Distance Learning Garden Design & Horticulture Courses

Garden Design Academy:
The Garden Design Academy, located in the Loire Valley region of Central France, is run by award-winning English garden designers Colin and Marie-Chantal Elliott. Drawing on over 30 years of experience in horticulture, gardening, garden design and landscaping, the Academy provides a wide range of courses in these subjects by distance learning and a number of residential courses based in France's Loire Valley.

We offer a wide selection of over 60 horticulture industry and gardening courses by distance learning with students from the UK, France and other European countries, together with leaners from as far away as Australia, USA and Canada. Many British ex-pats are following our courses. Courses include:

- RHS Horticulture levels 2 & 3
- Master of Horticulture (RHS)
- Arboriculture
- CAD for Garden Designers
- Certificate & Diploma in Garden Design
- Certificates in Horticulture - cut flowers, herbs, organic
- Horticulture
- Garden History
- Landscaping
- Permaculture Systems
- Plantsmanship
- Turf (all levels)
- Viticulture
- Water gardening
....and a large number of plant courses

The Garden Design Academy is well aware that while many of its students are keen amateur gardeners, others are involved in the business of horticulture, garden retailing, garden design and landscaping. A further group would like to run such businesses and are looking for support in many areas, both technically and business orientated. For these clients we are pleased to offer a range of courses in general and specific industry sector business management.

Courses come with a CD or written notes and students are guided through their learning by Colin Elliott, Course Director and an experienced manager of garden centres, nurseries, horticultural wholesalers, garden design and landscape businesses.

Our courses are written by a team of international experts giving them relevence throughout the horticultural and gardening industry. Sectors covered include retailing, aboriculture, wholesale nursery and crop production, with further training offered in marketing and with our "start your own business" program.

As the only college on mainland Europe offering the full range of RHS qualifications, these courses, leading to RHS Certificate, Diploma and Masters in Horticulture, are always in great demand. Our range of horticultural courses increases all the time, with both general and crop specific studies available.

The RHS offer a career developement path with internationally recognised qualifications starting at a basic level right up to Master of Horticulture degree program. We support this program with courses tailored for the needs of English-speaking horticulturalists and keen amateur gardeners throughout the world.

Students following this program have a wide range of career options available to them in an industry crying out for trained professionals. Those following these courses have a history of excellence in the RHS examinations and a high pass rate. When you study with the Garden Design Academy we support your progress every step of the way.