We'd like to remind everyone that it's not too late to enrol on our new City & Guilds Level 1 in Horticultural Skills course which starts on October 1st. The course is being run in co-operation with Capel Manor Horticultural college at Gunnersbury Park and Hounslow Homes.

Enrolment takes place on 13th September so don't delay if you just want to improve your gardening skills and knowledge or maybe start a new career in horticulture find out more by clicking the link below:

City & Guilds course in Horticulture

HCFA, in partnership with Capel Manor College, are developing a horticultural training facility in Feltham to enable Hounslow residents to study a City and Guilds course in horticulture. The details of the opportunity are outlined below:

Duration: The course will run from the 13^th September 2010 until June 2011. Candidates are expected to attend the course for one day a week during term time for a total of 33 weeks.

Places: We are able to accommodate 12 students on the course. 

Costs: The course costs £55 to individualswho qualify for means tested benefit. The course will cost individuals not in receipt of means tested benefit £411. There are no course fees charged to Hounslow Home tenants. Students must supply their own safety boots (safety boots cost between £30 and £40).

Course content: Candidates will study 4 core units – ground preparation, container planting, application of organic mulch and watering – and at least 4 optional units (from a list of 60 optional units) ranging from pruning hedges to laying paths and turf.

Entry requirements: This is a practical based course with very little written assessment, however, candidates should have good written and spoken English language skills.

Application process: Individuals who are interested in attending the course should contact Emma Tomkins on 020 8583 4602 to register their interest. Candidates will then be asked to attend a short introductory session at Capel Manor, Gunnersbury - www.capel.ac.uk/gunnersburypark/.

Location: The majority of the modules will be taught on the HCFA site at Faggs Road - www.hcfa.org.uk/faggs-road-site. However, candidates will be expected to attend a few modules at Capel Manor College, Gunnersbury Park.

Progression: All candidates will be encouraged to seek horticultural placements with local horticultural institutions and businesses or further education opportunities in horticulture.

Please note: Course costs are correct at the time of publication and may vary depending of future Government programmes

Background to the organisations:

HCFA - Hounslow Community Farming Association (HCFA – www.hcfa.org.uk) is a horticultural education and environmental regeneration charity. Trustees and members are developing an abandoned allotment site in Feltham as a horticultural resource for delivering practical education to local community groups.

Capel Manor Gunnersbury - Capel Manor is London’s only specialist horticultural training college and is recognised as a vocational centre of excellence for horticulture. Capel Manor has specialist staff and training resources in a number of horticultural disciplines.

Hounslow Homes - Hounslow Homes is an Arms Length Management Organisation (ALMO) managing housing services to Hounslow Council's 16,500 tenants and leaseholders. It is committed to providing a training programme to its residents to help them participate in making decisions about their housing services, to engage with their local communities and to introduce them to employment opportunities. 

The Hounslow Community Farming Association are pleased to announce their first series of horticultural workshops for local residents taking place from March 2010 at their site on Faggs Road in north Feltham.

The Hounslow Community Farming Association and Capel Manor horticultural college at Gunnersbury Park have teamed up together to offer horticultural training opportunities.