at B.E.S.T in Horticulture Education Limited’s centres, spread out from September 2023 – June 2024 to carry out work seasonally.

CPH-01 Looking at Plants
CPH-02 Soil Care
CPH-03 Feeding & Watering
CPH-04 Seed Propagation
CPH-05 Vegetative Propagation
CPH-06 Growing Media & Potting
CPH-07 Planting
CPH-08 Pruning & Training

CPH-R Revision Day
CPH-A Assessment Day

Courses at are taught at our centres at:

Bampton Garden Plants, near Faringdon, Oxfordshire

Coventry University's site (formerly Garden Organic) at Ryton, Nr. Coventry

And at North Moreton, nr. Didcot, Oxfordshire

The individual units take place from 9.30am – 4.30pm at the specified centres. Students who attend all eight units and complete the assessment are awarded the RBGE Certificate in Practical Horticulture.

(Please note the classes are not taught in numeric order, they are matched to the growing season and it is not possible to swap between centres).

You will be given access to PropaGate Learning which is a website that you log into to access your course. It is a place for learning and for discussing topics and progress with your tutors and other students. PropaGate Learning allows you to study from home, whilst becoming part of a thriving and enthusiastic learning community.

As a student on the CPH, you will have access to this resource, which contains a wide range of learning materials to support your study, including links to useful websites, a discussion forum, and videos. The teaching resources will be made available to you before each class and you will be able to complete the online assessments after the class, at your leisure.

What is covered?

The following themes will be considered throughout all the units:

Health and safety
Environmental and sustainability issues
Tools and equipment, maintenance, and use
Plant identification
Plant pests and diseases
Sourcing information
Record keeping

The specific units are as follows:

Unit Number: CPH-01: Looking at Plants

Learning Aim: Gain an overview of plants and how they are named.

Learning Objectives: After completing this unit, the students will be able to:

State the basics of plant lifecycles (i.e., annual, biennial, and perennial).
Use botanical plant names.
Name plant structures.

Assessment:

Plant identification: 10 plants from the list of 20 provided to students.
Completed online quiz or worksheets.

Unit Number: CPH-02 : Soil Care

Learning Aim: Gain an understanding of the principles and practices of looking after the soil.

Learning Objectives: After completing this unit, the students will be able to:

Evaluate soil structure & texture.
Determine soil pH.
Cultivate soil by digging and forking
Apply and/or incorporate organic matter to the soil.
Remove weeds and prevent weed re-growth.
Select the correct tools for cultivating soil.
Maintenance of tools (including sharpening & cleaning).

Assessment:

Digging and/or forking of an area of soil, including weed removal.
Maintenance of tools.
Completed online quiz or worksheets.

Unit Number: CPH-03: Feeding & Watering

Learning Aim: Gain an understanding of the principles and practices of feeding & watering plants.

Learning Objectives: After completing this unit, the students will be able to:

State fertilizer types and application methods.
Identify a range of irrigation equipment.
Calculate fertilizer application rates, using step-by-step worksheets.
Apply both liquid and granular fertilizer.
Assess the irrigation needs of plants using appropriate irrigation terminology.
Irrigate plants using a watering can and a hosepipe.

Assessment:

Assess the irrigation requirements of a batch of plants, irrigate as appropriate.
Completed online quiz or worksheets.

Unit Number: CPH-04: Seed Propagation

Learning Aim: Gain an understanding of the principles and practices of seed propagation.

Learning Objectives: After completing this unit, the students will be able to:

State the advantages and disadvantages of seed propagation.
List the key environmental storage factors that affect seed viability.
Clean seed prior to sowing.
Prepare an outdoor soil seedbed.
Flat drill & v-drill and direct drill sow seeds in the prepared soil bed.
Correctly fill & prepare containers with seed sowing media.
Broadcast & space sow seeds in the filled containers.
Label & water all sown seeds.

Assessment:

Prepare an outdoor seedbed.
Sow seeds both by space sowing and broadcast methods in either containers or outdoor seedbed.
Seeds must be covered, labelled and watered if appropriate.
Completed online quiz or worksheets.

Unit Number: CPH-05: Vegetative Propagation

Learning Aim: Gain an understanding of the principles and practices of vegetative propagation.

Learning Objectives: After completing this unit, the students will be able to:

State the advantages and disadvantages of vegetative propagation.
State the different methods of vegetative propagation.
Select appropriate vegetative propagation material.
Collect, prepare & insert a range of cuttings.
State the factors important in the propagation environment (inc. media).
Carry out the aftercare of propagated material (inc. labelling and watering).
Divide herbaceous plants.

Assessment:

Propagate two different plants. At least one of these must be by cuttings.
Collect, prepare and insert the vegetative material. Labelling must be carried out correctly.
Completed online quiz or worksheets.

Unit Number: CPH-06: Growing Media & Potting

Learning Aim: Gain an understanding of the principles and practices of growing plants in pots and different growing media.

Learning Objectives: After completing this unit, the students will be able to:

State the reasons for growing plants in containers.
Select appropriate pots for a range of different plants.
Identify the properties of a range of different growing media ingredients.
State how to mix a batch of growing media.
Prick-out seedlings into small pots.
Pot-on plants into a larger pot size.
Demonstrate potting correctly in relation to depth of plant, level of growing media, positioning of plant in centre of pot and firmness of media.
Carry out the immediate aftercare of plants that have been potted e.g. standing down and irrigating.

Assessment:

Decide if plants need to be potted and choose appropriate containers for them.
‘Prick-out’ and/or ‘pot-on’ a batch of plants.
Irrigate the batch of plants using a watering can or hosepipe.
Completed online quiz or worksheets.

Unit Number: CPH-07: Planting

Learning Aim: Gain an understanding of the principles and methods of planting plants in soil.

Learning Objectives: After completing this unit, the students will be able to:

State planting techniques for a range of different types and sizes of plants.

State a range of tree support mechanisms and when to use them.

State the reasons for using mulches & a range of materials that can be used.

Prepare & mark out an area for planting.

Plant out the area with small plants following a given plan.

Demonstrate the planting and support of a standard sized tree

Water & mulch post-planting.

Select & maintain tools.

Assessment:

Plant an individual specimen tree or large shrub or plant out several small plants following a given plan.

Completed online quiz or worksheets.

Unit Number: CPH-08: Pruning & Training

Learning Aim: Gain an understanding of the principles of pruning and training plants

Learning Objectives: After completing this unit, the students will be able to:

List the reasons for pruning and training plants.
Describe alternate methods for pruning and training plants.
Clean and sharpen bypass secateurs.
Use secateurs to prune plants correctly.
Use a hand saw to carry out 3-point pruning to remove thicker branches.
Select correct tools and materials for pruning and training.
Tie plants to canes or other support structures.

Assessment:

Carry out the appropriate training and pruning of a given plant(s).
Completed online quiz or worksheets.

How is it delivered and assessed?

This is a predominantly practical course, designed to assess a practical level of understanding and competence. Candidates will be assessed in two ways:

Practical Exam (80% of assessment marks)

Students are required to undertake a full day practical exam at the end of the course, which covers elements of all eight units studied within the programme. The practical exam will include an identification test but the bulk of the assessment will be tasks requiring the application of the practical horticultural skills developed during the course.

You are expected to show a significant level of competence in the practical test and are therefore recommended to spend some time outside the course practicing all the skills learnt, prior to the final assessment. You must pass the practical exam to be awarded the certificate.

Course Notes (20% of assessment marks)

There is a small theory element to the assessment, to show you have understood the key points. This will be in the form of quizzes on the RBGE online Learning Environment or worksheets*. The worksheets should be completed and handed in to the course tutor on the day of the practical exam before the practical exam begins. The worksheets will be marked and returned to you when you get your results. The online quizzes will be available after each class and need to be completed before the practical exam.

You are encouraged to take photographs, notes and make sketches during the class as this will help you to complete the worksheets and help you to revise for the practical exam.

Attendance at the revision session is not mandatory but you are strongly advised to take this opportunity to practise and get feedback before your final assessment.

(* depending on the preference of the centre where the course is being offered)

What qualification will I get?

Successful candidates will be awarded the ‘Certificate in Practical Horticulture’ by the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, which will be graded as follows:

Pass: 60%
Merit: 75%
Distinction: 85%

Please note: If you gain less than 50% in any unit you will need to re-sit the unit. To gain a Distinction you must Pass (60%) every unit.

Also, this is the RBGE Certificate in Practical Horticulture; completion of this course does not count towards the Royal Horticultural Society’s qualifications.

What is the cost and venue(s)?

Tuition fees: £750, RBGE Registration fees £65.00 = total payable £815.00.

You will be able to prepay £815 for your complete course; or you will be able to secure your place on the course with a non-refundable booking fee, payable on enrolment, of 25% of the full cost of the course plus an administration fee of £5.00 making a total of £ 208.75. Please note: In the event of a place not being available or if the course does not run, the booking fee will be returned to you.

The remainder of the course fees can be paid in three equal instalments of £208.75 on weeks 4, 6 and 8 (this includes an administration fee of £5.00 for each instalment).

These courses are taught at:

Our Bampton Centre, Bampton Garden Plants, Bampton, near Faringdon Oxfordshire.

Course dates: Tuesdays 3/10/2023, 24/10/2023, 21/11/2023,12/12/2023, 23/1/2024, 5/3/2024, 9/4/2024, 30/4/2024, Revision day 11/6/2024, Assessment 18/6/2024.

Our North Moreton Centre, The Filberts, North Moreton, near Didcot, Oxfordshire

Course dates: Thursdays 21/9/2023, 28/9/2023, 5/10/2023, 26/10/2023, 29/2/2024, 14/3/2024, 18/4/2024, 9/5/2024, Revision day 16/5/2024, Assessment 20/6/2024.

Our Ryton Centre, at Coventry University's site (formerly Garden Organic), Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Near Coventry, Warwickshire.

Course dates: Fridays 6/10/2023, 27/10/2023, 24/11/2023,15/12/2023, 26/1/2024, 8/3/2024, 12/4/2024, 3/5/2024, Revision day 14/6/2024, Assessment 21/6/2024.