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Introduction to Market Gardening

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Course Information

Manchester Urban Diggers (MUD) is offering a FREE 6-week practical training course for people who are  unemployed & not in education or training and would like to develop the skills, confidence and experience needed to begin a career in the growing horticulture and environmental sectors.

This practical course is centred around hands-on learning in a working market garden, where you'll develop the skills and knowledge needed to grow food sustainably. You'll learn regenerative growing techniques that work in harmony with nature while building practical, transferable skills for careers in horticulture, the wider environmental sector, and related practical roles around gardening, sustainable food and community building.

 Activities will include: seed sowing, planting, plant maintenance, harvesting, crop planning, garden design, orchard maintenance, basic construction, business skills, facilitation, organisational planning, community building, and gaining broad ecological knowledge.

Dates & Times

Cohort 1: 05 October - 15 November 2026
Cohort 2: 15 February - 28 March 2027
Cohort 3: 17 May - 27 June 2027

2 days a week for 6 weeks
Mondays & Thursdays
Time: 9:30am – 4:30pm
Lunch: 45 minutes

Address: Platt Fields Market Garden, Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield, Manchester M14 6LT

Deadline to apply for Cohort 1: 18 September 2026
 
Requirements

You are required to commit to full days every Monday and Thursday over the 6 weeks. If for any reason you can't commit to this please let us know which days/times you can't attend and why. 80% attendance of the course will be required for you to pass the course.

This course is only for those who are not currently working & in education or training. If you don't fit this criteria, please consider signing up to volunteer at our Gardening Club instead, as you will be able to learn growing skills there.

You must be over 18 to apply.


Accessibility 

We are committed to making this course accessible to all, and have worked with volunteers to make the garden accessible. If you require any adjustments in order to participate, please let us know in the form below and we will work to accommodate you.

More information on the physical accessibiity of our site at Platt Fields Market Garden can be found in the footer here.

Fill out the form below to apply.

Questions? Contact learning@wearemud.org.

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Full Name *
Age *
Gender *
Ethnicity *
Employment Status *
Contact Email Address *
Contact Phone Number *
Postcode *
Emergency Contact Name *
Emergency Contact Number

 *
Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you want to join the course
 *
Are you able to attend every Monday and Thursday for the 6 week block? *
If for any reason you can't commit to this please let us know which days/times you can't attend and why. 80% attendance of the course will be required for you to pass the course.
Why are you interested in joining this programme? (Check all that apply)
 *
Required
Do you have any previous gardening experience or interest in any particular areas? *
Do you have any allergies or medical conditions we should be aware of?
 *
Do you require any special assistance or accommodations?
 *
This is an accessible course and we can make adjustments for most needs. This section is not to check if you're elegible to join the course, but to ensure we support you adequately.
How did you hear about the programme?
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Consent gained for MUD to contact via phone *
Consent gained for MUD to contact via email *
Which Cohort/s are you able to do? *
Please tick all which apply, if you are elegible we will contact you as soon as a space comes available
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