I have been studying for my Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Level 2 certificate online with the Academy for Distance Learning for a few months now, and I’ve learnt so much! I can identify most of the flowers I see on my daily travels, I finally understand how photosynthesis works and I have a new favourite
Lee Raye, our academic writing tutor has recently signed up as a learner on the Certificate in the Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment, Maintenance (formerly the RHS Level 2 Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance) here at the Academy for Distance Learning. Here is the first of a series of blog posts on their experience.
Whilst out walking by a grassy river bank in mid-March, I spotted some Butterbur in flower. I was quite unaccustomed to seeing it as a tiny flowering plant. For most of the year, it has large rhubarb- like leaves which are quite extensive, growing in obtrusive stands on the river bank. The flowers were almost
If your local supermarket closed down, where would you do your food shop? Most of us would say, 'The next supermarket closest to me!' What if supermarkets no longer supplied what you were looking for? What if you went to every supermarket and none of them had what you wanted? This has been the case
Image from: Gardening Know How Online The Sensory Trust define a sensory garden as “a self-contained area that concentrates a wide range of sensory experiences. Such an area, if designed well, provides a valuable resource for a wide range of uses, from education to recreation.” (Sensory Trust, 2007) Sensory gardens appeal to all
A herb spiral is a garden design element which allows us to grow a variety of medicinal and kitchen herbs in an economical and varied space. They are quite straight forward to build but a good herb spiral with a variety of species which keeps giving out every year takes a bit of forethought. Let’s
Most of us enjoy looking at well-tended gardens, but while some people may think gardening is a back-breaking chore, others enjoy its benefits. These are many. The most obvious benefit of gardening is that it can be a great way to relieve stress. With so much going on in our lives, many people forget to
Hedgerows are seen as one of the defining features of the English landscape and are important habitats for wildlife, such as birds, small mammals and invertebrates. They are often the oldest remaining feature in the countryside, providing important evidence of its historical development. In ecological terms, the most biodiverse part of a habitat is often
By Andy Patterson, Tutor at ADL – Academy for Distance Learning If you have tried growing your own fruit and vegetables, you will have noticed that it is unavoidable that a glut of produce arrives in the autumn time. In the days before electricity and powered transport, and facing the bleak winter, remote farming communities
Our world would be a poorer place if there were no bees. They are responsible for pollinating about one-sixth of the flowering plant species worldwide and approximately 400 different agricultural types of plant. Worldwide, bees pollinate a huge range of food crops, and additionally, honey bees play a significant role in the pollination of other
Education opens doors to success windows of opportunity and in at least one case, gates to new possibilities. Such is the case with ADL success story Annabella Baker. Originally from Italy, but now living in the UK, Annabella faced a tragedy all too familiar to many when she lost her airline job during the Covid
Gardens are hard work.  Behind every immaculate lawn and carefully tended flowerbed is a never-ending struggle between nature and gardener. Of course simply leaving the garden to its own devices isn’t really an option; Untended, plants will grow freely for the whole of spring and summer and even into autumn. Worse yet, an uncared for
Some stories of educational achievement soar into the heavens. Of individuals who through hard work and toil overcame the challenges in their life to achieve. Certainly, at ADL we’ve seen and helped many individuals achieve their dreams through completing a course which helped them get a place at university or begin a new career. This,
If you’ve been in the UK over the past weekend you might have noticed you had a day off on Monday (or looked on enviously as other people had a day off). The coronation of a new monarch in Charles the Third means a new era. One that the Monarch is especially keen does not
If you’re looking for a side business or career that combines a love for fitness and a mentoring role. personal training might be for you Personal training is at it’s heart all about being able to help people live healthier, happier lives. By combining physical exercise with essential lifestyle changes like diet they help their
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