Safeguarding

Key Facts

  • Starting
    2 Jun 2026
    Location
    Merton
    Start Time
    10:00
    End Time
    13:00
    Duration
    3 Weeks
    Study Mode
    Part Time Day
    Days
    Tuesday
    Start Date
    2 Jun 2026
    Level
    Short Course
    Code
    MHRX185ML

    Fees

    19+ Fee
    Free

    Enrol

Live Well for Less - Gardening for Wildlife

Live Well for Less - Gardening for Wildlife

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The best hands-on gardening course for people who want to garden outdoors and set up a wildlife-friendly garden but don't know where to start! In this 3-week capsule course, you will learn how to grow from seed, propagate plants and look after your garden. After you complete the programme you will leave with skills, confidence, and living plants for your garden, balcony or windowsill. Your garden will look good, smell great and be attractive to other smaller inhabitants of your garden too! Look out for different seasonal themes of Live Well for Less throughout the year! From mending your clothes to making jams and preserves, there is always something new you can learn. All materials included in the price! Just turn up and enjoy your lessons.

  • Entry Requirements


    No formal entry requirements needed. This course is suitable for beginners as well as more experienced students

  • Course Content


    During this course you will:

    • Understand the importance of biodiversity in the gardens
    • Understand how to create and manage a wildlife-friendly garden, which is also good for your well-being!
    • Gain hands-on experience in habitat creation
    • Learn how to set up wildlife-friendly green spaces in urban settings
    • Understand what can be grown in small urban spaces to support wildlife
    • Learn how to keep plants healthy
    • Gain confidence through practical care

  • Progression Next Steps


    You can continue to learn new cooking, baking and sustainability skills at one of these courses which run throughout the year:

    • Cook Well for Less (6 rounds of 4 weeks on Thursdays)
    • Bake Well for Less (6 rounds of 5 weeks on Fridays)

    • Live Well for Less (look out for other themes throughout the year - mending clothes, up-cycling, pickles & preserves)

    • Absolute Beginner Cooking (at Wandsworth Campus - different themes throughout the year)

  • Additional Information


    Course materials fee - £15 Please ask at admissions if you are eligible for a discount All materials included in the price! Please contact your tutor Beata Allen for any additional information on [email protected]

  • Course Structure


    Week 1 - Setting up wildlife friendly gardens & biodiversity

    Practical:

    • Planting wildflower seeds
    • Selecting wildflowers for big gardens and small spaces
    • Easiest seeds to grow
    • Small pots or recycled containers?
    • Watering, labelling and placement

    Theory:

    • The importance of biodiversity in gardens
    • Overview of wildlife gardening principles: habitat, food, water, shelter
    • Containers and growing spaces
    • UK climate and seasons
    • Sunlight, water, soil, containers
    • What grows well in urban spaces
    • Windowsills, balconies, doorsteps, shared spaces
    • Growing in recycled containers

    Week 2 - Bug hotels and other garden improvements

    Practical:

    • Building a mini bug hotel using re-cycled and up-cycled materials

    Theory:

    • Meadow vs lawn
    • Water habitats
    • Layers of wildlife habitat (trees, shrubs, ground cover)
    • Nectar-rich and native plant selection
    • Creating shelter (log piles, ponds, bird boxes, hedgehog corridors)
    • Encouraging wildlife (pollinators, birds, hedgehogs, frogs, insects)
    • Most common insects in our gardens - how to attract them?
    • Identify microhabitats and potential improvements

    Week 3 - Practical composting in small gardens

    Practical:

    • Looking at how to set up a composter and wormery
    • Individual wildlife-friendly planner

    Theory:

    • Pros and cons of composting
    • Organic and low-impact maintenance: avoiding chemicals, natural pest control
    • Creating year-round interest for wildlife (winter cover, autumn seed heads, spring bulbs)
    • What to grow next
    • RHS
    • Allotment and community gardens
    • Seed swaps and local groups
    • Personal growing plan

  • Assessment Details


    Assessment will be ongoing and designed to support learning and skill development through tutor feedback, practical tasks, self-assessment and peer discussion