The Horticulture facilities are excellent and complement the academic elements of my course.

Horticulture is an industry that contributes £9 billion to the UK economy each year and employs some 300,000 people. It contributes to our food security, health, well-being and mitigating the effects of environmental change.

Since 2001, the College has been home to the Potting Shed recording studio and garden for BBC Radio 4’s ‘Gardeners’ Question Time’; the garden was opened to the public in May 2002. It is housed within our extensive orchard which is home to our Sparsholt bee collection so vital for ongoing pollination. The horticulture department also has access to its own glasshouses and a tropical garden for the exploration and study of more specialist species. The college has invested heavily in the facilities of the department which include:

  • Five hectares dedicated to horticulture practice
  • Home to the BBC Radio 4 Gardeners’ Question Time potting Shed and Garden
  • Landscaped gardens, lawns and decorative beds
  • multi-bay production polytunnels
  • Garden design studio
  • Small fruit area (orchard)
  • Turf management area
  • Tropical glasshouses used all year round
  • Drawing studio – with A1 drawing boards and design software
  • Ornamental grounds providing a wide variety of plants for identification and analysis
  • Sports and recreation areas