gardening and countryside skills activity centre adult prospectus · 2019-08-13 · on a monday and...
TRANSCRIPT
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Roots to Fruit Midlands Ltd. Gardening and Countryside Skills Activity Centre
Adult Prospectus
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Roots to Fruit is a not for profit social enterprise based on the established plant nursery Oakdene Nurseries
in Streetly, Walsall. The nursery is open to the public and grows a wide range of plants to sell with other
garden related products. It is set in four acres of beautiful established oak woodland with a heritage apple
orchard and has been in the family since the 1930s.
At Roots to Fruit we are passionate about gardening, horticulture and plants. It runs through our veins. As a
family we have been growing plants on the same piece of land for over 70 years. We love teaching and
want others to enjoy the peaceful haven of Oakdene Nurseries. We want to cultivate in you the same
enthusiasm and zeal for horticulture that we have.
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Disability Learning
We provide 2 days of learning per week at our training centre based at the working nursery and garden
centre in Streetly called ‘Oakdene Nurseries’. We blend work experience and learning at our gardening
clubs. On the job learning means gaining an accredited qualification at the same time, through our
accredited courses you will be assessed by the practical skills you learn at our centre. On top of this you
will be socialising with a range of different people, learning independent living and social skills that you can
take with you to other walks of life. Both physical and learning disabilities are catered for within an informal
and supportive environment. A massive range of practical skills can be learned to suit both the learner’s
level and interests. We can start at lower abilities such entry level 3 and work our way all the way up to
level 2 (GCSE grade C or above equivalent). The clubs can be started at any time of the year.
The gardening club has also had the opportunity to help with landscape jobs in the community from
installing a garden in Willenhall Park to constructing a sensory garden at Hobmoor Oasis Academy School.
There is no end of opportunities available through disability learning at Roots to Fruit.
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Disability Learning Courses Available at Roots to Fruit
Monday & Friday 10am-3pm Plant Nursery and Gardening Club
On a Monday and a Friday, you can learn about propagating plants from seeds and cuttings as
well as preparing plants for sale and creating/maintaining retail areas on a working plant nursery
and garden centre that is open for business 6 days a week. You can learn to plant stock gardens
and maintain your own piece of ground as part of the course. You can come to enjoy the
therapeutic aspect of being outdoors and gardening within the team of fellow students and
volunteers. There is an option to gain a qualification from ABC Awards with Roots to Fruit’s highly
experienced horticultural lecturers Jon Ensell and Chris Murphy.
Monday & Friday Class Nursery and Gardening Course Time Table
Winter Spring Summer Autumn
Indoor Seed sowing Hardwood Cuttings Grafting Maintaining structures Maintaining concrete and wooden surfaces Constructing hard Surfaces Maintaining a stock garden
Indoor Seed sowing Pricking out Potting up Dividing herbaceous perennials Displaying and marketing plants Retail and customer services Maintaining a stock garden
Softwood cuttings Displaying and marketing plants Maintaining plants outdoors Retail and customer services Planting a stock garden
Semi ripe cuttings Potting up Dividing herbaceous perennials Maintaining structures Maintaining a stock garden Sweeping and tidying leaves Bulb Planting
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Disability Learning Costs
Start dates are roll on roll off and you can usually start within a month of accepting a place. The
prices below apply to all of the courses currently available.
Places are subject to 2 free no obligation trial sessions and are based on an initial assessment.
The price reflects the supervisory needs as being the leaner is left unsupervised for up to 20 mins.
If more supervision and help is needed, then one to one care arrangements will need to be made
Number of days to attended per week
The prices below reflect attending either as a non accredited activity or accredited (to gain a qualification a 4 month commitment to the course needs to be agreed
Half a day £15 per session (qualification is un available for half day sessions )
One Day £20 per day or £60 per month Please note that monthly cost reflects 16 weeks of the year has been deducted for holidays, training centre closures and
an average amount of general absences
Two Days £15/ day or £90 per month Please note that monthly cost reflects 16 weeks of the year has been deducted for holidays, training centre closures and an average
amount of general absences
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Professional Horticulture
For those starting in the industry E3 and Level 1(L1) practical skills courses are a great introduction to a
wide variety of subjects and skills within the industry. These courses are mostly practical based where you
will be carrying out duties and planning and completing projects in a working plant nursery, kitchen gardens
or ornamental gardens. Some written work is required but the majority of assessments for this course are
carried out in practical situations
The Level 2 qualification is the next step and will give trainees the opportunity to look at various subjects
within horticulture in a more in-depth way. More written work is involved as you have the opportunity to
build up an extensive plant knowledge. There will still be practical observations as part of the assessment
process and you will be expected to become more independent and work through duties and projects with
less supervision than the Entry Level 3 and Level 1 course. This course is designed to get you ready for
working in the horticultural industry or to set up your own gardening business.
There are subsidised volunteer places, based on volunteers earning the accredited qualification through
giving their time to helping both the gardening and plant nursery business. We also ask that volunteers
support the lower ability students within their studies. You will also be using online resources to complete
your assignments and produce your own photo evidence portfolios.
Garden maintenance in the
community
Students and volunteers gaining practical wood working
skills building the new workshop
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Monday & Friday 10-3:30 Professional Plant Nursery and Garden Centre Qualification
On a Monday you can learn about propagating plants from seeds and cuttings as well as preparing plants
for sale and creating/maintaining retail areas on a working plant nursery and garden centre that is open for
business 6 days a week. Learn from the centre manager, Paul Ensell, who has been managing the centre
for the past 45 years and gain a qualification from ABC Awards with Roots to Fruit’s experienced and
qualified horticultural lecturers Jon Ensell and Chris Murphy. Subsidised volunteer places available.
Places are limited and subject to terms and conditions.
Monday & Friday Class Nursery and Gardening Course Time Table
Winter Spring Summer Autumn
Indoor Seed sowing Hardwood Cuttings Grafting Maintaining structures Maintaining concrete and wooden surfaces Constructing hard Surfaces Maintaining a stock garden
Indoor Seed sowing Pricking out Potting up Dividing herbaceous perennials Displaying and marketing plants Retail and customer services Maintaining a stock garden
Softwood cuttings Displaying and marketing plants Maintaining plants outdoors Retail and customer services Planting a stock garden
Semi ripe cuttings Potting up Dividing herbaceous perennials Maintaining structures Maintaining a stock garden Sweeping and tidying leaves Bulb Planting
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Tuesday 9:15am- 3:00pm Professional Gardening Course On our Professional Gardening Course we aim to give you the skills to maintain gardens within a
professional setting. We go out into the local community to maintain private gardens and public
spaces giving you the confidence skills and knowledge to start either your own gardening
business, work for a gardening company or maintain your own garden. There is the opportunity to
gain a qualification from ABC Awards with the training centre’s award winning horticultural lecturer,
Jon Ensell. Various qualifications are available along with subjects to study. This course is
available as a professional course only. Subsidised volunteer places available.
Tuesday Professional Gardening Course Seasonal Time table.
Winter Spring Summer Autumn
Pruning, tidying
gardens, lawn
restoration.
Machinery
maintenance.
Garden
Maintenance:
Weeding , pruning,
tidying gardens,
lawn restoration
and care
Garden
Maintenance:
Weeding, tidying
gardens, lawn Care
(mowing, edging
and strimming)
Garden
Maintenance:
Weeding, tidying,
pruning, lawn care
(mowing, edging
and strimming)
lawn restoration
and leaf clearance
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Potential Horticultural
Jobs
Skills and Knowledge
Gardening/Grounds
maintenance
Grass cutting
and strimming
Caring for
planted
borders
Pruning
plants and
hedges
Vegetable growing
Growing Plants/Nursery
Work
Propagating
plants from
seeds
Propagating
plants from
cuttings
Potting up
plants
Watering and
irrigation
Retail/Garden Centre Work
Preparing
plants for sale
Displaying
plants for sale
Creating retail
displays
Customer care
and services
Landscape Gardening
Garden
Design
Planting
borders
Clearing and
levelling the
ground
Laying paving
slabs and
block pavers
Erecting fences
Course Costs and Start Dates
Start dates are roll on roll off and you can usually start within a month of accepting a place. The below
prices apply to all of the courses currently available.
Subsidised Volunteer Qualification Costs.
Please note though the tuition fees for the volunteer courses are free an administration and qualification
registration fee needs to be met by each volunteer as listed below
Qualification Level Qualification Credit Cost
Level 1 Practical Horticulture Skills Award 10 £50.00
Level 1 Practical Horticulture Skills Certificate 20 £95.00
Level 1 Practical Countryside Skills Diploma 40 £175.00
Level 2 Practical Horticulture Skills Award 10 £60.00
Level 2 Practical Horticulture Skills Certificate 20 £120.00
Level 2 Work Based Horticulture Diploma 40 £200.00
Full Cost Recovery Courses
All candidates will have to go through an admissions process in order to ascertain exact costs and the level
they should be studying at.
Number of days to attend
Accredited Training - Qualification Courses (Work Experience Prices
Entry Level 3 to Level 1 Practical Horticulture/Countryside Skills. Total all inclusive prices of each qualification below.
Level 2 Practical Horticulture Skills/Work Based Learning
Total all inclusive prices of each qualification below.
Up to 12 Days 10 Credit Award £245.00-£300.00 10 Credit Award £380.00
Up to 27 Days 20 Credit Certificate £580.00 20 Credit Certificate £690.00
Up to 50 Days 40 Credit Diploma £950.00 40 Credit Diploma £1300.00
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
What are Entry Level 3, Level 1 and Level 2 Qualifications?
There are opportunities to start at Entry Level 3 (E3) and gain OFFQUAL registered qualifications
up to Level 2 (L2) with the accredited awarding body ABC Awards. You will be studying mandatory
units such as preparing the ground for seed sowing and planting containerised stock together with
watering plants effectively which are the foundation skills for learning horticulture. The
qualifications are industry recognised and are eligible for funding by the Skills Funding Agency.
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
EVENING CLASS RHS LEVEL 2 CERTIFICATE IN THE PRINCIPLES OF PLANT GROWTH, PROPAGATION AND
DEVELOPMENT
Location: Oakdene Nurseries
Duration: 1 Year or 35 Weeks (excluding holidays)
Start: September 2019
Days / Times: Thursday evenings 18:00 – 21:00*
Concessions: Course/tuition £660 RHS registration & 4 x exams: £112
Course Summary
This qualification provides a route to improve your gardening knowledge & skills or employment in
professional horticulture by assessing knowledge of the scientific principles underpinning horticultural
practices, and it supports career development for those already working in the profession. It also provides a
foundation for further learning or training in the field of horticulture.
Entry requirements
You need to have a keen interest in horticulture.
You should also have a minimum of a Level 1 qualification in English and Maths.
Course Content
1. Plant classification, structure and function
2. Plant nutrition and the properties and management of soils
and growing media
3. Maintaining plant health through understanding pest,
disease and weed lifecycles
4. Principles and practices of plant propagation in horticulture
How will I be assessed?
The course will be assessed through 4 x exams in February and June
Tutor: Stephen Ensell
Stephen has over 25 years’ experience in horticulture and landscaping, including 5 years teaching and
assessing experience, delivering horticulture programs for Milton Keynes college and South Staffordshire
college. Stephen has also developed and reviewed horticulture and landscaping qualifications.
For more information and to obtain a course booking form, please email
Steve Ensell ([email protected])
* Requires a minimum number of people to run
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Student projects
At our centre you can explore many different subjects and gain your qualifications and skills by engaging
with a range of projects.
Here are some of the projects students have built so far:
Giant’s head- a planted garden
created by students for the Level 2
Establishing Decorative Areas Unit.
A rock garden.
Constructing and planting a
cottage style garden. The
student collected the willow
branches and constructed
the wattle hurdle as part of
the garden.
An allotment plot planted with vegetables raised from seed by
the student; grown and nurtured organically as part of the
course.
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Sub-Contracted Delivery of Qualifications
Are you a college or training provider and have access to skills funding money? We can deliver a range of
qualifications at a very competitive rates within the land based sector that are all fully funded
Here is a list of the qualifications that we have direct claims status to deliver:
U0004-00 Employability Programme
C9218-E2 Entry Level Certificate in Practical Horticulture Skills (Entry 2)
A9218-E2 Entry Level Award in Practical Horticulture Skills (Entry 2)
A9218-E3 Entry Level Award in Practical Horticulture Skills (Entry 3)
A9217-E3 Entry Level Award in Practical Countryside Skills (Entry 3)
C9218-E3 Entry Level Certificate in Practical Horticulture Skills (Entry 3)
A9217-01 Level 1 Award in Practical Countryside Skills
A9218-01 Level 1 Award in Practical Horticulture Skills
C9217-01 Level 1 Certificate in Practical Countryside Skills
C9218-01 Level 1 Certificate in Practical Horticulture Skills
D9217-01 Level 1 Diploma in Practical Countryside Skills
A9208-02 Level 2 Award in Practical Horticulture Skills
C9208-02 Level 2 Certificate in Practical Horticulture Skills
D9200-C2 Level 2 Diploma in Work-Based Horticulture (Horticulture)
They are nationally recognised and regulated by OFFQUAL.
As a centre we have 3 award winning and highly qualified lecturers of horticulture working to deliver the
wide variety of qualifications we are registered to run
Jonathan Ensell receiving his
Worshipful Company of Gardeners
Prize from Princess Anne at
Buckingham Palace for his
outstanding delivery of City and
Guilds Qualifications within Her
Majesty’s Prisons
Chris Murphy
Chris Murphy is an experienced
horticulturalist, lecturer and an
award winning plant
collector/grower
Stephen Ensell has won a gold
medal at for the construction of
a show garden at RHS
Hampton Court with the British
Association of Landscape
Industries
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Bespoke Horticultural Training
We can tailor horticultural training to meet your company or organisation’s needs. For example, you might
run a garden centre and want to improve your employees’ plant identification skills or you might be a school
that wants to prepare the teachers for outdoor curriculum activities. We can help with lots of different
requirements and can either organise the training from our centre or deliver within your workplace. We
have delivered a number of courses for organisations such as Walsall Housing Group, Walsall Council,
Welsh House Farm Big Local and Oasis Academy Trust through community learning events covering
subjects around organic gardening as well as fruit and vegetable cultivation.
Feedback from Community Learning Sessions:
“Most informative and factual- the lecture on compost must useful. The lecturers took time to explain things
and the hospitality was first class.”
John
“Have enjoyed all 3 sessions, planting, showing, compost, cuttings, pruning, dividing and pricking out .Lots
of hands on which is great fun”
Elaine
“Really enjoyed the whole event. Very good information. Would come back again.”
Ben
“Very informative - catering for all levels of gardening knowledge in a clear, non-threatening and
entertaining delivery. Good blend of practical and theoretical activities. A thoroughly enjoyable event.”
Jackie
“Once again full of information presented in a friendly and non-technical way.”
David
“Today has been brilliant and very useful for me. Thank you for the time you have given us. Can't wait to
get back to put into practice what I have learned today.”
Caz
“Welcoming, friendly, well delivered and enjoyable. Will look forward to more sessions in the future for
personal development.”
Ray
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Attendance and Costs
Courses will be written and planned to meet specific client needs and a full quotation will be submitted for
each different course/activity.
Allotment Rental
We are fortunate enough to own a gorgeous acre and a half heritage apple orchard within our site. In 2014,
we began carefully and sympathetically installing allotment plots amongst the apple trees, enabling us to
provide a supported allotment service within this unusual and pretty space. You can rent an allotment and
wildlife garden of your own and have full access to tools and resources as part of an annual subscription
fee.
Click on ‘Allotments’ on our website for more information.
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Student Stories
Angela’s Story
On starting the course, I felt very nervous and reluctant to come, but was instantly made to feel very
welcome. I have some knowledge of basic gardening which, I have learned from books and other people
with similar interests.
But now at the end of my course I look back at what I have learned. I came specifically to learn about and
pursue and interest in garden design. Jon then encouraged me to design my own garden, and I feel I have
achieved a lovely garden with so much help about compost, cuttings, planting, layout and general design.
Jon helped me to choose the right materials, and has advised me with hard landscaping ideas.
After suffering from long-term major depression the course encouraged me to interact with people, build my
self-confidence and self-esteem which has now improved my life in many ways. The people on the course
have helped me so much.
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Andrew’s Story
After choosing to leave my last volunteer work placement I was optimistic enough to think that given all
of the possibilities out there and with my broad range of interests I would have no problem finding another
placement, especially when coupled together with a number of years’ experience. In reality I was very
wrong. For three years I relentlessly tried to find a new placement but for most and for whatever reason my
disability proved too much of an issue. Over a three year period of being turned down or worse, completely
ignored for application after application I began to take this very personally.
The constant rejection, feeling of isolation and the sheer frustration of wanting to get involved but not being
able to, often for no other reason than the ignorance and preconceptions of people who have never met
me, started to have a detrimental effect on my mental well-being. I was eventually diagnosed with
depression and anxiety and sent for CBT and counselling. For one reason or another none of this seemed
to work.
Then through a chance meeting I came across Roots to Fruit at Oakdene Nurseries. By teaching me
horticulture it got me out of the house and back into the fresh air. I began to meet new, likeminded people
and learn a new skill. I also realised the satisfaction of caring for and watching a plant grow. Soon I started
to feel much better in myself and have a much brighter outlook for the future.
Andrew maintaining his wildflower
meadow
Andrew receiving his Level 2 Work-
based Diploma in Horticulture
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/
Roots to Fruit Midlands Ltd Scoop Top Show Border Medal at Gardeners World Live 2019
Roots to Roots to Fruit Midlands Ltd have built a show border at Gardeners World Live 2019 they are delighted to
announce that it has won a Platinum Medal - the highest award that can be given - and one of only two presented
within the category. In the event our border in addition to this also won 'Best In Show' for their interpretation of a
theme. The topic of the border was a curriculum garden entitled 'Schools Out 4 Summer'. This is an education sensory
border and Jonathan Ensell lead horticultural tutor and company director said ‘this is the only garden at GWL that
children between the age of 4 and 94 can enjoy by touching and feeling its plants and interactive features’. 125 of the
children, their teachers (from schools that Roots to Fruit deliver learning with), their volunteers, their adult learners
were all there to experience the sensory effects of the garden and see the medal being presented to the not for profit
social enterprise.
Jonathan designed the border collaboratively with staff and students, Jonathan’s wife Claire came up with the idea of
embedding the national curriculum in the garden. Jonathan worked with his students to develop the concept into a
plan. Jonathan said ‘It’s a whistle stop tour through maths with a living abacus, English with plants found in the works
of Shakespeare, it has a volcano for geography, plants growing in test tubes for science, dinosaur fossils and Roman
mosaics that need digging up for history and a
clay pot chime for music. The main stars of the
show were the plants included to represent
each curriculum area.’
Roots to Fruit work with a range of people from
all cross sections of the community. Jonathan
said ‘the most amazing thing about this project is
the many outcomes it has achieved for us as a training centre, we have been able to grow all of the plants at our
nursery using the help of the students that access our training facility’, they have been able to grow from seed and
nurture the plants for this border. Roots to Fruit students maybe adults volunteering their time, they may have a
learning/physical disability, or they may have mental health problems. They also work with primary and secondary
schools and have been able to involve them all in some way. Most of the adult learners used the activities associated
with the border to build evidence for their portfolios and were assessed by Jonathan for elements of their accredited
qualifications. Roots to Fruit are a registered centre with SEG awards and deliver ABC awards land-based
qualifications in both horticulture and countryside skills from entry level 3 to level 2. Jonathan said that ‘ All of our ABC
award registered students have been able to complete parts of their qualification practical tasks by being involved in
this show border whether through growing the plants or building the garden at the NEC, it’s a testament to ABC
Awards to how their qualifications provide the wonderful opportunity to embed a wide variety of performance criteria
and out comes in a wonderful and prestigious student experience’. The students were on hand all week to provide
tours of the border to show visitors during the week and helped to engage a range of people with the sensory aspects
of the garden; Jonathan said ‘ I can’t say a big enough thankyou to my students and volunteers this medal is as much
theirs as it is ours’.
Jonathan Ensell (Company Director)
T 0121 353 3481 M 07590620890 E [email protected]
http://www.rootstofruit.co.uk/ https://www.facebook.com/Roots-to-Fruit-Midlands-Ltd-632441953485719/