Dates:
- 21-22 June 2025
- 28-29 June 2025
Price
£50
Day 1: Fundamentals and Preparation
09:00 – 09:30 – Introduction and Course Overview
- Welcome and introductions.
- Overview of the course objectives, schedule, and safety guidelines.
- Brief introduction to hard landscaping and its importance in garden design.
09:30 – 11:30 – Basics of Hard Landscaping Materials
- Overview of common materials: bricks, pavers, stone, gravel, concrete, etc.
- Discussion on the pros and cons of each material.
- Hands-on demonstration of different materials (textures, weights, etc.).
Break
11:45 – 12:30 – Tools and Equipment
- Introduction to essential tools and machinery: spades, wheelbarrows, compactor plates, etc.
- Safe handling and maintenance of tools and equipment.
- Hands-on session with tools.
12:30 – 13:15 – Lunch Break
13:15 – 14:30 – Ground Preparation Techniques
- Overview of site assessment: soil types, drainage, and levelling.
- Introduction to marking out areas and excavation techniques.
- Practical demonstration of ground preparation (levelling and compacting).
14:30 – 16:30 – Introduction to Laying Block Paving
- Types of paving patterns: herringbone, stretcher bond, basket weave, etc.
- Overview of base preparation and laying techniques.
- Practical session: laying a small section of paving.
16:30 – 17:00 – Review and Q&A
Day 2: Different Techniques, Materials and Practical Application
09:00 – 09:30 – Review of Day 1 and Outline for Day 2
- Recap of key points from Day 1.
- Overview of Day 2 objectives.
09:30 – 11:00 – Introduction to Laying Indian Stone
- Types of paving patterns.
- Overview of base preparation and laying techniques.
- Practical session: laying a small section of Indian Stone.
11:00 – 11:15 – Tea/Coffee Break
11:15 – 12:45 – Creating Steps and Pathways
- Introduction to designing and constructing garden steps and pathways.
- Considerations for materials, slope, and drainage.
- Practical session: constructing a small set of steps or a garden path.
12:45 – 13:30 – Lunch Break
13:30 – 15:00 Introduction to Laying Stone Cobbles
- Types of sets/cobbles.
- Overview of base preparation and laying techniques.
- Practical session: laying a small apron of cobbles and pointing techniques.
15:00-16:30 – Gravel and Stone Work
- Working with gravel, pebbles, and stones for pathways, driveways, and decorative areas.
- Demonstration of laying and compacting gravel, using weed membranes.
- Practical session: creating a gravel path or decorative stone area.
16:30 – 17:00 – Review, Feedback, and Closing Remarks
- Group discussion on the completed project and lessons learned.
- Feedback session and certificates of completion.
- Closing remarks and future learning opportunities.
This schedule covers a broad range of basic hard landscaping topics and provides ample hands-on experience. Adjust the schedule based on the size of the group, available tools, and site-specific conditions.
