OUR COURSES
Course Duration – 4 Days
Number of Students – Maximum 8
Aimed at – The course can be tailored to the ability level of the students attending. Don’t be intimidated if you’re new to gardening and want to learn the basics, nor if you want to develop the wealth of knowledge and ability you already possess.
Course Content – Learn skills from seed sowing, pricking out, various vegetative cutting types (softwood, semi ripewood, hardwood, root cuttings), plant division, grafting etc.
A Typical Day – Meet in the summerhouse for an informal lesson on the technique being taught that day. Typically half an hour tuition. Move into the glasshouse for practical, hands on training – 2 to 2.5 hours practical training daily interspersed with plenty of refreshments. Free time in the afternoons to explore the local area and sightseeing.
Course Duration – 3 Days
Number of Students – Maximum 6
Aimed at – The course can be tailored to the ability level of the students attending. Don’t be intimidated if you’re new to gardening and want to learn the basics, nor if you want to develop the wealth of knowledge and ability you already possess.
Course Content – Learn how to design your own garden and include features that will be the envy of your neighbourhood. Use internet aided design to achieve the desired effect with technical information about which plant to use where, colour theming within the garden and plant dimensions after ten years. Course culminates with a plan for you to take to a landscape construction company for them to build your design for you or for the more physically abled individuals, bring your design to life yourself by ‘self-building’, saving you a fortune!
A Typical Day – Based in the summerhouse, develop your plan, building the technical detail over the duration of the course. Typically 3 hours tuition daily, interspersed with plenty of refreshments. Free time in the afternoons to explore the local area and sightseeing.
Andy's background is commercial horticulture having spent 34 years growing trees, shrubs, climbing plants, herbaceous perennials and annual bedding plants for the Garden Centre trade.
I latterly spent 6 years supplying commercial growers with technical advice and products to assist them in their horticultural production.
The result is that I have gained a wealth of knowledge over the years which can be passed on to ‘would be’ gardeners who are just starting out, and keen gardeners who want to increase their knowledge base and acquire new skills.
We run residential courses here at The Bowden Lodge including topics such as 'Vegetative Propagation', 'Seed Propagation', 'Grafting & Budding', 'Pest & Disease Control', 'Plant Nutrition', 'Lawn Management', 'Planting Schemes' etc.
During the first COVID-19 lockdown, we received a financial grant from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Business Recovery Grant programme. This grant enabled us to purchase the glasshouse facility which will be used for practical training of our students.
Please contact Andy at The Bowden Lodge for dates of future courses and more information.
“Unlike reading a gardening book or watching Monty Don on the TV, I really enjoyed this course because it is so hands-on and practical. You have the opportunity to learn through doing; experiencing new skills for yourself and actually getting your hands dirty. Whether a true novice, just starting out, or a seasoned gardener, there is something for everyone to learn. Held out in the spacious greenhouse, there is plenty of room at the bench to try out your new skills. Although extremely knowledgeable, Andy’s relaxed style quickly puts you at your ease as he guides you through the basics of how to set up, the different types of compost to use and then moving on into sowing, pricking out, taking different types of cuttings and eventually planting on and planting out your successful growth. As well as being informative, it was great fun and I wish I had done it years ago. And oh…yes the tea and cakes were awesome !”
“Thoroughly enjoyed the course! Andy successfully de-mystified the taking of plant cuttings etc. and the reasons for using the different methods. Fun lessons and clear explanations. The coffee and home-made cakes supplied by Jane were much appreciated too. I’ve booked another course!”
“I did a short course with Andy of Bowden Lodge which was very interesting. It was a very practical course in that we did seed beds, rooted flower cuttings, and hardwood cuttings. We were kept busy and I learned a lot. .”
“Andy knows his stuff and is a good teacher, with excellent facilities. Jane provides delicious refreshments too. 😋 An interesting course from a good-natured and hospitable couple.”
“I attended a 4 week gardening club led by Andy in Nov 2021. It was really good to learn more about seed propagation, from the mix of soil to use through to pricking the seeds out. We also learnt about doing cuttings from hard wood plants and soft wood plants. It was great to able to ask questions and get answers from Andy’s gardening knowledge. I am looking forward to hopefully being able to grow plants for my garden cheaper than going to garden centres etc. I would 100% recommend joining Andy on one of his gardening breaks it will be fun and a great time of learning new skills.”
The Bowden Lodge Hotel, 18 Albert Road, Southport, PR9 0LE
Tel: 01704 543 531
Mob: 07484 547 340
email: enquiries@bowdenlodge.co.uk
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