PROGRAMME of COURSES for Spring 2008
We are now offering the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture - an excellent course which is a recognised qualification as a basis for those wishing to pursue a professional career in horticulture and for leisure gardeners who seek to have their horticultural knowledge formally assessed.
The RHS Certificate course at Sea Mere will be spread over almost 18 months. In total there will be 20 x 6 hour days of study, meaning roughly one day every three weeks, with longer breaks during holiday seasons. The course starts on 13 September with a view to students who wish to sit the exam, sitting it in February 2009. If you would like more information please look at our RHS page, or email me.
There will be two new series starting this year at Sea Mere, aiming to provide you with information, in easy monthly chunks, on how to garden or manage woodland.
The Gardening Year – second Tuesday in the month
Half day sessions for new and less experienced gardeners led by Ian Stanton who will explain the tasks that should be done during the following month and show you how to do them.
The fee is £20 for each half day or £100 for 6 if paid in advance.
The Conservation Year – second Friday in the month
Full days for people who want to learn about habitat conservation and woodland management. Most days will be spent working alongside Rory Hart, but also going on visits to other sites in Norfolk when appropriate. You will learn many practical skills, hedgelaying, coppicing, charcoal making, identification of a range of insects and plants as well as how to manage natural ponds and wetland habitats. The price reflects the fact that you will be working!
The fee is £20 a day or £100 for 6 if paid in advance.
| Course |
Date |
Tutors |
| The Gardening Year - March | Tuesday 11 March 10am - 12.30pm |
Ian Stanton |
Some of the jobs for this first half day in the Gardening Year series might be sorting out borders, dividing and replanting snowdrops, weeding (what is and what isn’t a weed), feeding the plants, useful spring bulbs. No doubt Ian will have lots more ideas – it’s a busy time of year! £20 a half day, or £100 for all 6 sessions.Other dates: 8 April, 13 May, 10 June, 9 September, 14 October – all second Tuesdays |
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| The Conservation Year , March | Friday 14 March 10am - 4pm |
Rory Hart |
A full day outdoors working with and learning from Rory Hart, so wrap up warm and wear wellies. The woods at Sea Mere form part of a Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the farm is now in a Higher Level Stewardship agreement, so the work that Rory does will comply with the aims of those two schemes. £20 a day or £100 for 6 days – the price reflects the fact that you will be working. Other dates: 11 April, 16 May, 13 June, 12 September, 17 October – all second Fridays. |
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| Successful Mole Trapping | Tuesday 1 April 10am - 3pm |
Chris Boone |
During this day you will learn from Chris Boone, the mole trapping expert, about the life style of the mole, the advantages and disadvantages of the various traps on the market, how to choose and use a tunnel trap, why it is the most effective m ethod and how to win the battle of the mole. Fee £35. Mole catching kit and 'tuned' traps for sale £25. Bring a packed lunch. |
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| The Gardening Year, April | Tueday 8 April 10am - 12.30pm |
Ian Stanton |
Ian will show you what to do during the coming month, perhaps pruning spring flowering shrubs and clematis, sowing seeds, weeding (again), increasing border plants, and recommend best plants for spring interest and summer flowering bulbs - lilies, cannas, gladioli etc. £20 |
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| The Conservation Year, April | Friday 11 April 10am- 4pm |
Rory Hart |
Should be warmer by now, but the Sea Mere woods are usually wet underfoot. Bring a packed lunch. £20 |
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| Vegetable Gardening | Monday 14 April 10am - 4pm |
Terry Rands |
| A day with Terry Rands, the organic vegetable gardener. Terry has grown his own vegetables for years and has masses of experience which he is happy to pass on. There isn’t a veg he hasn’t grown. He also has lots of practical ideas and timesaving tips. This is a course for both new and more experienced kitchen gardeners, and above all for those who want to know where their food comes from. Talking of which, bring a packed lunch. Fee £40 |
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