The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has appointed one of the youngest gardeners to take charge of a heritage garden in Scotland, if not the UK, with the announcement of bursaries available for successful applicants to their courses, with a closing date of 30 April for courses beginning in September 2014.
The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) run the School of Heritage Gardening, the only venue in Scotland to offer training specific to the heritage sector from which Tim Keyworth, head gardener at Leith Hall in Aberdeenshire graduated.
The National Trust for Scotland writes:
Tim from Leicester took up his place at the National Trust for Scotland’s School of Heritage Gardening in 2008. The school offers one and two-year full-time courses at our main training centre – Threave Gardens in Dumfries and Galloway, and at many of our heritage gardens around Scotland.
Tim explains why this was the right choice for him: ‘The school provided the opportunity for me to experience real hands on practical horticulture. I was basically learning on the job and working as a gardener at the same time.
‘A special emphasis was placed on learning and building plant knowledge through weekly plant identification which was a big draw for me as I have always fancied myself as a ‘plantsman’.
‘I had already been to college for two years and earned the National Diploma in Horticulture qualification but most of the teaching was done in classrooms. Threave offered me the chance to put this learning in to practice while building up experience in an amenity garden open to the public.’
And this is one of the school’s biggest assets, as well as being the ONLY place in Scotland to offer training specific to the heritage sector, its hands-on emphasis gives gardeners much needed practical experience.
It’s this practical experience which makes gardeners coming from the school just so employable, and has helped Tim move quickly up to the role of head gardener at a heritage property – his dream job.
Tim continues: ‘I have always had an interest in history. That, coupled with the fact that the only thing I ever really wanted to be was a head gardener, meant that I was only going to go in to heritage gardening….’
Employers such as the National Trust for Scotland, look to employ gardeners with a sound horticultural training – both practical and academic, but whilst colleges offer excellent classroom training in the important scientific and artistic aspects of horticulture which underpin good practice – it has become more difficult in recent years to find students who have gained sufficient hands-on experience and understanding of the skilled practical aspects of heritage gardening. Many of the traditional and modern skills can only be taught in any depth on a full time practical course. The School of Heritage Gardening offers practical gardening skills to equip the future custodians of our heritage gardens.
Applicants to our courses can apply for a bursary and free accommodation to support them in their studies. For the second year running the National Trust for Scotland is offering its course in conjunction with the RBGE to provide a Diploma in Heritage Horticulture which combines the HND in plantsmanship with 2 years practical training at locations around Scotland.
Applications should be submitted by 30 April for courses beginning in September 2014.
For full details of the practical studentships, bursaries available and accommodation, please contact: School of Heritage Gardening Coordinator
The National Trust for Scotland, Hermiston Quay, 5 Cultins Road, Edinburgh, EH11 4DF Email: shg@nts.org.uk
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