Free courses from Capel Manor College

A special range of courses is being introduced which are designed to give adults the opportunity to gain a qualification in the land-based sector in London. There are no tuition fees to pay, only a registration fee of £40. The college can offer a limited number of 18+ students access to these courses as long as they begin their studies before 1 August 2015. Full details of how apply can be found the the college website at www.capel.ac.uk.

Level 1 Award in Environmental Conservation
This part-time course runs for 8 weeks (1 day per week, 9-4pm) from 20 April 2015. It is a practical course, providing an introduction to basic habitat conservation skills, particularly focussing on woodland and grassland habitats. Candidates will learn about traditional coppicing, and also how to manage grassland habitats. The course comprises of a small amount of “classroom” work, but the majority of the course is delivered in woodland and grassland habitats in the area. It will be based at Horsendon Hill. On successful completion of the course participants will gain a nationally-recognised City and Guilds Level 1 Award in Land-based Studies.

The Seasonal Gardener
This part-time course also runs for 8 weeks (1 day per week, 9-4pm); courses begin on 15 or 17 April 2015 at Capel’s Enfield Centre, and on 16 April at their Regent’s Park centre. You need to provide your own safety boots, gardening glove and secateurs and have an up to day tetanus vaccination. The course will enable participants to gain confidence in gardening skills which could lead towards employment or voluntary work. It will cover topics such as maintaining gardens and borders; planting and maintaining trees, shrubs and flowers; sowing vegetables from seed; using a range of tools, equipment and machinery; good health and safety practice; plant identification and practical work in the college gardens/campus/park. Practical assessments will be carried out in some of these topics. Successful completion of these will result in a City & Guilds Level 1 Award.

There will also be a Capel Manor Open Day at their Gunnersbury Park Centre on 25 April between 10am and 4pm.