Garden Living Direct BlogGarden living news in the UK

Any talented amateur gardeners out there who fancy taking their skills to the next level may wish to know that from this September London’s famous Kew Gardens will be the venue for teaching a new diploma from the London College of Garden Design (LCGD).

The diploma in garden design involves a year-long course and teaching will be centred at the Royal Botanic Gardens’ Orangery conference centre.

Speaking to Horticulture Week magazine, LCGD director of garden design studies Andrew Wilson explained that the college wished to combine the “inspiring” surroundings to be found at Kew Gardens with the centre’s excellent teaching facilities.

“We are very excited to be able to deliver our flagship diploma from Kew Gardens, one of the world’s leading botanical gardens as well as a haven for study,” he said.

“The course is attracting earlier enrolments this year and I am sure that our new location at Kew Gardens will add to the excitement for those starting a career in garden design.”

Horticultural students at Pershore College near Evesham revealed ambitious plans this week for an astrology-themed garden at the Spring Garden Show in May.

The garden aims to use garden furniture, landscaping and sculpture to mingle modern and rustic themes and create “a garden of elegant curves,” according to the Evesham Journal.

The garden will be 12m square and will feature seating and a central circular area surrounded by metal strips planted in the ground to represent the sun and its rays, as well as appropriate plants, plus a pool and sculpture – representing day and night. The HND students who are set to realise Jake Paloni’s garden design are excited by the opportunity to show off their skills.

They have split into three gardener groups – one to undertake the hard landscaping, one for the soft landscaping and a third for publicity and to drum up sponsorship.

The Spring Garden Show takes place on 12-15 May at the Three Counties Showground in Evesham.

Spring is definitely in the air at the moment, and a perfect time for even the most fair-weather gardener to get out there and take advantage of the lengthening days and warmer weather.

Early flowering perennial plants such as honeysuckle and primrose are beginning to show their true colours, while the snowdrops and crocuses are already flowering and the bulbs of many other plants are starting to show their faces in flowerbeds, pots and garden planters across the UK. Planters and window boxes are a particularly useful option for would-be gardeners without the space or time for a fully-fledged garden, helping to add colour and a touch of natural beauty to their home.

When using garden planters, a good tactic is to create a base of small evergreen plants before finding hardy perennials and other plants in your favourite colours, before choosing others to complement those colours. There is plenty of advice to be found in caring for your new plants, and it really is more simple than it may appear at first glance. Both the BBC and the Royal Horticultural Society provide a wealth of information online.