GARDEN DESIGN SCHOOL LAUNCHES BRISTOL DIPLOMA COURSE

The University of Bristol Botanic Garden – home to Garden Design School’s new UK diploma course.

You can view details of both of our UK Diploma Courses on this page. And don’t forget, you can sample what studying with us is like at both our Surrey and Bristol training centres, simply by booking a place at one of our Taster Days in April and June.

STUDENTS COME TO GDS FOR ‘TOP TRAINING BY TOP TUTORS’

A recent survey of newly-enrolled students reveals a startlingly clear message about why trainees choose to study at Garden Design School. 100% of students say that the most important reason for signing up for our Diploma Course is the ‘quality of teaching’ and calibre of the tutors. 96% also say that the ‘course content’ is a very important factor. Our students are overwhelmingly concerned that they will acquire the necessary skills to become competent garden designers and will be taught by experienced, practising design professionals.

SURREY LIFE SHOWCASES WORK OF GARDEN DESIGN SCHOOL FOUNDER

The leading UK regional magazine, Surrey Life, has just published a major feature about GDS co-founder, Moira Farnham. In addition to being one of our college’s principal lecturers, Moira has been a successful freelance garden designer for over 17 years, working extensively throughout the south east of England.

The article explains how Moira discovered her passion for garden design, explores her influences and illustrates her philosophy in relation to structure, shape and sustainability. It also shows how she creates gardens that marry excitement and intrigue with practicality; gardens that, above all, are perfectly suited to a client’s needs.

Moira also speaks of her delight at helping to nurture new generations of top designers at Garden Design School.

You can read the article by clicking here.

STUDENTS GIVE THEIR VERDICT ON THE 2008 GDS GARDEN DESIGN DIPLOMA COURSE

Every year we issue a 4-page questionnaire to all of the students who have completed our Garden Design Diploma Course. The questionnaire covers every aspect of the student’s training with us – including their personal experiences, opinions and plans for the future. Of course, this kind of feedback is pointless unless a student feels that he/she can give us a completely honest assessment of their time at GDS. We welcome candid responses because, only by hearing the truth can we make relevant, worthwhile improvements to the course.

We would like to thank all 20 of the students who completed and returned a questionnaire this year. We have examined all of the replies very carefully and found inspiration in several of your ideas. We have also been very pleased with the level of satisfaction you have expressed in your training.

Here are some of the highlights of the 2008 survey. The responses of students are expressed as percentages:

Q. How do you rate the course content (the quality and relevance of what you have been taught)?

Q. How well do you feel the course met your personal objectives?

Q. How would you rate the course in terms of value-for-money?

Q. Overall, how strongly would you recommend the GDS Diploma Course to other people?

For more comments and reviews from former Diploma Course students, please click here.

Please Note: Should you wish to inspect student questionnaires, you can do so at our Devizes office – contact Cheryl Williams for an appointment (01380 728788).

CONGRATULATIONS CHRISTINE WILKIE! THE FIRST EVER WINNER OF OUR DIPLOMA COURSE AWARD

Christine (centre) receives the GDS Student Award 2008 from college principals Moira Farnham (left) and Robin Templar Williams (right).

NEW TRAINEES ARRIVE FOR OUR ‘SOLD OUT’ 2008/9 DIPLOMA COURSE

For the fifth year in a row all of the places on our 1 year, part-time Diploma Course in Garden Design have been taken and we are very pleased to welcome our latest group of students (pictured). Our intake is as diverse as ever, including teachers, airline executives, housewives/mums, a physiotherapist, a solicitor and several people with backgrounds in the horticulture, landscaping and garden maintenance industries. The ages of students this year are also wide ranging: from just 25 to over 60.

What unites all of our students, however, is the desire to learn all of the technical, practical and commercial skills needed to become confident, professional garden designers. We look forward to sharing an exciting, challenging, enjoyable year ahead with all of them.

FORMER GDS STUDENT WINS MAJOR AWARD
AT CHELSEA 2008

Andrew Stevenson, who completed our Diploma Course in 2005, is the co-designer of a fantastic, award-winning show garden at the recent RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Andrew and his fellow designer, Steve Putnam, both work for Chessington Garden Centre – who sponsored their entry - and their garden, entitled “Mist-Placed”, won a silver flora medal in the ‘courtyard’ category. The design is based on the crumbling remains of a long-neglected chapel garden on a Victorian estate in north Yorkshire. It conveys a strong sense of solitude and serenity with a very imaginative scheme of predominantly shade-loving plants.

We offer our warm congratulations to these talented young garden designers. You can read more about their garden on Chessington Garden Centre’s website: www.chessingtongarden.co.uk You can also read a profile of Andrew on our ‘Student Case Studies’ page by clicking here.

STUDENTS REVEAL TRUE FEELINGS ABOUT GDS COURSE ON AMERICAN WEBSITE

Several former and current GDS students have taken the opportunity to express their opinions about our diploma course on the website of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD). These reviews will make interesting reading for anyone considering training with us. One reviewer, who completed the GDS diploma course in 2005, is now working as a successful, practising garden designer in both the UK and France. Another is mid way through our current course and therefore delivering a verdict while still engrossed in his training! You can read the reviews by clicking here.

BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW AT ONE OF OUR 2008 'TASTER DAYS'

Find out what it's really like to train and work as a professional garden designer by attending one of our special 'taster days'. They take place on April 17th and June 12th 2008 at our Painshill Park training centre in Surrey (just 15 miles from London) and it's an ideal opportunity to compare what we offer with the other garden design courses and colleges. Both days are hosted by our principal lecturers, Robin Templar Williams and Moira Farnham, who have over 30 years teaching experience between them and are also successful, practising, RHS award-winning garden designers. The aim is to provide a realistic but practical and enjoyable introduction to the world of garden design. Also covered are the technical and commercial skills needed to become a successful designer and a look at the content and structure of our intensive, one-year, part time Diploma Course in Garden Design. Former students - who have ranged in age from 22 to 64 - will be on hand to describe how they have launched exciting new careers.

Places at both events are limited so it's advisable to book early. Click on the Taster Days link, left, for more details or call Cheryl Williams on 01380 728788.

CONGRATULATIONS TO LYNNE PEMBERTON: OUR SECOND WINNER IN THE SGD'S 'STUDENT OF THE YEAR' AWARDS

Garden Design School (GDS) graduate Lynne Pemberton (pictured, right) has scooped a top prize in the 2007 Student of the Year Awards, a nationwide competition organised by the Society of Garden Designers (SGD). It is the second time in two years that the exceptional talent of a GDS student has been officially recognised and it means that GDS is, uniquely, the only UK college ever to produce two consecutive prizewinners. Lynne secured third place in the 2007 awards, overcoming stiff opposition from dozens of garden design students from 13 leading colleges across the country. She joins former GDS student, Kate Poore, who was placed equal first in 2006.

The prestigious SGD awards are presented annually in a competition that is open to all 400 of the Society's student members. Each entry consists of a full presentation plan, client brief, planting plan and appropriate visuals. All entries are assessed by a panel of senior SGD Registered Members and chairman, Peter Thomas, commented this year: "The standard has been incredibly impressive. This can only bode well for the future of our growing industry."

Lynne Pemberton's award-winning garden design (shown below) came in for special praise from the judging team. They said: "This is a workable and pleasing solution for the client which responds well to the brief and would make a very nice garden to visit."

Having completed her training at Garden Design School, north Surrey-based Lynne has now started up in business as a freelance garden designer. She can be contacted on 020 8549 8820.

DIPLOMA COURSE GETS FIRM STAMP OF APPROVAL FROM 2007 GRADUATES

Students who completed the one-year, part time GDS Diploma in July 2007 have given the course very high ratings in our annual feedback survey. In the questionnaires they returned to us, 100% said the course's content was excellent or good and 100% rated the course either excellent or good in terms of 'value-for-money'. Furthermore, over 80% of students would recommend the course strongly or very strongly to other people.

All of the 2007 graduates were invited to a special graduation ceremony at the college in September (pictured). As well as receiving their Diplomas, students enjoyed this relaxed, happy occasion and took the opportunity to swap ideas and discuss the many garden design projects they are working on.

We wish all our graduates every success in their careers as professional garden designers.

2006 GRADUATES: THEIR VERDICT ON THE DIPLOMA COURSE AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING A YEAR LATER

Every year we contact some of the college's graduates and publish details of their opinions of our Diploma Course. And we're especially interested in how these students have applied their garden design skills after completing their training with us. Two of last year's graduates, Jane Reynolds and John Williams, recently agreed to be questioned about their experiences and you can read the results on our 'student case studies' page, by clicking here. We'd like to thank Jane and John for their very positive and supportive comments about the college and its courses.

RECORD NUMBERS ATTEND GDS TASTER DAYS!

More than 40 people attended our Taster Days in April and June 2007 and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Comments included: "packed with really useful advice about training options - refreshingly honest" and "it inspired me to want to become a professional garden designer". Such was the level of enthusiasm that 7 people enrolled on the spot for the 2007/8 GDS Diploma Course!

Moira Farnham answers detailed questions about the GDS curriculum and its relevance to the current market for garden design.		Louise Ross, a GDS graduate from 2006, talks to a Taster Day delegate about the projects she is currently working on.

HE'S THE KEY TO RUNNING A SUCCESSFUL GARDEN DESIGN BUSINESS

Our latest 'guest lecturer' is writer, broadcaster and award-winning garden designer, Richard Key. With over 25 years experience in the landscape and garden design industries - including a Fellowship of the SGD - he's also a highly motivated and successful entrepreneur: "I run several businesses and have pretty clear and strong views on what it takes to set yourself up as a professional garden designer." You can read more about Richard and our other guest lecturers by clicking here.

TWO MORE TOP EXPERTS JOIN GDS AS 'GUEST LECTURERS'

Garden Design School is committed to providing training courses of the highest professional standard and we ensure that everything taught will be relevant and useful to our students. To keep our syllabus bang up-to-date we sometimes invite experts in specialist areas to share their knowledge and latest experiences by means of 'guest lectures'. This season, we are pleased to welcome two new lecturers: Tony Lane, a chartered forester and arboriculture expert, will look at tree selection, suitability, growth, maintenance and safety. He'll also examine how to integrate existing trees within a garden design and how to address the legal issues of tree conservation and preservation. Richard Baker, an experienced chartered architect and Chelsea gold medal winner, is an expert on the UK planning system. His lecture will take a practical look at planning law, policy and the permissions process, and include useful advice on what to do when extending a garden, building structures, altering landform, disturbing wildlife and dealing with historic buildings and landscapes.

To read more about Tony Lane, Richard Baker and our other guest lecturers, please click here.

GARDEN DESIGN SCHOOL GRADUATE IS SGD 'STUDENT OF THE YEAR'

Kate Poore, who completed the GDS Diploma Course in Garden Design in 2006, has been named 'Student of the Year' by the Society of Garden Designers (SGD). She won the title - in joint first place - in a competition which attracted dozens of entries from recently qualified trainees from 14 colleges and universities around the UK. Prior to doing GDS’s one year, part-time course, Kate had done no other formal training in horticulture, gardening or garden design.  Her achievement is well deserved and is testament to her hard work, commitment and to the quality of training at Garden Design School.

The SGD judges, a distinguished panel of leading designers (Andy Sturgeon, Juliet Sargeant and Catherine Heatherington), said of Kate’s award-winning garden design (pictured): “‘Very good presentation and there is an excellent manipulation of space, good use of materials and pattern and each area of the garden is interesting. You have created a great design for a large garden. Congratulations!”

Kate, who drove 126 miles from her home in Bristol to study at GDS, says: 'I was shocked and delighted to win but always felt that my training on the course had prepared me well to design imaginative, viable, sustainable gardens. I’ve had excellent tuition and support over the past year. It was extremely hard work but this shows that, if you are really dedicated, you can produce highly professional results. I can't wait to get out there and show clients what I can achieve as a freelance garden designer. This award will really help to kick start what I hope will be a long and successful career.’

Kate Poore can be contacted on: 0117 9688032, website: www.katepooregardendesign.com Full details of the Student of the Year competition can be obtained from the Society of Garden Designers on 01989 566695, website: www.sgd.org.uk

REBECCA STRIKES GOLD

Garden Design School student Rebecca Webb, who graduated in July 2005, has won a prestigious gold medal for her first ever show garden at the recent Great Gardening Show at Loseley Park in Surrey. Her innovative design for a front garden (pictured) features an attractive mix of low maintenance and drought-tolerant plants, in shades of silver and purple, which provide a haven for insects and birds. But cleverly, Rebecca has included elements of hard landscaping which allow a car to be parked on the garden without the plants being damaged. Rebecca says: "Compact, urban front gardens are often rather barren and soulless spaces because people see off-street parking as essential. But I hope my garden shows you can combine the practical with the beautiful. It's great that my design skills have been recognised and I'd like to thank all of the GDS students - a fantastic bunch of people - who helped me to actually build the garden. This success proves that all of the hard work we did on the GDS diploma course was worthwhile. I've had great feedback from everyone who saw the garden and over a dozen serious enquiries from potential clients". Rebecca can be contacted on 01428 682972, e-mail: rebecca@rwgardendesigns.co.uk

GDS STUDENTS LOOK FORWARD TO EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

All students taking the GDS Diploma in Garden Design get the opportunity to take part in a variety of interesting and useful extra-curricular trips and visits. This month (June) students will take a tour of the gardens at Great Dixter in East Sussex - a stunning, mature garden designed by Christopher Lloyd. During the visit, GDS director Moira Farnham highlights real life examples of the theoretical principles already learned by students on the Diploma course. Moira then hosts a visit to Coblands Nurseries, a major grower and wholesaler, during which students learn about how plants are raised, packaged, ordered and supplied.

Co-director Robin Templar Williams is also taking students this month to see a garden currently under construction – a perfect opportunity to look at practical issues - and then on to the RHS, Wisley to see a collection of show gardens.

More details of these trips will appear on our website, with pictures, next month. NOW AVAILABLE - click here to view.

Relevant links to the locations mentioned are:
Great Dixter – www.greatdixter.co.uk
Coblands Nurseries – www.coblands.co.uk
RHS Wisley - www.rhs.org.uk

To read archived stories, click here