residential courses - loire valley hospitality....

The Garden Design Academy is based in a classical French Maison de Maitre (gentleman's town house or mansion) in the little market town of Chabris, in the Loire Valley of central France.

The property provides ideal facilities for its residential students while also being located close to many of France's great gardens and chateaux.

We offer courses to suit the keen amateur in our Design your own Garden sessions. Here, clients are educated and entertained in equal measure while expertly guided through the process of transforming their own gardens. They leave with a plan to implement on their return.

Our CAD for Garden Designers training is at an entirely different level, intended for industry professionals who wish to discover the advantages of using computor aided drawing and drafting techniques in their work. Being residential, the course allows for hands-on learning at the keyboard, guided by a garden designer with decades of commercial experience behind him.

more courses on the way....

We are now finalising details of an exciting new range of residential courses for 2013 in subjects ranging from Survey and Levels skills to Planting Design for professional and amateur gardeners. Based in our new log cabin classroom and with accommodation and meals in our renovated 18th century mansion, there are 2 - 6 day courses to suit everyone.

We are often asked if we are able to offer a residential option for any of our distance learning courses. The Garden Design Academy is keen to help overseas students in particular by offering this service. Prices will depend on course length and the number of students enroling. Let us know what you need and we will provide a quotation tailored to your requirements.

have fun while learning....

And last but not least: study tours of the gardens of the Loire Valley and central France. Stay with us for a 5-day experience including vists to historic gardens, parks and plant collections guided by Colin Elliott, Principal of the Garden Design Academy. Good food, comfortable accommadation, lovely wines and a superb atmosphere are included in the price.

And the good news is that these courses and tours are great value!!