Ecological Garden Management DipHE

Weymouth and Kingston Maurward College, brings together two Further and Higher Education colleges to make one strong, responsive and ambitious organisation with the vision, resources and expertise to best support the evolving and growing skills demands in the region and beyond. <br/><br/>Located on the stunning Jurassic Coast and the beautiful Dorset countryside, our campuses offer a diverse range of courses, training and CPD that cater to a wide array of interests, career paths and business needs.<br/><br/>Across our two campuses we offer full and part-time higher education courses, with Weymouth focussing on vocational courses such as art, media, performing arts, health and social care, sport and public services and Kingston Maurward specialising in land-based courses covering subjects such as agriculture, wildlife, ecology and conservation. <br/><br/>Together, we focus on the best interests of students, staff and employers in our local community and beyond, with industry-standard facilities, experienced teaching staff and outstanding support in a diverse, vibrant and welcoming environment.<br/><br/>This Diploma in Higher Education course is validated by the Open University (subject to validation) and is delivered on our Kingston Maurward campus.<br/><br/>This Diploma in Higher Education is a 2-year programme that aims to develop the art and the science of managing gardens and designed landscapes to enhance ecological diversity in both gardens and in the surrounding environment. The programme will cover key aspects of horticulture and garden management. It aims to do so using the application of ecological principles, sustainable planting design, biodiversity approaches to pest and disease in plants and understanding the role of gardens, horticulture and landscape management in community and well-being. <br/><br/>The programme aims to develop more sustainable and ecological approaches managing gardens, plant collections and landscapes through three key themes: <br/>- Horticultural Knowledge and application<br/><br/><br/>- Principles of Ecology and Sustainability<br/><br/><br/>- The Value of Gardens and Landscapes<br/><br/><br/>The future of garden management will need to meet expectations to ensure managed landscapes meet goals in sustainable practices, can provide biodiversity impact, are climate resilient or ‘future proof’. New and emerging techniques and models for garden management will be needed by managers within the sector. This programme is designed to allow learners to develop key horticultural knowledge alongside application of methods to utilise understanding in biodiversity, responses to climate change and working with nature to develop and maintain gardens and develop horticultural practices for the future.