The Oaks is a working garden nursery selling competitively priced products, including:

Bedding and other outdoor plants
Hanging baskets
Basket plants
Shrubs & herbaceous perennials
Tomato plants
Herbs
Planters from recycled wood

The Oaks celebrated 10 years of training and trading in 2008

The Oaks Garden Nursery is a small traditional local nursery situated in the grounds of ‘Highfields’ on Allensbank Road in the Heath. The Oaks provides realistic work experience and training leading to opportunities to gain real employment for the 28 students who attend each week.

The Oaks is the ideal environment for students to learn valuable horticultural skills. It has a large poly-tunnel, an outdoor staging area as well as an allotment sized plot near by, which is used for training students in vegetable growing skills.

Students spend varying lengths of time at the Oaks where they learn all the skills needed to work in a garden centre such as: planting seeds, potting on, watering, making up planters and hanging baskets, as well as using the till and serving customers. Supporting them are staff and volunteers who are specialists in horticulture. They work hard to enable the students to realise their potential through practical tasks and accredited training in horticultural and related skills.
The Oaks, specialises in making up filled containers of all kinds, as well as perennials, shrubs and bedding plants. It is a great place to visit in the spring and summer if you want to add instant colour to your garden.

Student Training

An Individual Training Plan (ITP) is developed for each student, this includes skills such as:

Pruning a shrub or tree
Preparing and using mulch
Tending plants
Basic retail skills
Identifying common weeds, pests and insects
Sowing seeds and picking out seedlings
Safe moving and handling
Using and steering a sack trolley
Making and using compost
Making up hanging baskets and filled containers
Customer care skills

Training and accreditation

It is possible to work towards certificates for some of these skills. Accreditation is offered in the NPTC City and Guilds Skills for Working Life at Entry Level 2 & 3.

Soft Skills Development

The Oaks also delivers the Vision 21 Soft Skills Personal Development programme. In addition to developing horticultural skills the training focuses on developing confidence, interpersonal skills, communication skills, working as part of a team, motivation, timekeeping, behaviour and reliability etc.

To refer a student to ‘The Oaks’

Following satisfactory completion of the referral process the student will undergo an induction to Vision 21 after which a ‘taster’ day will be offered to see whether the opportunity suits them. If this goes well students can attend The Oaks Garden Nursery for one or two days per week, occasionally more if appropriate, for an agreed time scale which will be reviewed regularly.
For more information on our referral process please see our referral page.
Vision 21 is a member of the Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens.

Visit Us

The Oaks is open to the public and the team are always delighted to meet and welcome new customers.
We are open to the public 9am-4pm weekdays.
Extended opening during April, May and June from 9am-5pm with a late night Thursdays until 7pm.
Plants and planters

Health and Safety

Students at the Oaks receive a health and safety induction including safe use of tools and equipment, Risk Assessments, manual handling and fire safety awareness. Students can also be referred to our TAM project for additional life skills, employment and independent living guidance as appropriate.