Two young gardeners have secured the ‘chance of a lifetime’ to work on the showpiece Aberglasney Gardens in the Tywi Valley. The pair have been chosen for a prestigious 18-month placement at the stunning gardens, one of the finest heritage horticultural sites in Wales.
The opportunity for special horticultural traineeships comes through the Heritage Horticulture Skills Scheme (HHSS).
“Aberglasney is one of only six sites in Wales to be chosen to host horticultural traineeships, so we are very proud to have the young gardeners with us,” said head gardener Joseph Atkin.
The two trainees are Alexander Hoyle, aged 18, who arrives at Aberglasney from the renowned Pershore College in Warwickshire, and Rhys Griffiths, 28, from Ammanford. Both had to beat off strong competition to secure the places at Aberglasney.
Alexander said: “I was delighted to learn I’d been accepted for a traineeship as Aberglasney’s reputation as a centre of excellence for gardening spreads far and wide.”
Rhys said: “Being a Carmarthenshire boy, I was well aware of the importance of Aberglasney, so it is a great privilege to get a traineeship at such a wonderful site.” Head gardener Mr Atkin said: “”It really is a chance in a lifetime for a young gardeners – the chance to live and work here in the glorious surroundings of Aberglasney.”
The money for the traineeships has been accessed through the Heritage Lottery Fund under the Skills for the Future programme to provide traineeships in practical, specialised, heritage horticultural period techniques.
The aim is to increase the number of highly skilled gardeners available to the heritage horticultural sector in Wales (and the UK).
Mr Atkin added: “The idea is an excellent one and is ideal for someone looking to further their horticultural studies and experiences.
“Long-term, the project will also help us build the skills base here in Wales and we will end up with a bigger pool of highly-skilled gardeners who can help the heritage horticultural sector in Wales.”
Mr Atkin said the trainees at Aberglasney would be provided with quality, practical, work-based training in new specialised accredited modules, with an emphasis on standards of practical excellence.
HSS is run by a group of associated garden sites: Aberglasney, Bodnant, Cardiff City Council, Dyffryn Gardens, National Botanic Garden of Wales, Newport City Council and St Fagans: National History Museum. The application and placement process for the trainees was administered by Lantra (the Government’s land-based and environmental skills body).
