City and Guilds Level One Certificate / Diploma in Land-based Studies- Landscape Garden Design and Construction

About the course

If you are applying for a place on the 14-16 programme please ask school to request an admissions form from 14to16@myerscough.ac.uk

This practical course is an ideal first step towards a career in Landscape garden design and Construction, it provides a basic introductory ‘hands on’ approach and will involve designing and building a Show Garden in the Award Winning Myerscough Gardens. The course will involve hard and soft landscape skills, design and construction. Students will complete a Certificate Qualification in Year One and have the option of completing a Top Up Diploma qualification in Year Two. This programme provides an ideal first step for students considering post 16 study in Landscape, Horticulture and Construction as it covers basic skills from each of these disciplines.

The course will be assessed using a variety of methods including practical observations, written assignments and one externally assessed test each academic year.

Parents/Schools, please note when completing the application form you must use child’s name and DOB but the parent/school email and telephone number. All official documents, interview and enrolment information will be emailed on the parent/school email provided and this could be anytime from the time of application through to September. If the email changes it is important you let us know. Failure to do so could lead to the application being withdrawn from the process.

Year 1
Year 2

Year 1

Plant selection

Plant flower bulbs for naturalisation or bedding

Introduction to garden design

Maintain hand tools

Establish an even gradient or level between two fixed points

Lay paving slabs

Mix mortar or concrete

Build a simple brick wall

Year 2

Care for a planted area

Plant flower bulbs for naturalisation or bedding

Cultivate land by single digging or forking

Practical skills for footpath and surfacing work

Lay paving blocks on sand

Maintain paved areas

Maintain wooden structures with water-based preservative

Lift, divide and plant herbaceous perennials

Entry requirements & additional information

Entry requirements

Students need to be 14 or over and have functional English and Maths skills. Students should have some interest either as a hobby or potential career in the areas of Landscape, Construction or Horticulture.

Learning and assessment

The course is assessed through a combination of written and practical assessments.

Progression

Students who successfully complete the course may wish to study full time at Myerscough or at another college. Apprenticeships are also available through the College.

Special requirements

Sensible outdoor clothing is expected for practical work. Steel toe-cap boots/wellingtons are essential and overalls are recommended for practical sessions. Students should also have suitable waterproof clothing for wet weather.

Landscape

Landscaping involves the design, construction and maintenance of urban and rural environments – to develop ‘greener living’ in these areas. It’s a real government focus and includes everything from gardens, parks, streets, waterways, leisure facilities and open spaces through to large urban redevelopments. There are fantastic career opportunities as the landscape industry is made up of nearly 8,000 businesses employing around 140,000 people, including local authority departments, heritage garden attractions and commercial landscape companies.

Staff and students won Gold for their entry at the Southport Flower Show in 2015.

Show Garden Success

Work experience doesn’t get much better than here at Myerscough. Our learners have helped build award-winning gardens across the country - from a Gold-Medal entry at Chelsea Flower Show to Gold and Silver Gilts at Southport Flower Show! They’ve also been involved with garden builds for the BBC DIY SOS project in Blackpool and show gardens at the RHS Tatton Flower Show and Chorley Flower Show.

Students on the Myerscough College APL Programme

Association of Professional Landscapers

Myerscough has developed a unique partnership with the Association of Professional Landscapers and the Landscape Skills Academy. The scheme, which represents a first for the sector, has a clear vision to produce the next generation of landscaping professionals. It showcases the latest products, tools, equipment and practice, to fully prepare learners for their future careers in the landscape sector.

Superb facilities

Our landscaping students have access to some of the best facilities available. There’s a purpose-built teaching unit that comprises four fully-equipped landscape and construction workshops. There are dedicated garden plots for project work, a CAD suite and drawing studio and five hectares of inspirational grounds.

They say: Elliot Smith

"Myerscough ticked all the right boxes for the landscape studies that I had my heart set on. The Level 3 Diploma course is brilliant, and I particularly liked the balance between practical and theory-based work."

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING OUR VOCATIONAL OFFER FOR HOME EDUCATED STUDENTS FROM SEPTEMBER 2025

Tuesday 12th November 2024 update

Myerscough College is committed to providing high quality technical education across the land-based and sports sectors. Our 14-16 curriculum provision will remain in place for the 2025/26 academic year, starting September 2025, but it will need to be accessed via applications from local schools, on behalf of their pupils.

After extensive discussions with our Local Authorities (LAs) regarding the future of home education, it is clear that the government is focused on prioritising the reintegration of many home educated young people back into mainstream education. In light of this direction, we have made the strategic decision to change the Elective Home Educated (EHE) element of our 14-16 programme, in order to align with this broader educational policy.

The only change being implemented at Myerscough is the method of applying for a place and that, moving forward, Electively Home Educated applicants must be enrolled at a secondary school. That school can then submit an application for the programme.

This change will not impact students who are already currently attending Myerscough College through their schools.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this decision, please do not hesitate to contact the Home Educated support teams at your relevant local authority. They will be able to provide information about available school places for September 2025 entry. Once a suitable school has been identified you can start a dialogue with them about the option of attending Myerscough. If discussions are successful, the school can submit an application.

For information about the content of the 14-16 curriculum you can email us at 14to16@myerscough.ac.uk or call 01995 642222.

Additional support

Myerscough will arrange for copies of academic reports to be sent to educational providers in order to support and enhance the likelihood of securing a school or alternative provision placement for students.

Additionally, please access the links below to help with guidance and support during this transition period:

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/professional/resources/supporting-school-transitions/

Supporting children's transition to secondary school: guidance for parents and carers | Anna Freud