Graduate reviews of our garden design courses

Here are reviews from recent Garden Design School graduates.


"Garden Design School took me from having no experience of garden/landscape design, with few drawing, design, soft or hard-landscaping skills to a competent practitioner in less than a year. Twelve months on I run a busy  and successful Garden Design Company." Sheldon Wressell, graduate


“I looked forward to every day of the course and knew that I would miss it when we graduated! There is so much to learn and you can’t miss a second. The tutors are all very experienced and pass their knowledge on through fast paced and interesting lessons. I’m amazed at how much I learnt in less than a year.”   Hannah Rickards, graduate


"Garden Design School provide an extremely intensive Diploma syllabus. Their course is designed to address all aspects of this multi-faceted career. Lectures cover a wide range of skills, including spatial design, penmanship, drawing and colour theory, horticultural knowledge, hard landscaping elements and water features, drainage, garden lighting, building a business and managing clients’ expectations. Not for the faint-hearted, this course provides a vertical take-off for a career that could take you anywhere!" Nina Bastin graduate


Moving into garden design has been a complete career change for me; I had no drawing or design experience but also had no idea how far I could come in a year. A steep learning curve doesn't even begin to describe it!  The tutors were nothing but encouraging throughout the course and with their expert tuition I now feel ready to make the leap and start up my own business."  Susie Perrett, graduate


"I’m so glad I took the plunge and enrolled on the Garden Design School Diploma – it’s been challenging and hard work, but immensely satisfying and rewarding. The course was incredibly comprehensive – even overwhelming at times – but with the tutors expertise, patience and encouragement I have come away feeling not only inspired, but well equipped and determined to make this leap into a new career a success."  William Gray graduate


“I found that the course delivered everything that was promised. The instruction was superb and I felt that the instructors were extremely knowledgeable. Their dedication and skills enabled me to proceed with a great confidence in my ability to take all that I learned and compete at a very high level.” Joanne Gilmartin, graduate


“It’s easily the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done and I’m pleased to say that the tutors high standards have rubbed off on me and I am now happily practising what they preached and securing interesting design projects since completing the course.” Christine Wilkie, graduate


“The teaching and commitment to each one of us was of the highest calibre - and as working garden designers they brought a wealth of experience to the classroom. I now run a successful garden design practice with a variety of different projects on the go - from small city back yards to converted farmhouses with rolling acres. Life is busy - and I love what I do. My thanks to The Garden Design School for giving me the opportunity, rather later than most, to start a new career.” Annie Nicholl, graduate


“Hard work? You bet, but it is a fantastic experience working with some of the best people in the business. This is not a course based on theory. We are constantly referring to live and past projects, learning the facts that are essential if we plan to turn learning into a business.” Gordon Croy, graduate


“I always felt that the tutors were committed to delivering the course to the highest possible standard and were
conscientious to the end. Lovely course, great process of learning, always interesting and a fabulous class to be part of.
Thank you very much!!!” Rachel Young, graduate


I’d just like to reiterate how positive the whole experience was - lots of hard work, expert tuition by committed experienced professionals who generously share their knowledge and genuinely aim to prepare their students for a successful career in garden design. Alex Nikolic, graduate


Attending this course on this fascinating subject is one of the best things I have done! As a foreign student it also gave me a new and positive view of England. Louise Qvarnstrom, graduate


It’s been the best year of my life! I have joined the best twelve people to do the course with and have made really great friends. Having completed the course I am amazed at how much I have learned and the strength of my knowledge. Thank you very much for the marvellous opportunity. Martin Hazlewood, graduate


I think the course is very well structured and packed full of essential elements. The quality of the tutors is very high. I think it is very difficult to see how the course could be improved as it is already excellent. Sarah Smith, graduate


I had never used any of the pens or instruments before, nor had any design experience, yet through their teaching skills I feel like I have been given the confidence and ability to actually get out there and earn money doing it! Elaine Bailey, graduate


You get out of it what you put in to it and I put a lot in and I got a lot out! Nicola Warnants, graduate


Hard Landscaping Designs