Danielle wants to know: "What part of gardening do you enjoy the most?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Kim: Getting my hands in the earth, designing with plants and gaining knowledge of different plants and sharing the knowledge with other people.

Kym wants to know: "Has your career change improved your life or do you miss the rock ‘n' roll lifestyle?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Kim: I get to dip in to a rock and roll lifestyle when attending concerts. But I am much more content to let horticulture play the dominant role. I can live without rock n roll but I couldn't live without gardening.

Tim wants to know: "My mum always talks of doing a course, and like Kim would probably like to do something with gardening, but she is frankly useless with computers. Since we live far apart I can't really help her to view the Way to Learn site. Is there any other way of accessing the information that she could use?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: Yes there are various different ways. There is a phone number for an organisation for the UK online which is 0800 771 234. They will give you all the information and you can also go to your local college.

Jane wants to know: "I have two young children so never thought I'd be able to do a course. How flexible are the courses and do they cater for people with children?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: Yes they do. Colleges of further education and adult centres try very hard to look after the slightly older student. There is usually a crèche for day time classes and the timing of classes is flexible. If you use the waytolearn website www.waytolearn.co.uk you will get all the information you need in one place.

Linda wants to know: "Working Monday to Saturday every week often leaves me quite tired in the evening, but despite this I have always wanted to learn a language. My worry though is that I will not be able to find time to do work outside of class and wanted to know if ‘homework' was a significant part of adult courses?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: For beginners languages, the teacher will suggest a bit of homework every week. But it is only a bit. It can often be done by listening to a tape recorder. So you might be able to listen to it in the car on the way to work. And it is unlikely to be longer than more than 30 mins a week. If in doubt liaise with the class teacher.

Nicole wants to know: "As a pop star you have travelled all around the world and must have seen exotic plants and animals, where in the world would you love to have a garden?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Kim: It would be a cross between Australia and Thailand! Although our climate here in the UK allows us to plant many exotic species such as Trachycarpus, and other palms. We are of course limited compared to the humid and tropical conditions of those countries.

Sue wants to know: "Are all courses academic, like learning a language or improving maths skills?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: No certainly not! You can do yoga, line dancing, belly dancing, any art classes, cookery and certainly gardening. And most courses will have a non vocational option. you can do computing for pleasure or simply to know what your children are up to. And the phone number is 0800 77 1234 and the waytolearn website as well as the college prospectus will give you a tremendous range of choice.

Oli wants to know: "As a retired person I find that I have a lot of spare time, but I certainly don't have a lot of spare cash. Do O.A.P.s get concessionary rates? "

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: Yes, there are concessionary rates for older people. Some courses are free and although rates vary according to the college of authority there are usually concessions in all areas and if you happen to live in area where they don't offer a concession I should complain!

Bob wants to know: "Do all courses end with a recognised qualification, e.g. a GCSE, NVQ or ‘A' level or are they just for the joy of learning? I like the social aspect I read about online but think I might be too old now to have to sit exams again!! "

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: Hi Bob... you have obviously just joined us. You can choose courses that lead to qualifications or you can just choose courses for leisure. There will be a great choice of both and even if a course is designed to lead to a qualification, you don't necessarily have to take it.

Nick wants to know: "In my youth I wasn't very interested in learning, and came out of school with only a few ‘o' levels. Now, despite my advancing years, I would love to go to university, and I wander if doing some evening classes might help. I understand that there are UK online centres - are they free? Any other advice?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: UK online are free and so are some college courses. The telephone number I mentioned previously will tell you what is available in our local area. Evening classes will certainly help you get to university and colleges usually offer special access courses for people without GCSE's and A levels. These are very successful at enabling people in your position to get back into the education system and to achieve there ambitions. Good Luck Nick!

Sally wants to know: "How much time do you get to spend on your own garden?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Kim: Most days I am in the garden between 10 minutes to all day (children permitting)

Olivia wants to know: "As a mother, wife and popstar did you find it hard to find time to learn as well, and did you ever think you wouldn't complete the course?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Kim: It was a challenge to complete the course from someone who previously had not had an altogether positive learning experience. Sometimes, it was a little stressful but now I am pleased that I lasted the course (with enormous support from my husband!) I was determined to stick it out an the benefits had been profound I would say and it changed my life! I am pleased to see that the waytolearn site has things like child care facilities as well as flexible learning hours, something as a mother I appreciate.

Paul wants to know: "Are there many night or weekend classes on offer?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: Yes there are! Most colleges operate at least four or often five nights a week. And most are now open on Saturdays and some on Sundays. You might not get the full choice at the weekend but of course an alternative is UK online where much of the studying can be done in your own time. You would be able to get advice Paul from the phone line or from your local college.

jack wants to know: "Do you have open days or anything where I could get a taster for a course to see whether I would like it?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: I'm glad you asked me that Jack! All good colleges will have Open Days and most will offer taster courses as well as a good advice service. you could also experience a course through UK online which would give you a good idea whether this one was for you. The important thing is to make a start!

Cath wants to know: "How much do the courses cost?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: How long is a piece of string? But most of them are very affordable. Often as little as £1.50 an hour for a leisure course. Sometimes a 10 week course for only £10 which might be 20 hours of learning. Courses leading to qualifications are usually more expensive, but there is a wide range of concessions and indeed many free courses for example introductory computing. It is well worth ringing or calling at your local college or using the waytolearn website to get some more local details.

Kris wants to know: "To qualify for the courses do I have to want to change my career or can I do a course just for fun?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: Yes you can Kris, it is your choice! Courses are available for those who to change or start a career that there is an enormous choice of leisure courses which might be just as much value and benefit. You don't have to qualify for most courses except for wanting to do it.

Will wants to know: "What did the other students think when they knew they would be learning with Kim Wilde? "

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Kim: I guess I never asked them. They didn't seem remotely interested in any case. We were all there for the same reason to enhance our knowledge of planting design that we are still all very close and often make contact. Infact, one of the students Judith Glover is currently illustrating my children's gardening book which will be available next spring.

Tony wants to know: "How do you think people can benefit from returning to adult learning?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: I am absolutely sure of it! Our education system in this country often fails many people and it's really important that we give as much opportunity to those who want to come back into learning as we can. That's for the benefit of individual people and it's also for the benefit of the country.

...Kim: Tony I can only talk from personal experience, for me going back into education held the key to my destiny!

Janice wants to know: "I'd really like to do a course to learn something new, the only thing is I haven't studied for so long that the thought of doing a course makes me feel quite nervous. Is there individual tuition or help available with the courses incase I struggle with it? "

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: You are not on your own Janice! Many people feel this same kind of nervousness and it is only to be expected that there will be individual help and real understanding of the brave step you are taking and you will get enormous benefit from it! There will be a range of services and the specialist staff will have experience of all of the difficulties that mature students will have. But mature students are almost always very good students who are determined to succeed. Good Luck to you!

Melissa wants to know: "Are you limited to the amount of vocational courses that you can do & do they hold past failures against you! "

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: Good question Melissa, the short answer is no you are not limited! But under a current government scheme, you can have free vocational tuition for your first level 2 qualification that is equivalent to GCSE. Any further courses you would need to pay for. But it is highly unlikely that any past failures would be of any interest to anyone.

John wants to know: "Can you do several courses are the same time?

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: Yes you can John! But it will obviously depend on how much time you have as well as on what is available. You can be almost a full time student if that suits you but still be paying part time fees. Your local college or the website will advise both on the work load and the fee level. Again it is very much up to you.

Gina wants to know: "We are told being mentally active keeps you young - my pensioner granny wants to learn French would she be penalised because of her age?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: Certainly not! When I was a college principal the oldest student I met was 93 and she was learning to cook. Don't know what she had done for the previous 93 years. Learning does keep you young and it keeps you fit and you should encourage your granny in any way you can!

Alice wants to know: "I am a young single mum of two toddlers and have moved to a new area - how can I find out what courses are available in my area & what help I can get to fund them/creche facilities?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Kim: Alice you should go to the website waytolearn.co.uk who will give you all the information you need. I think it is really important to keep up your interest even with two children who clearly take precedence. They will benefit and thank you for it in the years to come. Good Luck!

Nicola wants to know: "Which gardeners or garden designers do you most admire, and what advice would you give to a young aspiring gardener like me?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Kim: Probably Beth Chatto whose garden I've studied and admired. Also Christopher Lloyd and his head gardener Fergus Garrett. Perhaps go the website and take on a gardening course. I did and look what happened to me! You will certainly meet like minded people and it may help you decide where your future goes.

Sam wants to know: "What sort of qualification do you get from a leisure or recreational course?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: It all depends Sam, you can do a level 1 course which is designed for leisure but which gives you the option of a qualification. It wont be an A level or a GCSE but vocational qualifications are of just as much value. Also you might start a course purely for leisure and then decide that you would like to pursue it further. - and gain qualifications. As we have said to earlier callers the important thing is to make a start.

Nelly wants to know: "Are there limits on what I can do based on previous qualifications. I have only two ‘o' levels but want to do ‘a' levels and possibly go further. Would I be able to?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: Yes you can Nelly! A college of further education will be very pleased to advise you and the waytolearn website will also be of assistance. The UK online phone number is 0800 77 1234 and that also will give you good guidance locally. You should seek advice on a range of options which might include more GCSE's or possibly straight to an A Level or perhaps a professional qualification. There is enormous choice out there and I am sure you will find the thing for you.

Sandy wants to know: "I've always enjoyed cooking and thought I'd love to run a catering company of my own. Would there be some courses on offer that could help me?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Kim: I am sure that if belly dancing is on offer then cooking courses will surely be there somewhere. Go to the www.waytolearn.co.uk and have a look at courses in your locality. The very best of luck to you Sandy.

Katie wants to know: "Is is possible to do any of the courses by correspondence?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: Yes, there are a number of specialist providers of correspondence courses. Perhaps the best known is the National Extension College based in Cambridge. They often work with other providers so that you don't necessarily need to do it all on your own. But if that's the thing that suits you, then there is good choice available and we wish you well. But remember that local providers often make a distance learning option available too. It's worth looking at the website and talking to your local college.

Katy wants to know: "How many online centres are there and is there a free helpline?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: I understand it's something like 6000 across the UK and the number we have given out several times is 0800 77 1234. I'm sure you will find something local to you.

Alison wants to know: "What made you decide to get into gardening?"

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Kim: A desire to create my own garden was the initial motivation spurred on by a wish to make a personal Garden of Eden for our children. Whilst at college I realised that most other people there shared that same desire, now many of us are pursuing horticultural careers. It's amazing what a short course at a college can lead to... I would encourage anyone to get back into education. Why don't you give it a go?

Ben wants to know: "Is it true we can be expected to have several careers in our lifetimes?

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint said:

Colin: That it's the way it's going Ben! And it's the reason why we need to keep ourselves up to speed. The pace of change in employment as in everything else seems to get greater and knowledge is the best guarantee of both continued employment and perhaps of happiness.

Kim Wilde and Colin Flint

Kim: Many thanks to all who have contacted us today I sincerely hope we have inspired some of you to get back to the classroom and Good luck to everyone!