Garden design: small spaces
This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
- Course Code: VF451
- Dates: 23/04/24 - 28/05/24
- Time: 18:00 - 21:00
- Taught: Tue, Evening
- Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
- Location: Online
- Tutor: Alison Worster
Course Code: VF451
Duration: 6 sessions (over 6 weeks)
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Center for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
The course will cover the fundamental principals and styles of garden design, demonstrating the main stages of the process and how to create simple, contemporary designs. Discover imaginative and practical solutions for small spaces such as creating privacy, reducing noise and selecting suitable plants and hard landscaping materials for small gardens. Learn how to maximise your garden to suit your needs and translate your ideas onto paper with a simple scaled plan.
This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.
What will we cover?
- The principles and styles of successful garden design
- How to take a basic survey and analysis of your garden
- How to research for inspiration and create a mood board
- How to draw a basic layout and planting plan to scale
- How to select hard landscaping and planting for small gardens
- How to overcome garden challenges: noise, privacy, shade etc.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Draw your garden plan to scale 1:50
- Use garden design principles in your plan
- Create a mood board for your chosen garden style
- Create a list of different materials and plants that you will use and drawn a basic planting combination
- Apply design techniques to improve difficult areas in your garden.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is a beginners’ course and no previous experience is necessary. This course is for anyone with an interest in garden design.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
This will involve practical workshops, tutor presentation, informal class discussion and handouts. Student preparation and homework outside class times is strongly encouraged.
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?
Equipment and materials will be provided for use in the class. For working at home you may wish to buy yourself several sheets of graph paper, A4, a pad of tracing paper or greaseproof paper, masking tape, a notebook, pencil, eraser and a long tape measure. You will be provided with printable graph paper and scale rule as part of the handouts.
We use Google Classroom E-learning platform which will store all tasks/notes/resources/ demo videos You will need to login into our Google classroom before each sessions starts.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
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.
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.