"This is the place to start for anyone with an interest in amenity horticulture or who wishes to understand the industry. Graduates will develop knowledge of the industry at both a global and local level of the different sectors of the industry and become familiar with responsible environmental management strategies of natural and created landscapes." - Gavin Cole B.Sc., Psych.Cert., Cert.Garden Design, MACA,

WHAT IS AMENITY HORTICULTURE?

The horticulture industry can be divided into two broad sectors: the production sector, which is largely involved with producing food crops, and the amenity sector, which is involved with growing plants for recreational or ornamental purposes. However, these should not be seen as clear-cut divisions. The boundaries defining the two sectors tend to vary from country to country and between horticultural institutions and employers. For example, some horticulturists might view floriculture enterprises or wholesale nurseries as being in the production sector, while others would classify them as amenity industries.

Amenity horticulture is sometimes described as 'gardening and landscaping', 'ornamental horticulture' or 'recreational horticulture'. However, as the nature and scope of the horticulture industry has broadened and evolved, these tags, although convenient, do not adequately describe the range of different industries that fall under the umbrella of 'amenity horticulture'.

Major sectors within the amenity horticulture industry typically include the following:

•  Arboriculture
•  Landscape industry
•  Parks and gardens
•  Turf management
•  Nurseries - retail and wholesale
•  Interior landscaping
•  Floriculture

Each sector uses specialised technical skills and management strategies, but they are all underpinned by the basic horticultural skills of soil and water management, plant nutrition, pests and disease management, and plant knowledge.

Amenity horticulture has a vital role to play in the future management of the environment. As custodians of both natural and developed landscapes, amenity horticulturists will be increasingly responsible for ensuring the Earth's resources are used in a responsible and sustainable manner.

This is a module from the RHS M.Hort (based on curriculum developed by the Royal Horticultural Society); this can be taken either as part of the M.Hort Program, as a module in one of our other qualifications or as a stand alone course (Ideal for use as a Professional Development program for persons working in the horticulture industry anywhere in the world).

There are 7 lessons in this course:

1. Nature and Scope of the Amenity Horticulture Industry
2. Global Variations: Nature and Scope of the Amenity Industry in Different Countries
3. Benefits of Amenity Horticulture
4. Amenity Horticulture Management Options
5. Influences (Legal, Social etc)
6. Determining Best Practice
7. Preparing for the Future.

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

• Describe the complexity of the amenity horticulture industry.
• Compare the changing complexity of the amenity industry in the UK, your own country (if different to the UK), and at least one other country.
• Discuss the diverse benefits that amenity horticulture offers to society.
• Explain processes underlying the natural and manmade environments used to manipulate and control amenity sites effectively within economic and environmental parameters.
• Identify legal, social, economic and environmental conditions that impact on amenity industry.
• Demonstrate prudent use of financial and physical resources to manage amenity landscapes.
• Identify and review the changing complexity of the amenity industry