Amenity Horticulture Landscape Management This is a major employment sector which plays a significant role in maintaining and improving the quality of life in town and country. Students are attracted to this industry by the diversity and wealth of career opportunities and the satisfaction of working in a green environment. Our world class heritage of parks and gardens is visited by millions of tourists each year. Gardens and landscapes are created by innovative designers and constructed and maintained by skilled craftsmen. Theme parks, shopping malls, residential complexes and business parks are all planned with landscapes. Landscaping is not just about working outdoors though, interior landscaping is also a rapidly expanding industry. City parks developed in Britain 150 years ago are now seeing a renaissance fuelled by a new interest in environmental improvement. Community forests, arboreta, street trees, country parks and reclamation projects are emerging across the country, extending the range of employment opportunities within the local authorities and the private sector. Landscapes are also created for recreation, such as golf courses and other sports turf surfaces. To cater for the growing interest in this area there has been a corresponding growth of opportunities in teaching, journalism and horticultural therapy. Business management skills are becoming increasingly important for those working in this industry, as there are vast opportunities for managers and the self employed. IT skills are crucial too, particularly in computer-aided design. Undergraduate Prospectus 2005 22
Amenity Horticulture and Landscape Resources Writtle has a wealth of outdoor and indoor resources which are used extensively in the teaching of Amenity Horticulture and Landscape Management. The extensive college gardens within the central campus are home to an abundance of trees and plants. Landscaping is an integral element of the main teaching and student accommodation areas. Students design and work on specific areas of the gardens each year, which means the look of the campus is constantly changing. The tree collection includes over 1,200 specimens and students are actively involved in the planting and maintenance of this valuable resource. The grounds provide students with practical sites for surveying, landscape appraisal and construction of new gardens and features. The gardens provide an essential learning resource to amenity horticulture and include: a collection of over 10,000 plants 180 landscaped borders 6 ponds and water features The National Collection of Pyracantha Large tropical and temperate glasshouses The College manages a 15 hectare sports field with hockey, rugby, football and cricket pitches. There are tennis courts and areas for golf green construction. The sports field is also used for teaching sports turf surfaces and recreation management as well as providing a resource used by both academic programmes. The grounds provide an important resource for research and trials work. Work is currently being carried out on: ornamental plant communities for low maintenance and high aesthetic value visual evaluation of landscapes and gardens sports turf surfaces and turf culture turf fertiliser and grass cultivar trials constructing a database for tree collections butterfly visualisation on ornamental shrubs A modern drawing office studio with drawing boards, computer applications and associated teaching rooms caters for the artistic expression of landscape and garden design students. The Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Centre provides modern technology enabling students to produce 2 and 3 dimensional designs. The landscape construction unit enables experimental designs to be built indoors and is used to plan the College s entry for the RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court flower shows. The College has won numerous medals at both shows including prestigious gold medals for its gardens and exhibits. The production retailing aspects of amenity horticulture are well catered for at the College s own farm shop and garden centre which are managed as commercial enterprises. WRITL W85 23
24 BSc (Hons) Horticulture D410 12-unit awards (VCE A level). A maximum of 20 tariff points will be counted from Key Skills John Cullum Postgraduate Qualifications Students on this course will be given the opportunity to progress to a relevant Masters programme in the Postgraduate School. BSc (Hons) Horticulture This course is ideal for students who wish to keep their options open and not specialise in a particular area of horticulture. It is suited to those who have limited experience of the horticultural industry and who wish to follow a broad approach before deciding on their future career. On completion of the course, students will have acquired a good range of practical horticultural and business skills to equip them for a career in a wide choice of fields. In the first year students are introduced to the wide range of subjects that make up the modern horticulture industry, covering aspects of scientific and management studies relevant to the needs of the industry. In the second and third years students choose from an extensive range of optional modules. In most modules, time is equally divided between practical studies and lectures. Gardens and Plants Through Time Plant Production Introduction to Management Landscape Maintenance Year 1 Options Landscape Construction Crop Production Landscape Appraisal Economic Botany Business Management Crop Growth and Protection Plant and Soil Science Choose from a wide range of modules including: Design Theory and Process Protected Crops Tropical Horticulture Organic Crop Production Vocational Module Choose from over 20 modules including: Restoration of Historic Gardens World Gardens Floriculture Conservation and Ecological Management Writtle College currently offers specialist degree programmes in a wide range of horticultural disciplines. Students on this course have access to an extensive range of optional subjects offered in other degree programmes, and can select a pathway through the degree to suit their individual preferences. Students who have a pass at HND, Foundation Degree or its equivalent can join the final year of the honours degree programme. Depending on previous experience, a personalised course of study is arranged for students from the extensive range of modules offered. On successful completion of the course, these students are awarded a BSc Horticulture. Writtle has an extensive range of s on offer and students are given comprehensive advice and support to ensure that they find a suitable. The majority of the s are in paid employment but some students may choose to work for voluntary agencies. The industrial is optional on BSc programmes, but many students find that this is an invaluable experience. Each year a number of students choose to spend part or all of their abroad. Career Prospects Students with this qualification can enter a broad range of fields including supervisory posts with crop production or landscape companies, trainee retail managerial schemes, horticultural officers with local authorities, research work, teaching and lecturing positions.
BSc (Hons) Horticulture with Business Management This modular course provides a sound foundation for a responsible management career in the horticultural sector. The course is designed to produce graduates who have a sound theoretical base and applied management skills gained by carrying out real life projects. Students also have the opportunity to tailor their studies towards landscape and amenity management, sports turf, commercial crop production, retailing or nursery. In the first year students are introduced to the various specialist fields which make up the modern horticultural industry. Students are encouraged to spend a year in industry where management principles can be seen in practice. Introduction to Business Management Communication and Business Skills Commercial Crop Production Landscape Management Business Performance Marketing Planning Economics Personnel Managing People Advertising Sales and Promotion Landscape Construction Crop Production Landscape Design Business Development Business Forecasting Choose from over 20 modules including: Computer Application Postharvest Physiology Supply Chain Management International Trade Students on this course can study business management in either amenity and landscape or commercial horticulture and have a chance to conduct a live consultancy exercise. As a result of many years of close co-operation with the horticultural industry, Writtle College offers an impressive range of industrial s both in Britain and abroad. Career Prospects The horticultural industry is a dynamic and diverse sector in which the business environment is rapidly changing. Many sectors of the industry report a shortage of professionally trained managers who also have a thorough grounding in horticultural science and technology. Employment prospects are therefore excellent. BSc (Hons) Horticulture with Business Management DN42 12-unit awards (VCE A level). A maximum of 20 tariff points will be counted from Key Skills John Cullum Postgraduate Qualifications Students on this course will be given the opportunity to progress to a relevant Masters programme in the Postgraduate School. WRITL W85 25
26 BSc (Hons) Landscape and Amenity Management D455 12-unit awards (VCE A level). A maximum of 20 tariff points will be counted from Key Skills Cathy Hayward Postgraduate Qualifications Students on this course will be given the opportunity to progress to a relevant Masters programme in the Postgraduate School. STUDENTS CORNER I am now working as a contracts manager for a landscape design and build company. During my course at Writtle I developed a broad range of skills, including contract management and business knowledge, applicable to employment in the landscape and horticultural industry. Paul Stacey Graduate - BSc (Hons) Landscape and Amenity Management BSc (Hons) Landscape and Amenity Management This course provides the practical and professional training necessary for those seeking positions of responsibility in the management of landscapes, large parks, estates, prestige gardens or associated leisure facilities and amenities. This important established sector of the horticultural industry is expanding, and graduates are required to have sound plant knowledge and a full appreciation of both short and long term management techniques applicable to a diverse range of landscapes and amenities. The course will also cover important aspects of scientific and management studies with scope for students to choose a specialism. The course follows a modular programme of study with students gaining a firm foundation in science, landscape management and associated practical skills in the first year. Students are encouraged to become involved in current landscape management research programmes at Writtle. Biological Processes Landscape Appraisal and Construction Landscape Maintenance Plant Production Introduction to Management Gardens and Plants Through Time Learning Methods for Undergraduates Business Management Design Theory and Process Landscape and Amenity Management Landscape Construction Contracts Arboriculture Interior Landscaping Landscape Construction Projects Traditional and Contemporary Planning Landscape Gardens and the Arts Landscape Planning and Law Vocational Module Choose from over 20 modules including: Conservation and Restoration of Historic Gardens World Gardens Leisure Policy Restoration and Management of Historic Gardens Conservation and Ecological Management Interpretation for Leisure Urban Environment This course has a flexible study programme allowing students to specialise in their chosen sector of the industry while being able to select from a whole range of subjects on offer within all horticultural degrees at Writtle. Industrial s are offered and encouraged either in paid employment or with voluntary agencies. Strong links with employers have been developed by the nominated Industrial Liaison Officer who provides guidance to students on opportunities in the appropriate work areas. Opportunities include jobs abroad in high profile organisations and with top UK employers, for example, Cambridge City Council, Kew Gardens, National Trust and Snowdonia National Park. There are also opportunities to work in gardens in mainland Europe and international links worldwide offer further opportunity for work s. Career Prospects Career options include management positions in local authority parks, public/historic gardens, country parks, botanic gardens, national parks, nurseries and garden centres. Graduates may also find employment in specialist positions such as arboriculture, landscape design, environmental management, landscape reclamation, restoration of historic gardens and landscapes and the media, including TV.
BSc (Hons) Sports Turf Science and Management This course has been specially designed to give students wide experience in the areas of sports turf science, science, leisure management and general management to open up a range of employment opportunities in various sectors of the industry. The course follows a modular programme of study over three years. There is also an option to take a twelve month industrial after either the first or second year. Learning Methods for Undergraduates Biological Processes Turf Grass Agronomy Principles of Sports Turf Mechanisation Introduction to Management Landscape and Conservation on the Golf Course Sports Turf Technology Business Management Plant and Soil Science Golf Course Design and Management Turf Grass Crop Protection Sports Turf Surfaces Plant and Soil Science Building Design and Construction Economics Career Planning and Development Business Performance Energy and Waste Management Advertising Sales and Promotion Managing People Event Management Arboriculture Landscape and Amenity Management Sports Policy and Development Sports Facilities Conservation and Ecological Management Procurement Policy Choose from as wide range of modules including: Leisure Policy Sports Facilities, Landscape Planning and the Law Leisure and Recreation Management Interpretation for Leisure Urban Environment Business Forecasting Computer Applications Business Development This course has a flexible study programme allowing students to specialise in their chosen sector of the industry while being able to select from the whole range of subjects on offer from other degrees at Writtle. Career options include management positions with local authorities, research, agronomy consultancy, technical sales, lecturing, golf course management, sports turf management, leisure management, landscape contracts, conservation/ecology and the media. BSc (Hons) Sports Turf Science and Management DNK2 12-unit awards (VCE A level). A maximum of 20 tariff points will be counted from Key Skills Preferred Subjects A science is preferred Richard Hughes WRITL W85 27
A living canvas The grounds and gardens at Writtle College cover an area of 11 ha (28 acres) and consist of informal lawns with naturalised bulbs in spring and wild flowers in the summer. The grounds also feature a mature tree collection, mixed shrub and herbaceous borders and a variety of heathers and alpines. Landscape theme gardens include the Centenary garden, a sub-tropical Hot n Spicy garden and modern contemporary designs. The grounds at Writtle serve the educational and research needs of our students from basic practical training through to degree level studies. The gardens are used as an outdoor classroom for demonstrating the use of many different features, styles and landscape materials. An extensive, well managed and labelled collection of over 10,000 plants and 70,000 bulbs ensures stunning displays throughout the seasons. Writtle participates in the National Gardens Scheme, raising funds for charity by opening the gardens to the public at certain times through the year. Gardens Open Days normally take place in March, June and September. Please call us on 01245 424200 for details of forthcoming events or see the website at www.writtle.ac.uk A Centre of Excellence for Horticulture As one of the UK s most well respected centres for horticultural study and research, Writtle College is regularly invited to attend trade shows, conferences and showcases for the industry. The College has exhibited at the RHS Chelsea Show for over ten years, consistently winning medals. In 2003, Writtle College received a prestigious gold medal for its exhibit which looked at the uses of nettles. Writtle students are heavily involved in the preparation for Chelsea and help to construct the exhibit. Writtle s landscape design and construction students triumphed at Hampton Court 2003 with their Private Entertainer garden which won a gold medal and the award for the Most Original and Innovative Show Garden at the festival. The garden had an urban-based concept aimed at the young professional generation. Writtle students have also been involved in the London Garden Show at Alexandra Palace since its first event in 2001 and have an unbroken medal run at the RHS Chelsea Show for the last ten years, winning a clutch of gold and silver gilt medals. 28