Train to Become an Environmental Gardener in Central London

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Free for local people

Register your interest on our Level 2 course

We currently have free places available to Londoners, and particularly Southwark residents, meeting the eligibility criteria. Please complete this form so that we can determine your eligibility, and we will add you to our course waiting list so we can be in touch when a place becomes available.
Your responses will be kept private and secure, and are for Walworth Garden use only.

If you work for a local organisation and would like to refer a client or service-user to us, please also submit this same form, and be sure to answer the final question with your own details.

Frequently asked questions:

Am I eligible for a free place?
We use a points-based system that prioritises applicants who are historically excluded from horticulture, including those identifying as Black, Asian, and/or from a minoritised ethnic group and/or identifying as a person of colour, members of LGBTQIA+ communities, and those with disabilities, as well as those who are economically disadvantaged including individuals who are long-term unemployed or on a low income. Southwark residents are also prioritised. If you are a member of one or more of these groups, we particularly encourage you to apply, and you will be given priority access to any available free places. If you are not a member of one or more of these groups, it is unlikely we will be able to accommodate you this year. 

However, we are constantly working to improve this system, and working with new funders with varying priorities, so this criteria may change in the future. We will hold applicant details should you become eligible for a free place at a later date. In either case, please complete the Registration of Interest form to the right.

What if I’m not eligible for a free place? Can I pay to attend?
Eligibility criteria occasionally change, so if you are not currently eligible under the criteria above, you can still register your interest on the form to the right and we will reassess all submissions if/when requirements change. We will hold your information until you tell us otherwise. Alternatively, self-funded/paid places on the course are occasionally available. To register your interest in self-funding a place please visit this page.

What time/day do the classes run?
The course runs part-time, with participants attending 1 day per week (9am-4pm on either Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays or Saturdays) or 2 evenings per week (Monday and Thursday evenings 5-8pm.) If we are able to enrol you, we will let you know where places are available and try to accommodate your preference.

When will I hear back about my submission?
We have now completed enrolment for the April term, if a place becomes available in the next term you will hear from us in August.

What does each term cover?
The course runs on a rolling cycle through the seasons, so what you study first will depend on when you start the course. Please see here for some further details.

When does the term start?
There are 3 terms each year, and the course runs on a rolling basis, with students joining at the start of every term, sitting alongside more experienced students. Generally, the academic year starts with Term 1, September-December, followed by Term 2 in January to April, and Term 3 in April to July.

I have no gardening experience, can I still take part?
Absolutely! All we ask is an interest in gardening, and a desire to enter work in the industry - as well as an ability to commit to the length of the programme.

I work for a community group/healthcare provider/charity/etc, can I make a referral to your services for one of my patients/clients/service users?
Yes! We welcome all referrals. Please complete the form to the right on behalf of your client (or encourage them to do so), and be sure to answer the final question to let us know that you are referring them to us. You may also be interested in making a referral to our Gardening Therapy groups or back-to-work support groups.

My question isn’t answered here - who can I ask?
If your question is urgent please contact comms@walworthgarden.org.uk. Please note, that we are a charity with a small team, and so may not be able to respond immediately. Your patience is appreciated!