HORTICULTURE AND LANDSCAPE

ACADEMY OF LAND AND ENVIRONMENT

HORTICULTURE AND LANDSCAPE

CUTTING-EDGE

Cutting-edge technologies and science in the only college facility of its kind

Join our student team to enjoy national success and stay abreast of fast changing technology.

Scientist to landscape architect, parks manager to garden designer – it’s the sheer diversity of careers that makes horticulture and landscape so exciting and appealing.

Whether your workplace is a field of growing crops, a desk in a high tech city centre office or a championship golf course, you’ll have plenty of options to branch out and specialise in one of the world’s fastest growing industries.

At Reaseheath we’ve recognised how important the ‘green industry’ is going to be in the future and we’ve invested £8.3 million into our National Centre for Horticulture, the Environment and Sustainable Technology. If you join Reaseheath Horticulture you’ll be introduced to cutting-edge technologies and science in the only college facility of its kind! At a glance

Foundation Level 1 in Horticulture Level 2 Diploma in Land and Environment Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture Level 3 Diploma in Landscape Construction Level 2 Horticulture and Landscape Operative Apprenticeship Level 2 Golf Greenkeeping and Sports Turf Apprenticeship Level 3 Crop Technician Apprenticeship Level 3 Landscape Technician Apprenticeship Level 3 Landscape Supervisor Apprenticeship

WHY STUDY HORTICULTURE AT REASEHEATH?

Our courses are industry focused so you will develop skills to help you gain employment or set up your own business. Receive relevant training for a modern industry including work experience with our network of partners. Become career ready by getting involved in the design and build of medal winning show gardens and community gardening projects to gain experience (you may even appear on TV!)

Our 21-hectares of formal gardens and grounds is the perfect learning environment for horticulture students, with specialist plant collections, unusual trees, designed landscapes and sports pitches.

Enjoy visits to gardens with nationally significant landscaping and planting schemes or get involved in industry-led projects on and off campus. Have the chance to compete in WorldSkills UK landscaping competitions and take advantage of the unique training workshops and masterclasses available to you to increase your career prospects.

Study in our state-of-the-art commercial production unit with its automated glasshouses, computer controlled hydroponic system and innovative LED lighting and experience commercial crop production.

Where could your career take you?

If you are interested in horticulture you’re likely to be fascinated by science and nature and enjoy working outdoors. Perhaps you can see yourself helping to feed a growing global population or transforming cityscapes for workers and residents.

Or maybe you’d like to be at the forefront of research, work at world famous botanical gardens or manage championship sporting venues abroad.

Here are just some of the choices waiting for you:

• Scientist

• Botanist

Scientific researcher • Landscape architect

• Field scale crop production manager

• Produce quality manager • Garden designer / landscaper

• Head gardener

• Head greenkeeper

• Park supervisor

• Commercial nursery manager

• Nursery production technician

• Kitchen gardener

• Entrepreneur

• Self employed gardener

• Garden centre manager

• Sales and marketing manager

• Garden designer

CAREER READY

Did you know that a head gardener could earn £36,000 a year, nursery supervisors typically earn £30,000 while a senior gardener could earn around £28,000? Whatever your career aspirations, we want to help you achieve them by giving you the skills and experience you need! Your Reaseheath Experience

Work placements, community projects, training workshops, competitions – our horticulture students certainly don’t let the grass grow under their feet!

In 2019, our student teams won a silver medal for their show garden at RHS Tatton Flower Show and two RHS Level 3 Diploma students were awarded gold at RHS Chatsworth Flower Show.

We have also been helping to maintain relocated show gardens at the World of Wedgwood in Staffordshire. In return our students gained a privileged insight into the career of RHS Ambassador and plantsman Jamie Butterworth, who visited college with industry colleagues to unveil his ideas for the show garden he was building for Wedgwood.

Our students have designed a show garden for members at the Royal Cheshire Show, and carried out a variety of projects on campus and in the local community.

Harry’s story

Harry Morton

Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture 2020 School: Cheadle Hulme High School Next step: More experience, work abroad Ambition: Head groundsman “As a greenkeeper at Lancashire County Cricket Club’s ground at Old Trafford I’ve helped to prepare the pitches for some spectacular sport, such as the international test matches between England and the West Indies.

“The great thing about greenkeeping is that it doesn’t restrict you to one sport or location.

“My college course was broad ranging, from soil science to operating machinery, and I enjoyed learning how to maintain gardens as well as the more specific skills needed for sports grounds. Both my lecturers and the college grounds staff were really supportive.”

Yvette’s story

Yvette Bell Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture 2016 Job title: Seasonal and Indoor Department Head “I came to Reaseheath as a learning support assistant to help others through their Level 2 Diploma in Horticulture, but found the subject so fascinating that I enrolled as a student myself!

“I was awarded ‘Student of the Year’ when I completed and was a regional finalist in the Chartered Institute of Horticulture’s ‘Young Horticulturalist of the Year’.

“I became an estate gardener at Cholmondeley Castle Gardens, which is a wonderful visitor attraction and then moved on to Fryers Garden Centre & Roses. A year later I was promoted into my current role, looking after indoor plants and seasonal bedding stock.

“Horticulture is a growing industry and there are job opportunities throughout the sector. It certainly gets my vote!” Benefit from our industry links

We have strong training partnerships with key organisations such as the Royal Horticultural Society, the Landscape Institute, the British Association of Landscape Industries, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board and the Association of Professional Landscapers.

We also collaborate with key suppliers including Makita (power tools), Marshalls Paving, Greentech Ltd (landscaping materials) and J A Jones and Sons (plant nursery). Thanks to these industry links, our students enjoy workshops supported by industry professionals, ensuring they have the technical skills and knowledge of working with the latest materials and equipment.

Industry view

Barry Grain Head Gardener, Cholmondeley Castle Gardens “Horticulture is a fantastic industry for young people. It’s opened a whole world for me during my career, which started with an apprenticeship in horticulture at Reaseheath College.

“It’s an industry that can take you anywhere. People all over the world need gardeners, tree surgeons and growers of food, produce and flowers. “Horticulture is very wide ranging and always progressing and moving forwards. There’s so much new technology being introduced, such as LED lighting and new propagation techniques. Horticulture, for me, is the industry to be in.”

INDUSTRY FOCUSED

As our courses are industry focused, you’ll enjoy workshops supported by industry professionals, ensuring you have the technical skills and knowledge of working with the latest materials and equipment.

DID YOU KNOW? The horticultural industry in the UK contributes £9 billion to the economy each year and employs around 300,000 people

DID YOU KNOW? 72% of horticultural businesses are struggling to recruit enough employees, so employment and career opportunities in the sector are great

Where you’ll be studying

You’ll be based in our Centre for Horticulture, the Environment and Sustainable Technology, which (as the name suggests) is dedicated to all things horticultural.

The centre houses our hi-tech commercial production unit, where we are trialling different systems of growing tomato and strawberry crops and a variety of herbaceous plants. We also have a dedicated design studio with the latest Mac computers and 3D design tools, landscape workshop, modern classrooms, a laboratory and our Feast café.

Find out more about our facilities with a tour of our sustainable glasshouse on campus at bit.ly/3lE6sf5

Horticulture apprenticeships

If you’d prefer to earn and learn at the same time, we offer horticulture apprenticeships at levels 2 and 3. Depending on your career ambitions you can choose to specialise in either amenity, landscape and production horticulture or golf greenkeeping and groundsmanship. You will be supported by our work-based assessors in the workplace and either come in to college one day a week or in blocks depending on the apprenticeship you choose.

Finding the right course

While many of our students opt to gain a good grounding on our lower level courses others start at a more advanced level, particularly if they have high academic grades or previous experience.

Whatever your circumstances, our experienced staff will help you choose the course which is right for you. And don’t forget, all students complete relevant work experience.

University study

After studying with us, many of our students choose to go on to study a related degree to further their knowledge and skills for their chosen career. You may chose to do this at University Centre Reaseheath for example, which offers courses in Landscape Architecture and Plant Science which would help you to stand out when applying for jobs in this industry. Foundation Level 1 in Horticulture A great introductory course to the horticulture industry with lots of support if you need it

Level 2 Diploma in Land and Environment This is a great way to prepare for progression onto a Level 3 course within the academy. You will learn about a variety of topics including animal husbandry, crops, livestock, improvement of habitats and much more.

Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture You’ll gain a wide range of specialist technical and practical skills, putting you in a strong position in the jobs market or to study for a degree or further training

Level 3 Diploma in Landscape Construction Learn everything you need to run a landscape contracting business

Level 2 Horticulture and Landscape Operative Apprenticeship Work for a landscape gardener or contractor whilst studying at college one day a week

Level 2 Golf Greenkeeping and Sports Turf Apprenticeship Combine work on a golf course or sports ground with block release study at Reaseheath

Level 3 Crop Technician Apprenticeship Delivered in blocks, this apprenticeship is for you if you enjoy growing and managing crops

Level 3 Landscape Technician Apprenticeship Support landscape and other professionals in designing, creating or managing spaces in both natural and built environments

Level 3 Landscape Supervisor Apprenticeship Supervise teams working in public parks, green spaces, historic gardens, production nurseries and garden retail outlets

Discover our courses: reaseheath.ac.uk/horticulture

ACADEMY OF SPORT, HEALTH AND PUBLIC SERVICES

If the study of health, performance, leadership and fitness is something that inspires you, our Academy of Sport, Health and Public Services is the perfect choice for you.

We have recently had a £6 million investment in our new fitness studio, gym, international standard 3G pitch and sports performance centre which incorporates a state of the art altitude chamber which you will use during your time with us. We also have strong links with a wide range of sporting and public sector organisations, such as Crewe Alexandra Soccer Centre, England Amputee Football Association, RAF, AoC Sport and National Outdoor Training Centres, who you may have a chance to work alongside.

If your sights are set on a career in sport, one of our sports courses will give you the qualifications employers want while also improving your own sporting ability.

Or, if you want to become a fully qualified personal trainer, why not look into our Personal Training course? You’ll spend time enjoying practical sessions in our new facilities, while you work towards gaining recognised qualifications. If you prefer more adventurous sporting activities, or if you are interested in the dynamic careers that the public service sector offers, then take a look at our Adventure Sports or Public Services courses.

As an Adventure Sports student you will have access to top-of-the-range specialist outdoor equipment such as mountain bikes, kayaks and canoes in order to test your own outdoor skills, along with your coaching and leadership abilities.

Public Services students will participate in a variety of outdoor adventurous activities and practice emergency response situations. You will also be given the chance to complete teamwork and leadership activities to prepare you for your future career.