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The RHS Level 2, Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment & Maintenance (Theory)qualification is an excellent choice for starting your career in horticulture.
This Level 2 course is comprised of the following 4 units:
Unit 1 – Garden Features, Plant Selection and Planning
Unit 2 – Choice, Establishment & Maintenance of Garden Plants & Lawns
Unit 3 – Production of Outdoor Vegetables and Fruit
Unit 4 – Protected Environments and their use in Plant Cultivation Past exam papers are available FREE from our online classroom.
IMPORTANT RHS fees: The RHS have implemented new procedures for September 2022.
As of 1st September 2022, ADL is required to register you as an RHS candidate and to book the first of your Unit Exams for your course within 30 days of application.
Up until this date, the student was able to be in control of their own registrations and exam bookings. It does appear they closed the candidate portal a day or two early without notice to centres which is troublesome!
Your course fee does not cover the RHS registration, nor the exam fees so ADL will require payment of these separately.
You will need to Pay for your Unit exams individually to ADL at the time of booking like you would if you were applying yourself directly. (therefore you can opt to book 2 Unit exams in February 2023 and pay for those, then come back to us for the remaining 2 Units for June 2023).
To be assured, ADL is not charging any of our students an ADL Admin fee for this, however, the RHS and other centres do have their own Administration fees still.
THE BELOW FEES ARE PAYABLE SEPARATELY FROM THE COURSE FEE!
RHS ONE-OFF STUDENT REGISTRATION FEE = £20.00
For those that wish to book an ONLINE UNIT EXAM the fees to pay ADL are:
RHS Level 2 Fee = Exam £28.00 + Plus £30.00 Administration fee per day
RHS Level 3 Fee = Exam £38.00 + Plus £30.00 Administration fee per day
If you choose to sit exams in a Centre the fees to pay ADL are:
RHS Level 2 Exam Fee = £19.00 + PLUS whatever THAT Centres Daily Administration Fee is. Centres vary from price to price
RHS Level 3 Exam Fee = £29.00 + PLUS whatever THAT Centres Daily Administration Fee is. Centres vary from price to price
I have passed all three RHS theory exams. Thank you for all the education material, and particularly for helping me find an internship in France by helping me with some needed French admin last year (‘Convention de Stage’). The experience you helped me attain was what enabled me to apply for the traineeship I’m currently enjoying at Osborne House via the Historic and Botanic Garden Traineeship Programme. Thank you! This is what I did in France thanks to your help and this is what I’m up to now. Tom W – RHS Levels 2 Theory – UK
Duration: 159 hours – The Total Qualification Time (TQT)
Lesson Structure:
UNIT 1 – GARDEN FEATURES, PLANT SELECTION AND PLANNING:
Carry Out and Record a Garden Survey.
Carry out a Site Appraisal and Record Essential Data.
Understand Basic Garden Planning Principles and the Elements that Contribute to a Good Design.
Understand the Characteristics of Accepted Garden Design Styles.
Understand the Effective and Appropriate use of Hard Landscaping Materials.
Understand the Effective use of Soft Landscaping Elements.
UNIT 2 – CHOICE ESTABLISHMENT & MAINTENANCE OF GARDEN PLANTS & LAWNS
Understand the choice of plants for seasonal display and their establishment and maintenance.
Understand the Choice of Herbaceous Perennial Plants and ‘bulbs’ for Display, and how to grow them.
Understand the choice of Woody Plants for Display and their Establishment and Maintenance.
Understand the Choice of Alpine and Rock Garden Plants and How to Grow Them.
Understand the Planting and Maintenance of a Garden Pool
Understand the Establishment and Maintenance of Lawns
UNIT 3 – UNDERSTANDING THE PRODUCTION OF OUTDOOR VEGETABLES & FRUIT:
Importance of site selection for Outdoor Food Production in a Garden or Allotment.
Cultural operations used to produce outdoor food crops in a garden or allotment.
The principles of Vegetable Crop Production.
The Production of Top and Soft Fruit for a Garden or Allotment.
Unit 4 – UNDERSTANDING PROTECTED ENVIRONMENTS & THEIR USE IN PLANT CULTIVATION:
A Range of types of Protected Structure, and their use in Growing Plants.
The Environment provided by a range of Protected Structures.
Structural and Cladding Materials used for a range of Protected Structures.
The Control of the Environment in Protected Structures.
Types of Container and Growing Media Used for Production and Display in Protected Structures.
Horticultural uses of the Protected Environment.
Care of Plants in an Interior Situation.
Learning Goals
To view the Learning Goals for this course, please view the Unit Outcomes as listed on the Lessons page.
The syllabus is broken into the four units. Many learners choose to spread their exams over the two examination months – February and June. This makes the workload easier.
Please contact us if you just want to take one unit at a time.
Everyone has access to their online course material via ADL’s learning platform. Learning materials can be downloaded in a pdf. format in order study offline and to also, print-off as your own printed copy.
You also have the option to receive your course material on a USB stick.
The information listed below can be found on the RHS Qualifications FAQ’s page.
Examaination Dates
Exam Deadlines
Exam Fees
Exam Centres
Free Past Papers
YOUR TUTORS
Susan Stephenson
BSc in Applied Plant Biology (Botany) Univ. London 1983.
City and guilds: Garden Centre Management, Management and Interior Decor (1984)
Management qualifications in training with retail store. Diploma in Hort level 2 (RHS General) Distinction.
Susan Stephenson is a passionate and experienced horticulturist and garden designer. She has authored three books, lectures at 2 Further and Higher Education Colleges, teaching people of all ages and backgrounds about the wonders of plants and garden design, and tutors many students by correspondence from all over the world.
Susan studied botany at Royal Holloway College (Univ of London) and worked in the trading industry before returning to her first love – plants and garden design. She is therefore, well placed to combine business knowledge with horticulture and design skills. Susan is a mentor for garden designers who are just starting out, offering her support and advice and she also writes, delivers and assesses courses for colleges, introducing and encouraging people into horticulture and garden design.
In 2010, Susan authored a complete module for a Foundation degree (FDSC) in Arboriculture.
Susan holds the RHS General with Distinction.
Assessment
Assessment is by examination. The RHS exams are held in February and June of each year. Registration for these exams needs to be made at least 3 months before these dates.
Level 2 – PRINCIPLES OF GARDEN PLANING, ESTABLISHMENT & MAINTENANCE
The Four unit exams are:
Garden Features, Plant Selection and Planning
Choice, Establishment and Maintenance of Garden Plants and Lawns
Understanding the Production of Outdoor Vegetables and Fruit
Protected Environments and their use in Plant Cultivation
IMPORTANT: Please note – RHS exams need to be taken at an RHS Approved Examination Centre.
Although Tutor feedback is provided for each assignment, the grades awarded for assignments do not count towards the final examination. Tutors feedback is an essential element in the learning process.
Course material includes: Power Point Presentations, Videos and written course material.
Past exams papers are available for FREE from our online classroom.
How our courses work
Choose Your Learning Method You choose how you would like to receive your course material, i.e., Online, or USB. The choice is yours. You may also work on online or offline.
Tutor Allocation
Every student is assigned their own dedicated tutor who is an expert in their subject area. They provide as much or as little individual contact as you require. You can contact your tutor whenever you need – your hours are not limited.
Feedback and Assignments
Tutor Feedback is an essential component in helping you understand the subject matter. We encourage you to contact your Tutor where help with clarification and understanding of course material may be required.
FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Due to our years of experience and wide range of online courses, here are a list of our FAQs and Answers asked by Students.
General
Q. Do I need to buy text books?
A. No, you are not required to purchase expensive text books for any of our courses, since each module has been written by highly qualified tutors and writers, and our courses are updated on a regular basis, adding new information, methods and knowledge. You are supplied with all “essential” references. Extra books are always useful though, especially for special projects. Tutors will advise you what to buy if you decide you would like to have extra reading material, but it is not essential. Check out our eBookstore if you’re looking for a starting point.
Q. What sets the Academy apart from other institutions? A. A unique feature of our courses is that we combine knowledge of the subject matter with practical tasks (set tasks, found at the end of each lesson). So you get to do practical components in each lesson. The benefits of this approach are immense: – your skills and knowledge are developed to a much higher level not normally found at other distance learning institutions.
Q. How do the practical exercises (set tasks) work? A. The practical component of each lesson can be in the form of : Field Research, Networking and Analysis, Conducting Surveys, Growing, Collecting, Photographing and Processes.
Q. If I do a shorter course first, can I get credits towards a certificate or diploma later? A. Yes. We will assess previous studies to give you appropriate credits.
Q. Can I pay by instalments? A. Yes, you can view all available payment options here.
Q. Do I get a discount if two of us enrol together? A. Yes. You may claim a 5% discount on fees if you both enrol in courses at the same time.
Q. Do I get a discount if I enrol in a second course?
A. Yes. You will be offered a 10% discount on subsequent courses you enrol for.
Q. Can I use more than one discount code when enrolling for my course? A. No. You can only use one discount code chosen by yourself per course, when more than one is available.
Q. What happens if I have to stop studying for a while? (eg. become sick, go on holidays, have a baby) A. It’s OK to take a break and start up your study at a later point in time. Just let us know.
Q. Is there an age limit? A. There is no maximum age limit. We do however; have a minimum age limit of 18 years. Below that age parental consent would be required.
Q. Are there any hidden costs? A. There are no hidden extras – the tuition fee covers all course material, unlimited tutor support, assignment marking/feedback and any text books where specified and exams. The only extras are for the public examinations fees for the ICB Bookkeeping course and the RHS (Royal Horticulture Society) exams.
Q. Are your courses up-to date? A. Our courses are continually updated. The course content is rapidly updated and improved without the red tape and bureaucracy experienced at other educational institutions.
Q. Do you have a Cancellation policy? A. We have a cancellation policy that is fair and equitable. For further details please click here.
Q. What Recognition do you have? A. The Academy for Distance Learning has various forms of recognition:
These include TQUK (Training Qualifications UK) – an Ofqual Awarding Organisation – ADL is an approved TQUK Centre. IARC – International Approval Registration Centre, approved member. Accredited Training Provider for ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) and Approved Distance Learning Provider for the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) and many more. Our graduates come from many parts of the world and have used our qualifications for successful employment and progression onto higher education. To view our full list of recognition and memberships please click here,
Q. Will I have any opportunity to engage with other students? A. We have a Student Community group based on facebook! If you don’t have a facebook account already, you could make one just for talking with fellow students on the group.
Q. Why should I enrol with the Academy for Distance Learning? A. Here at the Academy our students are our priority – we treat every student as a unique individual. This philosophy allows us to nurture those who are “slow and steady” learners rather than letting them fall through the cracks, while catering for those who are in a hurry to complete.
Enrolment
Q. When can I enrol/start? A. You may enrol and start at any time of the year – it’s all self- paced.
Q. Can I study from anywhere in the world? A. Our courses are available to anyone, anywhere in the world from the comfort of your own home. The course content is relevant to any country, culture or economy.
Q. How long do I have to complete the course? A. You complete the course at any time that is convenient for you. You’re under no pressure to finish by a certain deadline.
Q. Completing the course- how long will it take? A. Completion of modules varies from student to student. Many factors come into play such as work commitments and family life- there are always distractions. Some students work quicker than others. For a 100 hour module many students will take up to 3- 6 months, others take less time and some are even longer. It’s all up to you. There is no pressure to complete or deadline to finish. Naturally, longer courses will take more time.
Q. What learning formats are there? A. Your enrollment comes with the Online Classroom study option by default. For a small additional cost you also have the options of USB or Correspondence. USB: Your course is sent to you on a USB stick, so that you can carry it in your pocket. Ideal for those with unreliable internet connections. This option is an additional £5/module
Correspondence: You download the course content and then print your own copy to your requirements. You can then bind the lessons to suit your needs.
Assessments
Q. Assessment – how does it work? A. For each 100 hour module you are assessed by assignments (at the end of each lesson) and a final one and a half hour exam (or you may elect to complete a project instead of sitting the exam) – the choice is yours – you sit for the exam in your own location, or you can visit us in Canterbury, England to sit the exam if want to. Exam fees are included in the tuition fee you paid. You can read more about the examination process here. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment. You submit it to the academy who then submits it to the tutor for marking, comments and feedback. Our policy is to have a grade for you within 5 to 7 days.
Q. If my assignment is not up to standard is there an opportunity to resubmit my work? A. Yes – If you’re not happy with your work submitted you may re-submit the assignment again.
Q. How many assignments do I need to complete for each module? A. At the end of each lesson, there is an assignment – so if a course has say, 10 lessons there would be 10 assignments. The number of lessons per module varies from module to module. See the course content from our website for further details.
Q. When do I have to hand in my first assignment? A. There is no deadline for handing in the first assignment. Submit when you are ready. There are some students who hand in assignments within the first couple of weeks of enrolment – while there are others who submit their work 6 months later. It’s all at your own convenience to suit you. Everyone has different work and home commitments and we cater to these needs.
Q. I am having difficulty attending workshops/industry meetings, what can be done? A. If your course requires attendance at workshops, conferences, or industry meetings; alternative arrangements can be made in your country; however, there may be an additional expense. We can appoint an appropriately qualified person anywhere to work through curriculum documentation supplied by us, to satisfy the requirements set down in a course.
Qualifications
Q. What qualification will I receive? A. For individual modules, you would receive a Certificate (providing you complete all assignments and the exam). If you just want to complete the assignments only, then a Letter of Achievement would be awarded. For more details on qualifications awarded please click here.
Q. Is there a next level to progress to? A. Yes – you can progress from one module to a combination of many modules and to higher qualifications i.e. Advanced Certificates, Diplomas and Higher Advanced Diplomas. Read more about course levels here.
Q. Can I customize my diploma/higher qualification? A. Not all educational institution’s certificates /diplomas meet everyone’s needs. The opportunity to design your own diploma at the Academy (subject to our approval) is an added bonus, not found at other colleges. It’s a very popular option and widely used by many students. You quite simply choose the appropriate number of related modules needed to complete the qualification and submit them to us for approval as a custom diploma.
Q. What do I get when I complete the course? Will I receive a transcript? A. At the completion of a 100-hour Certificate course and providing all assignments and exam have been completed, you will receive a Certificate and Transcript. The Transcript will list your GPA. Each 100-hour module is worth 3 credit hours.
Exams
Q. Do I have to sit for an exam? A. Exams are optional but need to be undertaken in order to receive the Certificate or higher qualification. Exams are one and a half hours long. You appoint an adjudicator (subject to our approval) to supervise the exam. You sit for the exam in your own location. Its that simple.
Q. I don’t cope well with exams – what can I do? A. If you feel you don’t cope well with exams you may elect to undertake a Project (set by the tutor) instead of sitting the exam. Many students prefer this option as they find researching the material for the project sharpens their research skills.
Q. If I don’t sit for the Exam do I still get a qualification? A. If you don’t sit for the exam but complete the project alternative, you will still receive your endorsed qualification. If you don’t sit for an exam or complete a final project, providing you have completed all the assignments you will be awarded a Certificate of Achievement.
Q. Do I have to sit for the exam at the Academy? A. No – whilst you are more than welcome to come to our location in Canterbury, U.K. and sit the exam in our classroom; the more popular option is to sit for the exam in your own location. You appoint an adjudicator to supervise the exam. Click here for more information on that process.
Q. Are there any exam fees? A. There are no exam fees. However, for some public examinations such as the ICB (Bookkeeping) and RHS courses exam fees do apply. See course content for details.
Tutors
Q. Our tutors – who are they? A. We only employ tutors who have are currently active in their industry with at least 5 years of real-world experience. Not only are they highly qualified but also experienced, knowledgeable, and professional- experts in their chosen fields from all parts of the world.
Q. Can I contact my tutor at any time? A. Yes- you have unlimited access to tutors. We strongly encourage students to develop a dialogue with their Tutor. This is why we encourage students to submit their first assignment fairly quickly at the beginning of the course.
Every Academy student is assigned a tutor who supports you throughout your course and beyond. Your tutor is there to guide and facilitate your learning and provides as much or as little individual contact as you would like. When you submit your coursework the tutor will give you feedback that helps you develop your ideas and provides motivation. For those who do like to have interaction with other students, the ADL discussion forum connects you to students from all over the world.
Q. How do I contact my tutor? A. You have direct contact with your tutor by email through the Online Classroom. Alternatively, you can write, fax, email, or phone the academy. Leave a message if your tutor isn’t available and they will phone, write or fax back; whatever suits you.
Q. If I don’t agree with / like my tutor can I request a change? A. Yes – we try to accommodate and meet student’s needs and a change of tutor may be arranged.
Q. If I don’t understand a question or a lesson may I contact the tutor? A. You may contact a tutor as often as you like. There is no additional charge or restriction on this service. Contact can be made via the Student Zone, email, or by phone.
Q. Practical work – How is this done? A. To find out more about this part of the course please visit the section on How Our Courses Work here.
Career Options
What's Included
What Your Tuition Fees Include:
Learning Materials for both the RHS Levels 2 and Levesl 3 courses
RHS Student Membership for the first 12 months
RHS Past Exam Papers
All Course Material via Online or USB
Outcomes Marked
Suggested Reading List
Tailored Professional Tutor Feedback
Unlimited Personal Tutor Support – via our student classroom
Committed and Friendly Admin Support – vital to your success
An ADL Official Transcript upon completion of course work
RHS Registration Fee, Admin Fee and Exam Fees
(these fees are payable by students direct to ADL on enrolment.
ADL then forwards these fees to the RHS in order to confirm your registration).
If you require further details about any of the RHS industry recognised qualifications please, call one of our friendly RHS Course Advisors on +44 (0)1227 789 649 or email: [email protected]
Q:When can I Enrol/Start My RHS Course With ADL? A: Anytime, Anywhere. There are no enrolment deadlines.
Q: I live Overseas. Can I Study From Overseas? A: You can study any of the RHS theory qualifications overseas. All courses are offered in English. You will need to email RHS Qualifications direct to arrange sitting for your examination overseas.
Q:Is There a Time Limit for Completing an RHS Qualification? A: At present there are no time limits. However, RHS is contemplating in the future, the introduction of course time-lines.
Q: Are There Any Entry Requirements (Pre-Requisites)? A: The RHS Theory courses do not require prerequisites, previous experience or any knowledge of horticulture. You just need passion for all things horticulture.
Q: What Course Should I Start With First? I Am New To RHS Qualifications. A: We highly recommend that you start with Level 2 – Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance.
Q: What Does ADL Course Material Include? A: Includes Power Point Presentations, Videos and written course lessons.
RHS EXAMS
Q:When Do Exams Take Place? A: Exams are held on fixed dates in February and June of each year. You should register as a candidate at least 3 months before these dates, so please do not leave exam registration to the last minute
Q:Where Do I Take My Exams? A: UK: You take the exams at the RHS Wisley Centre, located between Cobham and Ripley in Surrey or at other authorised RHS centres around the UK.
Overseas: please email RHS qualifications direct for centre information.
To speak to one of our course advisors, please enter your name and phone number below and click the "Please Call Me" button. We will call you back as soon as possible!
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By submitting this form, I provide my consent to ADL to contact me via email or telephone, regarding the course I selected. All information provided is protected in conformity with our Privacy Policy.
