Free Level 2 Horticulture Course in Sheffield. Classes run full-time during the day at The Sheffield College Hillsborough Campus. This one-year horticulture qualification covers the practical skills you need to work in gardens, parks, and green spaces. You'll study plant care, soil science, and horticultural techniques through hands-on learning. It's a City and Guilds horticulture course, so the qualification is recognised by employers in the sector. You'll have an initial assessment to confirm this is the right level for you.
Who this course is for
The Sheffield College is a thriving further education college situated in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. We have 4 main campuses across the city, including our City Campus, Hillsborough Campus, Olive Grove Campus and Peaks Campus. We offer a wide range of Apprenticeships, vocational courses, A Levels, professional courses and university level courses. Please go to our website www.sheffcol.ac.uk for full details.
Entry requirements
Please check our website for the most up-to-date entry requirement for this course.
What you will learn
You'll identify and care for a range of plants and trees.
You'll prepare and maintain soil and growing media.
You'll use and maintain horticultural tools and equipment safely.
You'll apply principles of pruning, planting, and propagation.
You'll manage weeds, pests, and diseases in outdoor spaces.
You'll understand health and safety practices in horticulture.
You'll develop skills in maintaining lawns, borders, and planted areas.
How you will learn
You'll learn through classroom sessions and practical, hands-on work. Assessment is a mix of practical tasks, observations, and written or portfolio-based evidence. Your progress will be assessed against set standards throughout the course, not just at the end. Full-time daytime attendance is required across the year.
What you will need to bring
The centre will provide most materials. The Sheffield College Hillsborough Campus will confirm anything else you need before you start.
Where next
Jobs you could do
Gardener: maintaining private or public gardens and grounds.
Groundsperson: caring for parks, sports pitches, and open spaces.
Landscape operative: supporting landscaping and planting projects.
Nursery worker: growing and selling plants in a commercial nursery.
Cemetery and crematorium grounds worker: maintaining memorial grounds.
Local authority grounds maintenance operative: working for councils on green spaces.
What you could study next
Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture: deepen your plant science and management knowledge, and move into supervisory or specialist roles.
Level 3 Advanced Technical Diploma in Horticulture (City and Guilds): a more technical route covering design, business, and advanced plant care.
Horticulture Apprenticeship: combine work and study to earn while you build on your Level 2 skills in a real employer setting.
