Coolings courses 2017 / 2018

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COURSES 2017 / 2018

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THE EXPERIENCE IS GROWING

The Gardener’s Garden Centre

RHS Level 2

Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture Course Length: 2 Years Tutors: Tessa Allen and Caroline Halfpenny Monday 9.30am – 12.30pm or 1 - 4pm, starts 18th September 2017 or Wednesday evening 6.30 - 9pm, starts 20th September 2017 Cost from: £499 per year 30 weeks (including 10% Coolings Family discount)

Just 3 hours a week, over 30 weeks a year, can gain you this nationally recognised award.

The qualification is intended for those already working or wishing to work in professional horticulture in a variety of roles. But equally at Coolings we have many amateur gardeners who just want to extend their knowledge and perhaps achieve the RHS award. For many, it is purely for enjoyment and a leisure course. The exams are not compulsory, so if you have not studied for a while do not worry! Both theory and practical elements of gardening are taught.

Topics to be covered include: Year 1 Plant classification, structure, and function Plant nutrition and the root environment Maintaining plant health Understanding plant propagation

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Year 2 Understanding garden features, plant selection and planning Understanding the choice, establishment and maintenance of garden plants and lawns Understanding the production of outdoor vegetables and fruit Understanding protected environments and their use in plant cultivation Each class includes: Plant identification Theory, with full well-written handouts provided Practical demonstration Tea break with tea/coffee and biscuits provided To book call 01959 532269 or visit www.coolings.co.uk/education

RHS Level 2

Certificate in Practical Horticulture Course Length: 1 Year Tutors: Kevin Tooher Starts Wednesday 27th September day 9.30am - 3pm or Wednesday 6th September evening 6.30 - 9pm (inc. some weekend days) Cost from: ÂŁ599 (including 10% Coolings Family discount)

This practical course is recognised in the horticultural industry and focuses on developing essential horticultural skills. Many employers see this as a pathway to employment.

The course has appeal for those working in horticulture looking to up-skill, as well as a future career-changer, and is also of interest to the hobby gardener.

Included in the course are: Year 1 Ground preparation for seed sowing Care and pruning of plants Sowing seeds and vegetative propagation techniques Soil testing

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Practical skills in establishing seeds and plants in soil Identification of a range of common garden plants, weeds, pests, diseases, disorders and beneficial organisms Completion of both RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Horticulture and the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture gives you the RHS Diploma in the Principles and Practices of Horticulture.

There will be some weekend catch up sessions and students on the evening course will need to attend some weekends owing to lack of light through the winter months.

To book call 01959 532269 or visit www.coolings.co.uk/education

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Thursdays 9.30am - 12.30pm or 1 - 4pm, starts 14th September 2017 Cost from: £599 30 weeks (including 10% Coolings Family discount)

Visits will include: Sheffield Park, Kew Gardens, Wakehurst Place, Claremont Landscape Garden, Painshill, Beth Chatto’s, Pashley Manor, Scotney Castle and Marle Place.

Fridays 9.30am - 12.30pm, starts 29th September 2017 Cost from: £599 30 weeks (including 10% Coolings Family discount)

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Course Length: 1 Year | Tutor: Neil Bone

I ncludes 10 planned full day visits to a range of gardens and nurseries in the South East to complement the classroom themes studied.

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The Spice of life

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Botanical Adventures:

Learn how and why André Le Nôtre created the garden at Versailles for Louis XIV. You will learn more about the interesting role diplomats, royal envoys and merchants played in finding many of the plants we now see in our gardens and the English landscape.

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Classroom days include practical demonstrations, including opportunities to improve your propagation skills.

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Topics to be covered include: Weekly plant identification Garden History: Egyptians to 20th century UK Plant Introductions Through History Garden Designers of 20th century Plant Families Month by Month: Plants for Your Garden

Includes 10 full-day visits to gardens and places of horticultural interest. Visits will run from 9am - 4pm. Price includes all coach trips, but not entry.

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Suitable for anyone with a love of gardening, this exciting and informative course covers a fascinating range of topics.

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A course that is exclusive to Coolings!

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Course Length: 1 Year | Tutor: Tessa Allen

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A History of Plants & Gardens

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Garden Horizons:

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ands-on weekly practical sessions will H help you learn new gardening techniques you can use at home in your own garden.

You will become confident in propagating a wide range of plants using a variety of different methods.

Enjoy learning in a relaxed and informative atmosphere in the company of enthusiastic fellow gardeners.

To book call 01959 532269 or visit www.coolings.co.uk/education 4

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Course Length: 1 Year | Tutor: Neil Bone

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How to be a Successful Gardener

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Saturdays 9.30am - 12.30pm, starts 30th September 2017 Cost from: £199 Each 10 week module | £499 full 30 week course (3 modules) (including 10% Coolings Family discount)

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Want to know more without a taxing level of science and complexity!

No prior knowledge or experience is required.

Divided into 3 modules, each of 3 hours per week for 10 weeks. The whole course lasts 30 weeks. The modules are also offered as individual courses.

There will also be a practical element to each module to give real experience of the topics covered.

Module 1 – The basics of how to garden Soil cultivation and preparation Propagation Planting Maintenance tasks Pruning Composting – truly amazing ecosystems Growing in containers and small areas Module 2 – Wildlife and environmentally friendly gardening Friend or foe – enemies and allies in the natural world Wildlife and wildlife havens

lant choice and wildlife – gardens P significant impact on nature Sustainable gardening Gardening in a changing climate Peat-free growing Sustainable design Within these four walls – how to reuse and recycle in the garden Module 3 – Growing your own vegetables Planning your vegetable garden – when and what to sow Preparing the ground Use of fertilisers and compost – including green manures Sowing and planting Pests and disease monitoring and management Harvesting and avoiding gluts Gardens and your well-being Herbs for eating Plants of medicinal interest

To book call 01959 532269 or visit www.coolings.co.uk/education 5

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Thursday evening 6.30pm – 9pm, starts Thursday 5th October 2017 or alternatively again on Thursday 18th January 2018 Cost from: £199 8 weeks (including 10% Coolings Family discount)

n introduction to producing scaled A garden plans Extra work needed to be done outside the lecture room There will be a small project to design a garden on the course.

This is optional but many previous students have enjoyed the project and worked on ideas at home as well as in class.

Monday 9.30pm – 12.30pm, starts 11th September 2017 Cost from: £599 per year. 30 weeks (including 10% Coolings Family discount)

The course content This course covers similar content to the Higher National Certificate (HNC) in garden design, but takes a more ‘hands on’ approach to equip students with the skills, knowledge and confidence to become garden designers.

The course keeps a balance of creative design work within the group and lectures on planting, design and hard landscaping.

Students get a chance to apply the information they learn to a variety of real residential site designs.

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Course Length: 2 Year | Tutor: Alex Lindsay BA Hons, GD DIP

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Coolings Diploma

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What you will learn: Designing with plants, hard landscaping material options and how to apply them to designs Design ideas for small gardens, sloping gardens, larger rural plots and awkward shaped gardens

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Entry onto this course is open to anyone who has a genuine interest in garden design; some knowledge of garden plants would be useful, but is not essential.

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Course Length: 8 Weeks | Tutor: Alex Lindsay BA Hons, GD DIP

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to Garden Design

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An Introduction

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Applicants are advised to have their own drawing board and some drawing materials.

These are not essential at the start of the course and advice will be given as to appropriate choices.

Extra work needed to be done outside the lecture room Students are given a whole term to complete each project but this includes design work to be done outside the class as well. Guidance will be given, and plenty of time is given to account for students balancing the course with work and family life.

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from Coolings

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Short Courses

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Floristry with Coolings

Course Length: 1 Day Course | Tutor: Myra Lester Fridays 9.30am – 12.30pm Cost from: £15 (including 10% Coolings Family discount)

Ever wanted to try your hand at floristry?

Now is your chance. Each one of these day courses has a different theme where you will learn with Myra in a relaxed atmosphere how to create something Friday 12th May Friday 16th June Friday 7th July Friday 11th August Friday 15th December

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special and unique. You will be provided with a list of the essential items to bring to the lesson (materials not included) and get to decorate your home with a stunning display.

Pot a Fleur Rose Delight Sunny Gerbera Delight Patio Al Fresco Contemporary Christmas Wreath

Reading Historic Landscapes

Course Length: 8 Weeks | Tutor: Caroline Jackson

Wednesdays 1 – 4pm, starts 26th April 2017 & 11th April 2018 Cost from: £149 (including 10% Coolings Family discount)

The landscape has far more to show us than we realise.This interesting course will give you some clues as to how to interpret the history and detail of what is hidden in plain sight.

Find out how our ancestors used the land, established woodlands, coppices, wood pastures, field systems, watermeadows,

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windmills etc, all from the traces left behind in the modern landscape.

See also how our beliefs and understanding of the countryside have been coloured by Capability Brown and other landscape artists and you’ll even discover how to date hedges!

To book call 01959 532269 or visit www.coolings.co.uk/education 7

Courses at Coolings School of Horticulture Why not come and meet our lecturers and find out what it is all about?

Alex Lindsay

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e have our own gardens and W production nursery where students are encouraged to take part in practical sessions, and which enable them to gain an insight into our industry Light refreshments are included as part of your course We hold a glamorous Awards Evening for those completing a course of a year or more Courses are lots of fun!

A mature and warm atmosphere where friendships are made All students receive a 15% Coolings Discount card!

Caroline Halfpenny

Neil Bone

Kevin Tooher

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Twitter @CoolingsGC

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Facebook /coolingsnurseries

T: 01959 532269 E: rushmorehill@coolings.co.uk W: www.coolings.co.uk

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Book online at www.coolings.co.uk/education Email lesley@coolings.co.uk

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To Book All Courses Coolings Garden Centre Rushmore Hill Knockholt Sevenoaks Kent, TN14 7NN

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Tessa Allen

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I nspirational lecturing staff who make learning easy and fun A purpose-built working area for practical sessions

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There are lots of good reasons to take a course with us, and they’re all included in the price!

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Here at Coolings we like to think of ourselves as a beacon of educational excellence but much friendlier and relaxed than other similar establishments.

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If you are not sure which course is best for you, come along and chat to our tutors, they would love to meet you.

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Saturday 17th June 2017 (1 – 4pm) Thursday 7th September 2017 (1 – 4pm)

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