Try it out: garden design
Choose a starting date
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.
- Start Date: 13 May 2025End Date: 13 May 2025Last Spaces LeftTue (Evening): 18:00 - 21:00OnlineFull fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00
- Start Date: 19 Sep 2025End Date: 19 Sep 2025Fri (Daytime): 10:00 - 13:00In PersonFull fee £59.00 Senior fee £59.00 Concession £59.00
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.
What is the course about?
This short taster course will introduce you to the process of garden design and show you how to assess an outside space. You will learn how to create a functional bubble plan to organise an area in an effective and attractive layout.
What will we cover?
- How to create a site analysis
- The importance of a function plan, and how to draw a bubble layout.
- Progression courses from this taster course.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Understand of what to look for when assessing a site
- Draw a simple layout on a plan provided
- Identify which course at City lit would be suitable for further study.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This is a taster course suitable for complete beginners.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
You will be taught using Zoom for the live sessions with your tutor. You will receive an email 2.5hrs before your session starts with details of the live session link. Please be aware you will need to check your email address associated with your account within this window.
We use Google Classroom E-learning platform which will store all tasks, notes and resources. You will be sent an email with the necessary information and will need to login into your Google classroom before each sessions starts.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
You will need an updated version of the software uploaded and functioning on your computer.
You will need a computer or laptop. Ideally with a fully updated google Chrome browser.
Using headphones with microphones will block out all room noise in sessions.
If you are using a tablet or mobile device you will need a microphone, and optionally a camera.
You will require a good broadband connection as mobile data 3G/4G or a mobile dongle will not provide sufficient Bandwidth for live sessions.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
You can develop your work further on our courses Garden design for beginners, Introduction to design your own garden, Roof terrace and balcony design and planting, Start plants and planting design for your garden or any of our beginner garden design courses.
City Lit offer a range of courses in Patio Design and Planting, Planting Design, Botanical Drawing and an array of other visual arts courses to enhance your creative and professional skills.
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.