There is a lot of new material on the role of the gardener in supporting biodiversity <\/blockquote> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>
Indeed, this is what first struck me about the new course, there is a whole lot of new material on the role of the gardener<\/a> in supporting biodiversity<\/a>, in being aware of sustainability issues<\/a>, the value of green space in helping people live healthy lives, and in helping create inclusive communities<\/a>. Inevitably there is also a section on climate change<\/a>. There is also one on the \u2018garden economy\u2019, a recognition that we, in Britain at any rate, are an important part of economy as a whole.<\/p>\n

Thinking of a horticulture course?<\/strong><\/p>\n
The 10 best online gardening courses<\/a><\/li>\n
The best horticulture courses<\/a><\/li>\n
Garden design courses<\/a><\/li>\n
How to become a gardener<\/a><\/li>\n
How to become a garden designer<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div> <\/section>
\u201cAll more holistic\u201d in Tom\u2019s words. Given the criticism that is so often levelled at professional qualifications in Britain, that they have become less and less practical it was good to hear him say that he thought the course was \u201cmore practical in many senses\u201d, an example being \u201cthere\u2019s content on the maintenance of hard landscape<\/a> features; we\u2019re not going to be teaching how to put a panel fence<\/a> but students will be expected to know about preserving and repairing, that\u2019s very good\u201d. This is not only about sustainability<\/a> (better to repair than replace) it is also recognising what is useful knowledge in the working lives of many garden professionals.<\/a><\/p>\n

The ‘old’ qualification seemed aimed at private practice where clients had a vision of striped lawns and neat rows of begonias <\/blockquote> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n<\/div>
The \u2018old\u2019 qualification seemed aimed at people who might be working for council parks departments, or for private practice where clients had a vision of striped lawns<\/a> and neat rows of begonias<\/a>. Having said that, as an online tutor<\/a> of parts of the course myself, I know that many keen amateurs do it too, as a way of learning the science behind good garden practice<\/a> as well as essential knowledge and skills. Working my way through preparing teaching materials for the new course I had a very strong vision of the new kind of gardening practitioner who it might be aimed at. This person could be involved in one of the many \u2018city farm\u2019, \u2018community garden\u2019 or \u2018urban agriculture\u2019 projects that have sprouted over the last few decades. They need to know not just about photosynthesis and plant nutrition but also about the therapeutic benefits of horticulture<\/a>, about community building through working on projects together, and even if they are not that interested in \u2018wild\u2019 nature, their colleagues and certainly their management committee will expect them to care about the biodiversity in the trees and hedges<\/a> that surround the project. Indeed, the members of the management committee themselves would benefit from doing this course.<\/p>\n
The new course is about the gardener being part of the natural world, being aware of the impact their activities have on the wider world, to the wider community and their responsibilities to the nature that is inevitably part of the garden. It is about a new, wider, but also somehow more generous conception of what it means to be gardener.<\/a><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
RHS Level 2 Syllabus<\/strong><\/p>\n
Out with\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n
Greenhouse management\nFruit and veg growing as a distinct topic\nAlpines and rock gardens.<\/p>\n
In with\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n
How gardeners need to support biodiversity and communities\nMore on sustainability\nMore on climate change<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s more on the new syllabus for the RHS Level 2\u00a0<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p><\/body><\/html>\n
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