Contact Page - Garden Design Diploma, UK

Garden Design School:
Located at Painshill Park, Cobham, Surrey, (15 miles from London) Garden Design School is a UK college specialising exclusively in garden design. Over 80% of teaching is undertaken by the college’s founders, Moira Farnham and Robin Templar Williams. They are both accomplished, respected, freelance garden designers and have a combined 28 years experience teaching various garden design courses and workshops both at home and abroad. They are also Registered Members of the Society of Garden Designers (SGD) and have designed and built award-winning gardens at the RHS’s Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows. Students taking the Diploma course typically come from all walks of life, and have previously ranged in age from 22 to 64. The course provides them with professional, structured training and is the perfect springboard for a career in the exciting, expanding garden design industry.

Courses / Programs:
1-year, intensive part-time Diploma Course in Garden Design with one day per week devoted to lectures and studio work. The course is taught at GDS’s fully equipped training centre in the beautiful surroundings of Painshill Park in Surrey. Class sizes are limited to a maximum of 18 students. The Diploma Course is of approximately 34 weeks duration. It commences in September, finishing in the July of the following year. Assessment: No exams/essays, just realistic, practical projects.

The four main areas of learning covered by the course are: Design Principles and Drawing, Hard Landscaping, Soft Landscaping, Professional Practice. Four major projects are undertaken during the course.

Independent Study (Homework): Although students spend one day a week attending lectures and studio sessions (at Painshill Park), independent study of between 24 and 30 hours per week is necessary to ensure that all subjects are covered, and skills mastered, to a high standard.