Higher National Diploma Home Study

Examine the role of plants and their relationship with human society. Develop an understanding of the organisms that make up the plant kingdom (and its subgroupings). Build skills in research and experimentation to examine how plants obtain energy, grow and adapt to their environments. You will learn about:

Examine the common identification systems used in horticulture to recognise and record the characteristics of different plant groups. Develop essential skills needed to identify plant species and to classify plants in terms of type, family and form. Build confidence in the use of common language used for classification and in the use of identification keys. Be introduced to the importance of classification standards and legislation in terms of plant breeding and classification around the world. You will learn about:

Develop knowledge and understanding of land-based business and business practices. Examine different types of organisations operating in the land-based sector and explore interrelationships between various stakeholders. Build analytical skills to understand the strengths and weaknesses of different organisations and to explore the impact of macro factors (e.g. economy, politics, environment etc) on an organisation's objectives. You will learn about:

Develop essential knowledge of the scientific principles needed to optimise plant production in horticulture. Assess the type and characteristics of different soils and consider what is needed for optimal structure and nutrition in plant development. Examine the processes necessary to encourage the healthy growth and reproduction of different plants. Examine issues such as water management, pesticides and disease treatment. You will learn about:

Examine the role of marketing in land-based organisations. Consider how different marketing strategies are used in real world examples. Explore the way marketing can impact on the horticulture industry and your own professional practice. Understand the skills used in marketing to develop a loyal customer base, which can be applied to your own career development in land-based business. You will learn about:

Build a foundational understanding of the nutritional needs of plants and examine how knowledge can be applied to maximise the volume and quality of crops. Understand how plants absorb nutrients and the factors that can limit uptake. Develop an awareness of the variety of fertiliser regimens and how they apply in different crop situations. You will learn about:

Develop fundamental skills in surveying and measuring that are necessary for a range of land based businesses. Evaluate the tools and technologies used for a variety of surveying and measuring tasks. Understand the importance of accurate measurement and drawing. Apply knowledge to create a set of design plans for a given site.

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Apply the skills and knowledge you have developed to plan and manage a horticulture business project. Undertake primary and secondary research on a set theme and topic about the land-based business sector. Plan and manage the project from start to finish. Produce and present project outcomes. Review project outcomes to examine the skills and processes you have learned throughout the course. You will learn about:

Understand the key areas of site analysis, client brief analysis, ideas generation, scale drawing, material selection and planning and construction techniques in order to create aesthetically pleasing designs. Develop creativity by examining and applying key design principles to garden design compositions. Build knowledge about the relationship between creative practice, costings and design implementation. You will learn about:

Integrate current garden design, horticulture and site construction skills to manage and plan a hard landscape project. Evaluate a range of hard landscape features used in designed gardens. Consider the relationship between function and aesthetics of a range of garden elements. Understand how hard landscape features complement soft landscape elements. Develop advanced design and implementation skills. Examine health and safety features that can impact on the design and implementation of a project. You will learn about:

Develop essential skills in plant production with an emphasis on quality, yield, appearance and conservation. Understand the importance of plant propagation for commercial purposes and within the natural environment. Examine the strengths and weaknesses of different plant propagation methods and consider how techniques can be applied. Practice different techniques to explore the initial growing of plant species. You will learn about:

Examine the growth of landscape and garden maintenance as a key part of the land-based business environment. Develop knowledge in horticulture practice, site safety and business development. Cultivate advanced skills in planning and maintenance, sourcing equipment, monitoring garden quality and adapting activities to the needs of different plant groups, Understand the key skills needed by contractors to deliver a quality service within budgets in order to maintain a successful and competitive business. You will learn about:

Develop skills needed to manage a successful garden design practice. Explore the importance of consumer rights and site safety by learning about key legislation and industry standards. Understand the importance of professional development in terms of both design, implementation, project management and financial planning. Practice estimating the costs of garden design proposals using appropriate software and industry specific pricing manuals. You will learn about:

Understand the concept of sustainability and the practices that support it. Build knowledge of the systems used to reduce energy consumption and minimise waste. Analyse horticulture and business practices from the perspective of sustainability. You will learn about:

Complete an independent research project based on your own area of interest in horticulture and garden design. Based on a set-theme, complete your own research project from start to finish and investigate a specialised area of practice. Apply appropriate research methods and established practices. Analyse findings and present outcomes to appropriate stakeholders. You will learn about: