A new horticulture school offering affordable gardening classes to people at all levels has opened in Herne Hill, writes Liv Facey…
Following a rise in people gardening during the pandemic, the London School of Horticulture, which also has a Telegraph Hill branch, was founded in 2022 by Kew Gardens-trained horticulturist Dr Mima Taylor.
The school offers horticulture courses to gardeners of all levels. They aim their courses at normal people wanting to learn or develop their gardening skills rather than people wanting a career change and become professional gardeners.
The pandemic and lockdown caused a significant increase in those interested in gardening. According to the Horticulture Trades Associates, three million new gardeners emerged during lockdown with 2.3 million continuing their new hobby into 2022.
But with an increasing population and fewer homes with gardens available the Horticulture Trades Associates also reported that although some 80 per cent of Londoners have access to a garden or outside space, there are very few options for Londoners wishing to take their next step in gardening.
The London School of Horticulture’s introductory course aims to acknowledge the lack of gardening space in London as they offer students the opportunity to think about gardening from different perspectives and a chance to better their skills. Courses such as their Garden Design skills if taken in person also give students the time and space to practice in a real garden.
Dr Taylor said: “Lockdown sparked a lot of interest in gardening, and many of us discovered the positive impact it has on our mental health. There is very little available for the keen amateur gardener. We have opened The London School of Horticulture to widen the reach of horticulture education in London and make it accessible to everyone eager to learn.”
The school also offers classes online for students who live outside of London.
The school started by trialling out classes at the beginning of this year and has extended to part-time certificate courses, short courses and workshops. They are also now launching their first one-year course ‘A Year in the Garden’.
Short courses start at £45 for a one-day workshop or £80 for a two-day course while the year-long course starting in September is just under £2,000 for the year and can be paid in instalments.
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