Staff at the Cannington campus were pleased to welcome learners from around the country for a week of learning. The Level 2 horticulture apprentices stayed onsite for the week to cover a variety of topics in their industry including soil science and cultivation, pruning, turf and industry understanding. There was a mixture of class room learning as well as the opportunity to carry out practicals using the College’s facilities of the commercially run golf course and the stunning Walled Gardens of Cannington.

Jayne Alcock (Team Leader) stated:

We are pleased to be working with Bourne Leisure to support the maintenance and development of their stunning resorts around the country. We’ve been working hard to teach their staff to become safe, competent and creative horticulturists with the knowledge, skills and behaviours that they need to succeed in the industry.

David Ballard, a Level 2 Horticulture Apprentice from Studley Castle said:

I enjoyed spending time with the other employees and learning from each other, we’ve become one great team. Everything that I have learned is relevant and useful to my job role.

The College will be inviting learners back for another residential week of learning in February to cover diverse units such as environment protection, plant health and plant growth.

Jack Kimberly, a Level 2 Horticulture Apprentice from Cala Gran told us:

There’s a wide variety of things to learn about in the Horticulture industry, it’s been interesting. The range of experience and ages was diverse among the group, it shows that apprenticeships are a good option for any age and that it’s always possible to learn something new.