Description
The RBGE Certificate in Practical Horticulture (CPH) is for anyone who wants to acquire the fundamental practical skills of a horticulturist.
There are many courses that teach horticultural theory, but this formal 10-day course (eight full-day taught units plus practice and assessment) is structured within a standard framework to focus on practical skills taught by experienced and enthusiastic horticulturists.
There is some theory provided to aid your understanding (in the form of short, highly visual presentations), but the course is designed to be delivered and assessed using a predominantly practical approach. Therefore, for the majority of your time in the classes you will be “doing stuff” and will be getting “dirty hands!”
The CPH is a formal qualification and students must therefore pass the assessment to achieve the award. A practical exam at the end of the program forms the bulk of the assessment marks, but students are also required to show they understand the key points. This is done either as a notebook which is a record of their classes, or as worksheets with questions or as quizzes on PropaGate, RBGE’s Online Learning Environment. Students are also expected to practice their practical skills in their own time in addition to the formal classes, in order to prepare for the practical exam.
The CPH was devised by the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh and is endorsed by Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI – who are the global organisation for botanic gardens) and is supported by the UK Stanley Smith Horticultural Trust, which is funding the development of delivery and support materials to facilitate the course being taught in a range of locations.
As well as in Edinburgh, the CPH is also delivered by partner centres supported and validated by RBGE. These include the Eden Project in Cornwall and the Nezahat Gökyiğit Botanic Garden in Istanbul, Turkey, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Bute Produce on Bute, Norfolk School of Gardening and B.E.S.T in Horticulture Education Limited at three of its centres. RBGE also delivers the CPH in countries as diverse as Oman and Laos, as part of global capacity building and conservation programmes.
