RHS offering chance to turn green fingers into a gardening career at Harlow Carr

The arrival of the Covid crisis last year saw countless people seek solace and respite in gardening, while others were forced to consider their career options as millions ended up on furlough or losing their jobs.

Now the Royal Horticultural Society is offering the chance for those with green fingers to move towards becoming professionals in its field. It is looking for 40 people to train at its gardens from 2021 – including taking on five people at Harlow Carr in Harrogate.

The paid learning opportunities in Yorkshire include three apprentice positions and two specialist horticultural placements.

Suzanne Moss, RHS Head of Education and Learning, says the roles may appeal to many different people.

“Perhaps you discovered the joys of gardening during lockdown and are interested in a fulfilling career with myriad opportunities to work outdoors and connect with nature,” she says.

“Or, you’re keen to move into a more meaningful role that can make a positive difference – by helping to combat climate change, support wildlife or improve people’s wellbeing, for example.

“If so, the RHS apprenticeship scheme is a great entry point into the wonderful world of professional horticulture.”

Those applying for the two-year apprenticeship scheme do not need any prior horticultural qualifications or experience and will take their first steps towards a professional career by working alongside expert garden teams to gain skills and knowledge.

The new starters, set to join in August, will get to try their hand at tasks ranging from maintaining formal borders to propagation and fruit and vegetable production, while studying for a Level 2 apprenticeship qualification on block release at college (equivalent to GCSE grades 9-4/A*-C).

Applications for the apprenticeship scheme are open until March 1.

The specialist placements are for one year, with applications open until February 1.

It is intended that the placements will enable horticulturists to hone their skills in a specialist field such as growing alpines, edibles or tropical plants under glass.

The ornamental horticulture industry is worth £24.2bn to the UK economy each year and the RHS believes demand for the skills it involves are only set to grow in the future, particularly for more specialist, technical and supervisory roles.

Harlow Carr has been under the stewardship of the RHS since 2001, when it merged with the Northern Horticultural Society and acquired the garden as part of the process.

The Northern Horticultural Society was founded in 1946 with the objective of ‘promoting and developing the science, art and practice of horticulture with special reference to the conditions pertaining to the North of England’.

It had leased 26 acres of land in 1950 on what was once part of the Forest of Knaresborough, an ancient Royal hunting ground.

According to the RHS, “springs of sulphur water were discovered in 1734 but development of the site as a spa did not take place for more than 100 years.

“In 1840, Henry Wright, the owner of the estate, cleaned out and protected one of the wells and four years later built a hotel and a bath house.”

Highlights of the gardens now include the lavish Main Borders, which run across the axis of the garden and involve prairie-style planting and mature specimen trees.

There is also the Queen Mother’s Lake, where in recent years moorhens have been nesting since a floating duck house was installed in 2013.

For more information or to apply, visit www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning.


Support The Yorkshire Post and become a subscriber today. Your subscription will help us to continue to bring quality news to the people of Yorkshire. In return, you’ll see fewer ads on site, get free access to our app and receive exclusive members-only offers. Click here to subscribe.