It’s been quite a while since I started this blog and have had no time to do any updates until now when I am on a recovery break from surgery (not gardening injury related!).
I am so glad I made this decision to switch to horticulture. It has been so fun learning more about nature, picking up so many useful skills and meeting so many new friendly people in the field.
I have also realised how lucky I am compared to some other apprentices, as I have had the opportunity to take part in an apprentice exchange programme, meaning I’ve been able to work at a couple of National Trust gardens and Kew Wakehurst, with other opportunities elsewhere to follow. Not many other apprentices on my course have these opportunities, so I have been very lucky to gain these extra experiences.
I have also been able to utilise my skills from my old career as a video editor and am editing videos for the RHS Rhododendron Camellia Magnolia Group when I can. It has been great knowing my old skills haven’t gone to waste and the work has also helped me learn more about these genera.
When I first started this apprenticeship, I barely knew anything about horticulture and wasn’t even sure what a rhododendron, camellia or magnolia looked like. Yet, now I think I could place a rhododendron into one of its sub-generas, and confidently point out any camellias or magnolias in a garden. Identifying a variety of any of these plants, however, is something only experts in this field are able to do, with there being so many varieties out there.
Being able to take this time to look back over this past 8 months has helped me to realised how much I’ve learnt and also how much happier I am now. It is so rewarding to be able to spend so much more time outdoors and feeling like I am making a difference in improving the look of a garden and doing so in a way that should help increase biodiversity.
I feel like I have so many more exciting opportunities to look forward to and am hopeful this apprenticeship will allow me to secure a job in one of the many beautiful gardens in my area. I’ll try not to leave the next update for another 8 months…
Green Path 
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