Informal and formal training in growing skills is available throughout Scotland.

Where to go for training

• Social Farms & Gardens: have occasional training events in Scotland and can tailor training for groups
• Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society: their ‘Grow and Learn’ training scheme offers an alternative for those who find mainstream learning challenging
• Trellis: runs online courses and a therapeutic gardening training programme
• Thrive: provides training focused on social and therapeutic horticulture
• Local Community growing initiatives also sometimes offer training or mentoring in general gardening and growing skills e.g. Ravenscraig Community Training Garden in Fife or may support local community growing groups to get started, such as  One Seed Forward in the Aberdeen area or the Washhouse garden in Glasgow
• Locavore: runs a Grow the Growers programme in Glasgow to support people considering market gardening
• Royal Horticultural Society: courses are available at a range of colleges and venues throughout Scotland
• SRUC, Scotland’s rural college: provides undergraduate and graduate courses in agriculture and horticulture with campuses in Aberdeen, Ayr, Broxburn, Cupar, Dumfries , Glasgow and Edinburgh
• The Land Workers Alliance provides a range of training
• Community Supported Agriculture: runs a mentoring programme to help start up community farms
• The Scottish Crofters Federation: provides a wide range of training

For info on national qualifications take a look at SQA’s website under ‘Horticulture’.

Resources