Our introductory courses in garden design and history are a great way to pick up the basics of these two perennially popular topics.
Learn about garden design at RBGE.
Booking and course costs
For full information on course costs and a booking form, you can download the current Adult and professional education prospectus from the ‘Downloads' box on the right.
For further details please contact the Education office via our enquiry form (select ‘Education') or directly at:
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
20A Inverleith Row
Edinburgh
EH3 5LR
Telephone: 0131 248 2937
We offer a 10% discount to Friends on most of our short courses and workshops.
Design Your Own Garden
Tuesdays
10.00 am - 12 noon £110/£109.
This 11-week course gives you everything you need to know to create the garden you've always wanted. You will learn about garden design; how to survey your site, draw your plan and explore design ideas to find out what suits you best. Some home study required. Taught by Diane Pyper.
If you want to take your studies to a professional level, we also offer the one year, part-time RBGE Diploma in Garden Design.
This course qualifies for support funding through the Individual Learning Account scheme .
Garden design history at RBGE - from The Romans to the present day.
Garden History
Term 2-3, Thursdays 6.30pm - 9.00pm, Teaching Lab, £200/£180.
This course of 15 illustrated lectures traces the continually changing fashions in British garden design from Roman times to the mid-twentieth century. It focuses on the varied reasons for change and how garden design reflects a diverse range of influences including politics, religion, philosophy, economy, the arts, and the relationship between humanity and nature. The course will also include two Saturday visits to gardens to illustrate some of the design features discussed within the lecture series. Taught by Phil Lusby.
Forthcoming Courses
Design Your Own Garden
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Tues 13 Jan 2009
This 11 week course gives you everything you need to know to create the garden you�ve always wanted...
Introduction to Horticulture
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Wed 14 Jan 2009
A 10-week evening course covering a range of topics, from soil science to plant anatomy to propagation...
Medicine from Trees
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Thurs 15 Jan 2009
When is a herb not a herb? When it’s a tree! Discover the therapeutic treasure store of our ancient woodlands...
Garden History
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Thurs 15 Jan 2009
This course of 15 illustrated lectures traces the continually changing fashions in British garden design from Roman times to the mid-Twentieth century...
Propagation by Grafting - CPH9
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sat 24 Jan 2009
Learn about the reasons for grafting, the main types of grafting techniques, with practical experience of two different grafting techniques.
Beginning Botany
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Wed 28 Jan 2009
Aimed at the complete beginner and using living plants from the garden, this eight-week course investigates the identification, function and ecology of familiar plant species...
Plant Geography
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Thurs 29 Jan 2009
This 11-week course investigates the ways that plants have adapted to the incredible diversity of habitats available on Earth...
Victorian Horticulture
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Thurs 29 Jan 2009
This course looks at the innovations and passions that drove one of Britain’s golden ages of horticulture.
Care of Orchids and House Plants
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sat 14 Feb 2009
See how the RBGE cares for orchids and house plants in a behind-the-scenes tour of the glasshouses...
Moss Identification: Level 2
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Sun 15 Feb 2009
This workshop will include the ecology and distribution of bryophytes and the construction of keys. Previous attendance on Moss ID for Beginners or other experience required. Taught by David Chamberlain.
