Explore the exciting opportunities and challenges involved in designing your own garden. Develop your creative skills and learn to maximise the potential of your space through practical workshops, using planning and layout design techniques.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
Learn the creative processes used to design gardens. A successful garden depends on a good initial layout, the ‘bones’ of the space, and the planning stage is an essential part of creating a harmonious space. You will be exploring the formal principles and elements of garden design and methods of producing a successful garden plan to scale.
What will we cover?
- The form, function and geometry of garden design elements - Garden styles from formal to contemporary spaces
- Site measuring, analysis and function plans of your garden survey
- How to draw up a scale plan at 1:50 of your garden
- How to research for inspiration to create a mood board for your plan
- Researching different hard landscaping materials
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand the elements and styles of garden design and how to apply them to your space
- Understand your sites requirements and how to overcome difficult areas.
- Draw garden analysis and layout plans to scale
- Undertake visual research and compile a mood-board for your garden
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is a beginners’ course and no previous experience is necessary. This course is for anyone with an interest in garden design. You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, handouts and for health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught using a range of techniques including workshops, short lectures, demonstrations, practical exercises, tutorials, group and individual assistance and hand-outs. Please note the City Lit uses Apple Mac computers.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
This is part 1 of a modular 2 part course, although also works as a stand-alone garden planning course. This course does not cover planting design, that aspect is covered in Part 2 [VF304 and VF306] Plants and planting design. The courses can be taken in either order, but it is preferable to take part 1 first if you are considering a full garden re-design.
Alison Worster has a BA Hons degree in graphic arts and Diploma in Garden Design. Alison’s first career was in commercial design and illustration, with many diverse clients ranging from Natural History Museum, National Trust to Paperchase, John Lewis, and exhibitions of her own artworks. After managing a design studio Alison’s love of drawing nature and plants, and the importance of her own garden, led her to retrain in garden design, allowing her to combine her experience of colour, texture and layout with living plants and outside spaces. Within months of graduating Alison gained a gold medal for the Ideal Home Show ‘Reclaiming London’ garden and won an RHS competition to exhibit at the Chelsea Flower Show ‘Fresh Talent’. Alison now runs her own garden design business, and specialises in making the most of typical, small London spaces. Alison teaches both drawing and garden design and her main aim is to enthuse, demystify and inspire her students in either of her subjects.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/design-your-own-garden-i-planning-and-layout3039601Design your own garden I: planning and layouthttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/animate-after-effects-VO723.jpg199199GBPInStock/Courses/Courses/Art & design/Courses/Art & design/3D and digital design/Interior, spatial & garden design/Courses/Art & design/3D and digital design22851132116816391228511321639<p>Explore the exciting opportunities and challenges involved in designing your own garden. Develop your creative skills and learn to maximise the potential of your space through practical workshops, using planning and layout design techniques.</p>003039589Design your own garden I: planning and layout199199https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/animate-after-effects-VO723.jpgInStockDaytimeSatKeeley StreetAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekend2027-02-27T00:00:00+00:00Feb 2027Art & designVF300199199Design your own garden I: planning and layout159129199Alison Worsterdesign-your-own-garden-i-planning-and-layout/vf300-2627<p>Explore the exciting opportunities and challenges involved in designing your own garden. Develop your creative skills and learn to maximise the potential of your space through practical workshops, using planning and layout design techniques.</p>0000-Available|2027-02-27 00:00:00<p>Learn the creative processes used to design gardens. A successful garden depends on a good initial layout, the ‘bones’ of the space, and the planning stage is an essential part of creating a harmonious space. You will be exploring the formal principles and elements of garden design and methods of producing a successful garden plan to scale. </p><p>Explore the exciting opportunities and challenges involved in designing your own garden. Develop your creative skills and learn to maximise the potential of your space through practical workshops, using planning and layout design techniques.</p><p>- The form, function and geometry of garden design elements<br>- Garden styles from formal to contemporary spaces</p><p>- Site measuring, analysis and function plans of your garden survey</p><p>- How to draw up a scale plan at 1:50 of your garden</p><p>- Different methods of conveying your ideas from mood boards to elevation drawings<br>- Researching different hard landscaping materials<br> </p><p>- Recognise the elements and styles of garden design and how to apply them to your space <br>- Describe your sites requirements and how to overcome difficult areas.</p><p>- Draw garden analysis and layout plans to scale<br>- Undertake visual research and compile a mood-board for your garden</p><p>This is a beginners’ course and no previous experience is necessary. This course is for anyone with an interest in garden design.<br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, handouts and for health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.</p><p>You will be taught using a range of techniques including workshops, short lectures, demonstrations, practical exercises, tutorials, group and individual assistance and hand-outs. </p><p>This is part 1 of a modular 2 part course, although you can also achive good outcomes if you take it as a stand-alone garden planning course. This course does not cover planting design, that aspect is covered in part 2 [VF304 and VF306] Plants and planting design. The courses can be taken in either order, but it is preferable to take part 1 first if you are considering a full garden re-design.</p><p>This is part 1 of a modular 2 part course, although also works as a stand-alone garden planning course. This course does not cover planting design, that aspect is covered in Part 2 [VF304 and VF306] Plants and planting design. The courses can be taken in either order, but it is preferable to take part 1 first if you are considering a full garden re-design.</p><p>City Lit offer a range of Garden Design courses and your tutor will be happy to advise you about courses to suit your individual progression. We also run courses in sketch up pro, vector works, perspective drawing, scale drawing as well as traditional drawing and watercolour to help you develop and present your ideas to clients.</p>3D and digital designInterior, spatial & garden designvirtual3039595Design your own garden I: planning and layout199199https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/category/animate-after-effects-VO723.jpgInStockDaytimeFriKeeley StreetAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekday2026-11-06T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experienceNov 2026Art & designVF466199199Design your own garden I: planning and layout159129199Alison Worsterdesign-your-own-garden-i-planning-and-layout/vf466-2627<p>Explore the exciting opportunities and challenges involved in designing your own garden. Develop your creative skills and learn to maximise the potential of your space through practical workshops, using planning and layout design techniques.</p>0000-Available|2026-11-06 00:00:00<p>Learn the creative processes used to design gardens. A successful garden depends on a good initial layout, the ‘bones’ of the space, and the planning stage is an essential part of creating a harmonious space. You will be exploring the formal principles and elements of garden design and methods of producing a successful garden plan to scale. </p><p>Explore the exciting opportunities and challenges involved in designing your own garden. Develop your creative skills and learn to maximise the potential of your space through practical workshops, using planning and layout design techniques.</p><p>- The form, function and geometry of garden design elements<br>- Garden styles from formal to contemporary spaces</p><p>- Site measuring, analysis and function plans of your garden survey</p><p>- How to draw up a scale plan at 1:50 of your garden</p><p>- How to research for inspiration to create a mood board for your plan</p><p><br>- Researching different hard landscaping materials</p><p>- Understand the elements and styles of garden design and how to apply them to your space</p><p>- Understand your sites requirements and how to overcome difficult areas.</p><p>- Draw garden analysis and layout plans to scale</p><p>- Undertake visual research and compile a mood-board for your garden</p><p>This is a beginners’ course and no previous experience is necessary. This course is for anyone with an interest in garden design.<br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, handouts and for health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.</p><p>You will be taught using a range of techniques including workshops, short lectures, demonstrations, practical exercises, tutorials, group and individual assistance and hand-outs. Please note the City Lit uses Apple Mac computers.</p><p>This is part 1 of a modular 2 part course, although also works as a stand-alone garden planning course. This course does not cover planting design, that aspect is covered in Part 2 [VF304 and VF306] Plants and planting design. The courses can be taken in either order, but it is preferable to take part 1 first if you are considering a full garden re-design.</p>3D and digital designInterior, spatial & garden designvirtual159199129VF300,VF466NONESat,Fri06/11/26 - 27/11/2614:00 - 17:0014:0017:004 sessions (over 4 weeks)41 to 4 weeksDaytimeWeekend,WeekdayKSKeeley StreetAlison WorsterAvailable courses2027-02-27T00:00:00+00:00,2026-11-06T00:00:00+00:00Feb 2027,Nov 2026Art & design199199Design your own garden I: planning and layoutdesign-your-own-garden-i-planning-and-layout/vf300-2627,design-your-own-garden-i-planning-and-layout/vf466-2627<p>Explore the exciting opportunities and challenges involved in designing your own garden. Develop your creative skills and learn to maximise the potential of your space through practical workshops, using planning and layout design techniques.</p>0000-Available|2026-11-06 00:00:00<p>Learn the creative processes used to design gardens. A successful garden depends on a good initial layout, the ‘bones’ of the space, and the planning stage is an essential part of creating a harmonious space. You will be exploring the formal principles and elements of garden design and methods of producing a successful garden plan to scale. </p><p>Explore the exciting opportunities and challenges involved in designing your own garden. Develop your creative skills and learn to maximise the potential of your space through practical workshops, using planning and layout design techniques.</p><p>- The form, function and geometry of garden design elements<br>- Garden styles from formal to contemporary spaces</p><p>- Site measuring, analysis and function plans of your garden survey</p><p>- How to draw up a scale plan at 1:50 of your garden</p><p>- Different methods of conveying your ideas from mood boards to elevation drawings<br>- Researching different hard landscaping materials<br>&nbsp;</p>,<p>- The form, function and geometry of garden design elements<br>- Garden styles from formal to contemporary spaces</p><p>- Site measuring, analysis and function plans of your garden survey</p><p>- How to draw up a scale plan at 1:50 of your garden</p><p>- How to research for inspiration to create a mood board for your plan</p><p><br>- Researching different hard landscaping materials</p><p>- Recognise the elements and styles of garden design and how to apply them to your space&nbsp;<br>- Describe your sites requirements and how to overcome difficult areas.</p><p>- Draw garden analysis and layout plans to scale<br>- Undertake visual research and compile a mood-board for your garden</p>,<p>- Understand the elements and styles of garden design and how to apply them to your space</p><p>- Understand your sites requirements and how to overcome difficult areas.</p><p>- Draw garden analysis and layout plans to scale</p><p>- Undertake visual research and compile a mood-board for your garden</p><p>This is a beginners’ course and no previous experience is necessary. This course is for anyone with an interest in garden design.<br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions to support demonstrations, handouts and for health and safety information, and will be invited to take part in group discussion. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do simple measurements and calculations.</p><p>You will be taught using a range of techniques including workshops, short lectures, demonstrations, practical exercises, tutorials, group and individual assistance and hand-outs. </p>,<p>You will be taught using a range of techniques including workshops, short lectures, demonstrations, practical exercises, tutorials, group and individual assistance and hand-outs. Please note the City Lit uses Apple Mac computers.</p><p>This is part 1 of a modular 2 part course, although you can also achive good outcomes if you take it as a stand-alone garden planning course. This course does not cover planting design, that aspect is covered in part 2 [VF304 and VF306] Plants and planting design. The courses can be taken in either order, but it is preferable to take part 1 first if you are considering a full garden re-design.</p>,<p>This is part 1 of a modular 2 part course, although also works as a stand-alone garden planning course. This course does not cover planting design, that aspect is covered in Part 2 [VF304 and VF306] Plants and planting design. The courses can be taken in either order, but it is preferable to take part 1 first if you are considering a full garden re-design.</p>3D and digital designInterior, spatial & garden designconfigurable
11681639Interior, spatial & garden designhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/courses/art-and-design/3d-and-digital-design/interior-spatial-and-garden-design1/2/285/1132/1639/11681/Courses/Art & design/3D and digital design/Interior, spatial & garden design
