Level 1 Award in Garden Design (NCFE)

The course is designed to promote basic garden design skills that can be used in your own garden or as a basis for commercial garden design. You will learn site surveying, drawing skills and principles of design. You will also acquire some basic plant knowledge. All these skills will be looked at in the context of the overall design with consideration given to the safe usage of tools, and health and safety in general. Students will undertake two design projects during the course (under the guidance of the tutor). This is a three unit course - - Unit 1 - You will extend your knowledge, understanding and use of methods in the process of garden design. You will learn to use a range of tools that can be used to create your ideas and designs. You will learn and develop your techniques and how to follow appropriate health and safety requirements. - Unit 2 - You will develop your work creatively, building on your ideas and learning from unit 1. You will draw on other appropriate sources to develop and inform your own ideas. You will record your ongoing work and how it develops - evaluating your progress to date. - Unit 3 - You will use your knowledge of equipment, materials and ideas to develop a final piece of work for internal assessment. You will work to achieve a Level 1 Award in Creative Craft from NCFE. The qualification is achieved by completing 70 hours of study (covered by the course hours) and producing a portfolio of work to demonstrate achievement of the course objectives. Your portfolio will be assessed by your tutor and an external assessor. You can learn more about the qualification and its structure by visiting the awarding body's website at www.ncfe.org.uk.You will learn from a mixture of theory and practical work, but the course will be essentially practical with as much 'hands on' as is possible. In addition to class time, students are expected to work on their projects at home. 2-3 garden visits are included as an integral part of the course. They usually take place on a Saturday morning.