Our new Certificate in Plantsmanship
There has been keen interest in our brand new plant-based course, the Certificate in Plantsmanship since it was launched in February. The course will teach the essential skills, knowledge and techniques of plantsmanship. It will run at our home in Kew Gardens from 25 September – 5 December 2025 with additional garden visits outside of Kew, and is perfect for anyone with a passion for plants and a desire to enhance their existing horticultural plant knowledge.
Just like our other courses we have a great line up of expert tutors including Fergus Garrett VMH from Great Dixter, Michael Marriott, one of the world’s leading rosarians and John Grimshaw FLS, Director of the Yorkshire Arboretum, and more to be announced over the coming months.
This comprehensive course is ideal for those starting out on a new career in plants and takes participants through basic plant biology and taxonomy, identification skills and a plant’s role in ecosystems. It also covers seasonality and best practices for sustainable planting and more – helping students develop a deeper understanding of plants, their diversity, and an appreciation of their unique characteristics.
Nina Baxter, Director, London College of Garden Design said: “Plantsmanship is both a science and an art, blending technical horticultural knowledge with a deeper understanding of how plants grow, interact and contribute to the beauty and vitality of our gardens and wider landscape. This course offers students an in-depth appreciation of plants and an opportunity to take their horticultural expertise to the next level – whether this be simply for in their own gardens or as a foundation for going on to study garden design or planting design.”
The course will be delivered at the world-famous Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew where LCGD has its home. As well as classroom-based lectures, students will be able to step into Kew’s celebrated gardens to study their extensive plant collections, as well as visiting other inspirational gardens.
During their time at the College, students will meet some of the UK’s leading horticulturalists and plant specialists and are offered Friends of Kew membership as part of enrolment. We’ll be announcing more tutors over the coming months but, for a sneek preview, call us to have a chat about our new course.