Amenity Horticulture I

This course introduces amenity horticulture, the management of public and shared green spaces, looking at its scope and the variations in how it's practised in different regions. You'll learn about the benefits amenity horticulture provides, the range of management options available, and the influences that shape decisions in this area. The course finishes by looking at how to determine best practice and prepare for future change in the industry. Suitable for those working in or studying public green space management.

Learn about the nature and scope of amenity horticulture. Learn the principles, provision, management and establishment of amenity horticulture over the course of seven lessons. Amenity horticulture has a vital role to play in the future management of the environment. As custodians of both natural and developed landscapes, amenity horticulturists will be increasingly responsible for ensuring the Earth’s resources are used in a responsible and sustainable manner. From amenity horticulturists who work in backyard gardens to those who contribute to the management of national parks covering thousands of hectares, the trend will be to promote and implement strategies that conserve soil, water, air and biodiversity for the benefit of future generations. This course has been developed by professionals in both Australia and the UK, with the aim of being relevant throughout the world. This was initially developed by us as a module in the Royal Horticultural Society’s Master of Horticulture Lesson Structure There are 7 lessons in this course: 1. Nature and Scope of the Amenity Horticulture Industry What is amenity horticulture Arboriculture Landscape industries Parks and gardens Nurseries Turf management Interior plantscaping Floriculture 2. Global Variations: Nature and Scope of the Amenity Horticulture Industry in Different Countries The changing nature of amenity horticulture PBL project to create and present a plan that identifies and compares global variations in the amenity horticulture industry. 3. Benefits of Amenity Horticulture Amenity horticulture and society Aesthetic value Health benefits Benefits of gardening Horticultural therapy Kitchen garden programs Community gardens Recreational benefits of public open space Economic benefits Nature based tourism Private land use for recreation Environmental benefits 4. Amenity Horticulture Management Options Management of amenity sites Management processes: planning, organising controlling, leading, etc The organisational structure Managing natural environments Good and bad management decisions 5. Influences Legal concerns for amenity horticulture Legal and illegal plants Law and money Land ownership Land planning and planning processes Central place theory Psycho social considerations Environmental concerns 6. Determining Best Practice Best practice management How is best practice determined Quality systems Managing finance User pays pricing Budgets Managing physical resources Staff management Teams based management Managing workplace safety Risk control 7. Preparing for the Future Future of Amenity horticulture Ecologically sustainable development PBL project to identify the current impacts on the environment of amenity horticulture operations in your area and suggest ways that ESD will impact on those operations and on the community in the short and long term. Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading. Aims Describe the complexity of the amenity horticulture industry Compare the changing complexity of the amenity industry in the UK, your own country (if different to the UK), and at least one other country. Discuss the diverse benefits that amenity horticulture offers to society. Explain processes underlying the natural and manmade environments used to manipulate and control amenity sites effectively within economic and environmental parameters. Identify legal, social, economic and environmental conditions that impact on amenity industry. Demonstrate prudent use of financial and physical resources to manage amenity landscapes. Identify and review the changing complexity of the amenity industry. The horticulture industry can be divided into two broad sectors: the production sector, which is largely involved with producing food crops, and the amenity sector, which is involved with growing plants for recreational or ornamental purposes. However, these should not be seen as clear-cut divisions. The boundaries defining the two sectors tend to vary from country to country and between horticultural institutions and employers. For example, some horticulturists might view floriculture enterprises or wholesale nurseries as being in the production sector, while others would classify them as amenity industries. Why You Should Study This Course This course will be of value for anyone working in horticulture who wishes to broaden their knowledge of the industry. Those completing the course will have a thorough insight into the state of the industry from historical developments to present and likely future trends. It's the type of knowledge that anyone who represents the industry really ought to have. Take this course as a stand-alone module or as part of a higher level qualification. It is suited to people in a range of employment positions, including: General horticulture Garden history Research Garden maintenance Botanic gardens Parks & gardens Landscaping Crops WHAT NEXT? Register to Study - Go to “It’s Easy to Enrol” box at the top of the page and you can enrol now. or Get Advice – Email us at info@acsedu.co.uk OR Use our FREE COUNSELLING SERVICE to contact a tutor CLICK TO CONTACT US