Have you looked at Capel Manor College courses?

Here is a link that might be useful: Capel Manor College

You could do the RHS Level 2 General Certificate wossit? It's all theory-based, unless the college has a greenhouse etc. in which case they might do a bit of practical stuff as well..

I'm studying it at the moment, mainly as something sociable to do, and it's quite fun and useful.. :)

Melanie

I've got all my RHS Level 2 notes & drawings on the pc -I keep meaning to put them up on a webpage somewhere in case someone would find them useful.

Really enjoyed doing it - good intro to basic botany, pest & disease, soil, horticulture etc - about GCSE/O level standard. Nice way to meet a wide range of local gardeners, too.

ok I've enrolled on a garden design course for starters - will hopefully move on and do an RHS course - which I believe the college I've enrolled at does.

Apart from learning about gardening I too want to meet other gardeners!

Have you thought about joining a local gardening society? Your local library will know where they meet, or the Alpine Garden Society, despite it's name, have all sorts of gardeners and plants people as members. There are 3 London groups meeting in Perivale, Potters Bar or at the RHS Vincent Square halls.

Brian

Here is a link that might be useful: AGS Local Groups.

You can go to a college if you want, however, I took the RHS general level 2 in horticulture.
I did it as a distance learning course in other words they send all your course work to you by mail.
When you complete one module you send you work back to your personal tutor and she/he marks it and sends it back with the next moudule.
You can contact you tutor by email or phone if you need any help with the work at any time during daytime hours.
I found it very rewarding. NB You get to keep all 14 modules which is good for future reference.

Sorry I'm coming to this a bit late... however, someone earlier mentioned the RHS General Certificate, and I wanted to warn people about potential problems surrounding this, that I have discovered the hard way.

The General Certificate exam is being held for the last time in March 2006, after that it is completely new certificate and a new syllabus. Don't get me wrong, I don't blame the RHS for this, but it's just to be aware that not all colleges are keeping up with the changes, so you need to be sure when you enrol on a course that you choose an up-to-date course. (Now it's called 'RHS Level 2 Certificate').

I enrolled on a distance learning course with ICS. I have since found that this was not only over-priced but completely outdated (my fault, I know, for not researching more thoroughly). I have study material preparing me for the RHS General, but I'm nowhere near ready to take it yet. I contacted the RHS and they sent a list of colleges offering the new courses. It seems that many, such as the HCC and Learning Curve have given their existing students new material free of charge and prepared them for the new exam properly. Unfortunately, my college does not even seem to know there is a new syllabus! (I should have known there was a problem as they cannot even get the name of the certificate right - they insist on calling it 'gardening level 2' when it is 'horticulture level 2'.) And I understand they are not the only ones, some colleges offering day and evening courses are also guilty of preparing students for an exam that will no longer exist after March.

I spoke to a very helpful lady at Learning Curve who explained the whole situation to me - otherwise I still wouldn't know... The message is choose your course provider carefully and check with the RHS to ensure they are offering the latest course material.

I've now switched to a course from another college and am really enjoying it. I'm also hoping it will be the start of a completely new career!

all the best

Lucy

Here is a link that might be useful: Royal Horticultural Society

re distance learning RHS certificate level 2

could anyone recommend a college/provider to enroll with?

many thanks

Paul

I'm enrolled on the RHS Level 2 with one of Capel Manor College's classes (not their main campus though I'll see that at exam time). I'm really enjoying it so far. The RHS have a messageboard too which relates to their courses - not much traffic, but it might be worth seeing what people on there have said about course providers.