Garden and Greenspace Design for 15 – 17 Year Olds
- Level(s) of Study: Short course
- Course Fee:
£525
- Start Date(s): 4 August 2025
- Duration: Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm, one week
- Study Mode(s): Part-time
- Campus: City Campus
- Entry Requirements: More information
Introduction:
Course date:
4 - 8 August 2025, Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm
Step into the exciting world of garden and greenspace design where you’ll explore how to create beautiful, functional, outdoor spaces, learning key skills that will help you develop your ideas and start building your design portfolio.
On this course you will explore what it takes to design landscapes of all sizes, from small private gardens to large areas of public greenspace. Building on guiding principles and approaches from the past, you will research and generate ideas to create sustainable designs for the future.
Throughout the week, you’ll bring your creativity to life as you tackle two dynamic projects: first, designing a private garden that reflects your personal style, and then transforming your ideas into a vibrant, functional design for a public greenspace that could inspire an entire community. This hands-on experience will not only boost your design skills but also give you the chance to shape the future of outdoor spaces!
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You’ll be part of a design community in our creative studio culture; one that promotes discussion and collaboration, and encourages experimentation and the constant swapping of ideas. -
With a limited class size you'll have the one-to-one attention you need to ensure you leave with the skills to continue developing your designs at home or work. -
Benefit from learning with an experienced tutor who has established links to the profession and significant experience working in varied practices. -
On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance.
Doing your Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residential Award?
This course can count as your Gold DofE Residential Award and is an amazing opportunity to make new friends and memories. It will be fun and gently challenging, allowing you to follow your passion and discover talents you never knew you had.
DofE participants must book both the course and accommodation on campus for this to count towards your Gold Award.
You must also attend the social events that are planned on Monday and Wednesday evenings, and you must plan and attend your own social activities with other participants on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
What you’ll study
Throughout this course, you’ll get a solid introduction to garden and greenspace design, where you’ll learn the principles and processes that guide designers. From the drawing board to the outdoors, you’ll explore the entire creative journey, from sketching to creating detailed design plans.
In addition to developing your design skills, you’ll learn the importance of sustainability in greenspace design, considering environmental impacts and how to make spaces that work in harmony with nature. You’ll also discover how design can address the challenges of climate change and the growing need for green spaces in urban areas.
The course will cover topics including garden design principles, approaches to greenspace design, site surveying, development of concepts, 2D plan drafting and graphics, an introduction to hard landscaping materials, an introduction to planting design, and 3D modelling.
During visits to public gardens, you will be invited to appraise the spaces for their functionality, use of design principles, and aspects of sustainability.
Group discussion and creative thinking will be encouraged throughout the week, including around making changes in current design approaches to better future-proof outdoor spaces.
During this course, you will:
- be introduced to the fundamental principles of garden design
- explore aspects of design psychology
- practice garden surveying techniques using tape measures
- learn how to draw scaled garden design plans by hand
- use industry-standard plan graphics and drafting techniques
- learn how to choose hard landscaping materials for gardens
- delve into the principles of planting design
- explore the past, present, and future of public greenspace design
- consider the importance of sustainability in greenspace design and explore ways to control environmental impacts
- experiment with 3D modelling methods
- be introduced to aspects involved in running a garden design business
- create two design projects for use in a future portfolio.
This is a unique opportunity to learn new skills and start your portfolio if you’re interested in pursuing a career in garden design or landscape architecture.
By the end of this course you will have acquired a range of practical skills in technical drawing and design development and communication processes, as well as a foundation knowledge of design principles, materials, planting design, and sustainability in garden design.
During the course you will produce a design plan for a set garden design brief, as well as plans and models according to a set brief for a public greenspace project.
These could be used as part of a portfolio to support college or university applications, job applications, or as a professional portfolio if you start your own design business in the future.
Social events
We appoint NTU Student Ambassadors who host social events on Monday and Wednesday evening to help you make friends across the whole of our summer school programme for 15 – 17 year olds, which are free to attend.
Here’s a breakdown of what you’ll study during the course:
- Day 1: Fundamental Principles
- Day 2: Garden Design Development
- Day 3: Exploring Public Greenspace
- Day 4: Design Communication
- Day 5: Reflect and Project
- Design principles
- Garden surveying techniques
- Introduction to technical drawing by hand
- Developing garden design ideas
- Drawing garden design plans to industry standards
- Hard landscaping materials
- How to design planting schemes
- History of public greenspace design
- Visit Nottingham Arboretum
- Designing sustainable public greenspace for the modern world
- Visit The Green Heart, Nottingham
- Public greenspace design development
- 3D modelling
- Finishing projects
- Running a business
- Future learning and course options
How you’re taught
You will learn through university-style lectures, participate in practical group exercises, visit public gardens, and receive one-to-one support from the tutor. Peer discussions will be encouraged throughout the week to help you share knowledge and ideas.
This course will be delivered in person on Nottingham Trent University city campus.
Contact hours
You will receive 25 contact hours of quality tuition with an experienced tutor.
Careers and employability
This course offers a fantastic introduction to the world of garden design, whether you want to continue your studies or pursue a career in the creative and environmental sectors.
It’s an ideal starting point if you’re considering a career in garden design, landscape architecture, or urban planning, and it will help you develop a portfolio that can support your college or university applications, create your own business or work for a design firm; the skills you acquire are transferrable across many sectors.
On successful completion of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance, which will further enhance your CV.
Campus and facilities
You will be based in the School of Architecture, Design and Built Environment on the City Campus.
You will receive an email one week before the course starts with joining instructions on where to go for the first day.
You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.
Entry requirements
Level: Beginner
Entry requirement: No drawing or design experience is required. You should have a passion for the outdoors and an interest in creating functional, beautiful spaces.
You must be 15, 16, or 17 years old at the time of the course to attend.
Fees and funding
The fee for this course is £525.
Payment is due at the time of booking.
Secure your place with a deposit - If you're booking more than two months before the course starts, we can accept a £200 deposit to secure your place, and the balance is due one month before the course starts.
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include great benefits such as the use of our modern library and free use of the IT equipment and software on the campus during your course.
You will also need to bring with you:
- Mechanical pencil and refill leads
- Eraser
- 0.1, 0.3, 05 and 0.8 mm Fineliner pens
- Masking tape
- Colouring pens and pencils
- a sketchbook or notebook for ideas and notes
- any personal images or inspiration for your garden design
- comfortable clothing and shoes for site visits.
Read the terms and conditions of booking.
Need accommodation?
Accommodation can be booked separately to the course; the rooms are only a few minutes’ walk from our studios and classrooms, and cost £259 per week, which is ideal if you're looking to be based in Nottingham's lively city centre and want an economical place to stay.
These are single rooms with a private bathroom in shared apartments in Nottingham Trent University’s city campus accommodation.
If you're aged 16 or 17 then you can stay unaccompanied with agreement from a parent/guardian (to support safeguarding, all guests aged 16 and 17 will be accommodated together in the same halls of residence and there is a dedicated Warden available).
If you're aged 15 then you can stay as long as you are accompanied by a parent/guardian (you must book two separate rooms and let us know so we can place you in rooms next to each other).
This option is particularly popular with students completing their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residential Award.
Find out more and book your accommodation here.
Looking to turn your one-week course into a two-week experience?
If you can match this with any second course, you’ll receive a 10% refund on your course fees (email the short course team with your order number to claim the refund).
How to apply
You can book this course via the NTU online store:
4 - 8 August 2025, Monday to Friday 10 am - 4 pm
Browse all our summer courses for 15 – 17 year olds.
Any questions?
Contact the short course team:
- Email: creativeshortcourses@ntu.ac.uk
- Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2813