Gardening Short Course
About this course
What is the Gardening Short Course?
The ASDAN Gardening Short Course is a flexible, portfolio-based course for learners aged 13 and over. It accredits between 10 and 60 hours of practical gardening, food growing and horticulture-related learning.
The course is suitable for learners working at Entry level 3 to Level 1, although challenges can be adapted for learners working above or below these levels. It can be delivered in schools, colleges, alternative provision and other formal and non-formal education settings.
Learners develop practical gardening knowledge and skills through planting, growing food on an allotment, working under cover and supporting wildlife and biodiversity. They can also explore cooking with home-grown produce, garden construction, creative garden projects and careers in gardening and horticulture.
Through practical outdoor activities and ASDAN’s plan, do and review approach, learners build confidence, independence and transferable skills, including learning, communicating, decision making, thinking, team working and self-awareness. Gardening activities can also support learners’ wellbeing, sense of responsibility and connection with nature.
Challenges can be interpreted and adapted to suit learners’ individual abilities, interests, needs and learning environments.
Delivery format: Gardening Short Course is available through Equitas, ASDAN’s digital learning platform, or in student book format. Some Equitas challenges differ from the student book version. Use one format per learner group. Equitas challenges can be downloaded.
Download our free Gardening Short Course resource pack, packed with useful tips, challenge links and project ideas to promote wellbeing and develop practical skills.
| Learner age | 13+, 14+, 14–16, 14–25, 16+, 16–19, 19+, Adults |
| Level (indicative for non-regulated courses) | Entry 3, Level 1 |
| Key Stage | Key Stage 5, Key Stage 4, Key Stage 3 |
| Education setting | Mainstream school, Justice system (including youth offending), Further education, Community Education, EOTAS, PRU, Academy / Multi-academy trust, Voluntary sector, Training provider, Adult education, Independent school, Social services, Secondary |
| Guided learning hours | 20–60 hours, 10–20 hours |
| Regulated | Non-regulated course |
| Certification | Externally certificated, digital or hard-copy (additional fee) |
| Location | International (including Channel Islands and Ireland), Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England |
| UCAS points | No UCAS points available |
| Available on Equitas | Yes |
| Pathway | Personal Effectiveness |
Helpful information
Who is the Gardening Short Course for?
Short Courses are widely used in formal and non-formal settings, for learners aged 13 and over. Although ASDAN’s Short Courses are designed for learners working at Entry level 3 to Level 1, they can be adapted for learners working above or below these levels. The focus is on completing challenges and developing skills.
Facts and figures
- Flexible programmes of learning accessible to learners at a range of levels
- Internally moderated
- Accredits 10–60 hours of activities
- Can count towards up to three credits for the Personal Development Programmes
- Can support skills development for ASDAN’s Personal Effectiveness Qualifications and may contribute to recognition of prior learning where standards are met in full
Requirements
Each learner must have their own registration. Learners must present evidence of their activities in an organised portfolio.
This should include:
- a record of the challenges completed, with supporting evidence
- recording documents showing how the learner planned and reviewed their activities
- a summary of achievement highlighting skills development
- a personal statement.
Equitas organises evidence against each challenge within the platform.
We have created guidance for members delivering ASDAN Short Courses, including planning, requirements, quality assurance and certification.
Course content
The Gardening Short Course offers activities to develop skills and knowledge through gardening. This course helps learners develop practical gardening skills, as well as personal, social and work-related skills. Certification is available for 10–60 hours of work.
There are some key differences between the challenge content in the original Gardening Short Course student book and the version available on Equitas. These include updated module titles, revised challenge content and outcomes, and additional new challenges.
For consistency, we recommend that members choose one format to use with all learners within a group. Copies of the challenges available on Equitas can be downloaded and used directly with learners.
The Gardening Short Course contains eight modules:
- Planting in the garden
- Growing food on the allotment
- Working under cover
- Wildlife in the garden
- Using your produce in the kitchen
- Construction in the garden
- Art in the garden
- Careers in gardening
Download sample pages from the Gardening Short Course student book
Download sample activities from the Gardening Short Course on Equitas
For guidance on running ASDAN Short Courses, please see our step-by-step guides:
ASDAN training supports educators to deliver this course successfully. Sessions provide an introduction, alongside guidance on planning, delivery, assessment and internal quality assurance. Training is not mandatory but is strongly recommended.
Training is included in ASDAN membership for organisations joining or renewing after 1 April 2026, excluding tailored INSET.
Book training in the members area
ASDAN members can also take part in our special interest groups. These online sessions focus on specific areas of practice and provide opportunities for discussion, collaboration and networking with other members.
All registration costs are per learner. Each learner must have their own registration. Registrations are valid for three years from the date of purchase.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Short Course student book | £12 |
| Short Course Equitas learner registration and digital learning platform login | £12 |
| Short Course PDF certificate | Free |
| Short Course printed and foiled certificate (optional, per learner, per Short Course) | £3.75 |
Volume pricing for Equitas Short Courses
We offer scalable pricing for Short Courses on Equitas. This pricing applies only to new registrations made together in a single transaction for the same Equitas Short Course:
- 1–9 learners: £12 per registration
- 10–19 learners: £8 per registration
- 20–29 learners: £6 per registration
- 30+ learners: £4 per registration
Products
Course resources
Gardening Short Course - 3B2: Greenhouse conditions log
This log provides a template for learners to record greenhouse conditions (eg humidity, temperature) and any actions they have taken to optimise conditions. This resource links to challenge 3B2 from the Gardening Short Course.
Gardening Short Course - 7A1: Plant pot designs
This template can be used by learners to plan their plant pot design ideas before creating them. This resource links to challenge 7A1 from the Gardening Short Course.
Gardening Short Course - 5B5: Allotment recipe templates
These recipe templates can be used by learners to record their recipe ideas for produce they have grown. There are two template designs - one for vegetable recipes and the other for fruit recipes. This resource links to challenge 5B5 from the Gardening Short Course.
Gardening Short Course - 2A2: Planting and harvesting fruit and vegetables
This worksheet asks learners to record the planting and harvesting months for fruit and vegetables grown on the allotment. Some example fruit and vegetables are listed, with space for learners to include their own. This resource links to challenge 2A2 from the Gardening Short Course.
Gardening Short Course - 1B1: Gardening jobs log
Learners can use this log template to record different gardening jobs. This resource links to challenge 1B1 from the Gardening Short Course.
Gardening Short Course: Seasonal gardening calendar
This seasonal calendar includes tips, tasks and project ideas to keep your gardening activities flourishing all-year round! This resource contains links to challenges from the Gardening Short Course.
Evaluation chart (individual)
This evaluation chart can be used by learners to evaluate a six-week individual activity. Learners are asked to mark on the graph each week to show what they did and how they felt; at the end of the project the learner should join up the marks to give a picture of the whole activity. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.
Evaluation chart (group)
This evaluation chart can be used by learners to evaluate a six-week group activity. Each member of the group should choose a different colour and mark on the graph each week to show what they did and how they felt. At the end of the project, each group member then joins up their marks to give a picture of the whole activity. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.
Planning a group or team task
This resource can be used when planning a group or team task. It links particularly well to ASDAN's Short Course programmes.
Self-evaluation template
This generic self-evaluation template can be used by learners to evaluate almost any group activity. Learners are asked to record how they felt about the activity and pick out the best and worst bits, before reflecting on what they could do better next time. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.
Teamwork health check
This generic teamwork health check template can support a wide range of group activities. Learners are asked to come up with a list of agreed ground rules for good teamwork, then rate each group member's performance against these criteria. This resource is particularly suited to challenges in Short Courses, Personal Development Programmes (Bronze, Silver, Gold), CoPE and Wider Key Skills.
Short Courses summary of achievement and personal statement : PDF version (mandatory)
Short Courses summary of achievement and personal statement : Word version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 1 : PDF version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 1 : Word version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 2 : PDF version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 2 : Word version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 3 : PDF version (mandatory)
Short Courses skills sheet 3 : Word version (mandatory)