JobsAndCareersWithSarahWillingham2016 - 194

GREEN
FINGERS

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK WITH PLANTS AND FLOWERS?
YOU COULD SOW THE SEEDS OF A BLOSSOMING CAREER...

Work in gardening
Gardening is one of the UK's favourite
hobbies, but it's a serious employer too.
It covers growing and cultivating plants,
flowers, lawns, trees and shrubs and
tending them in parks, gardens and
1 9 4 /// J O B S & C A R E E R S

other green spaces. Councils and
such organisations as the National
Trust often employ gardening staff. As
well as knowing how to care for different
plants and flowers, you'll need to be
reasonably fit, comfortable operating
specialist machinery and willing to
be outdoors in all weathers.

More information
See the Royal Horticultural Society
website: www.rhs.org.uk.

Work in landscape design
As a landscape garden designer, you'll
use your creativity to turn clients'
dream gardens into reality. The role
will involve collaborating with
landscape architects to discuss the look
of the garden, then coming up with
plans, planting the seeds and installing
features including water fountains
and rockeries. You'll need solid plant

Garden centres
are all about
helping people
create their perfect
oasis at home

and horticultural knowledge, good
client communication skills and the
ability to persuade others your vision
will not only work in their space but also
be easy to maintain for years to come.

More information
See the Society of Landscape Designers
website: www.sgd.org.uk.

Work in a garden centre
Whether you're giving advice on the
best plant for their conservatory, or
tending to a display of seasonal plants,
working in a garden centre is all about
helping people create their perfect
oasis at home. Garden centres are
more popular than ever, with the
Horticultural Trades Association
confirming 'UK consumers spend
around £5 billion a year on plants and
products for their gardens - more than
we spend on chocolate.'
From hands-on horticulture to senior
management roles, and everything in
between, there are plenty of career paths
to follow - including in non-plant-based
jobs such as working in the restaurants
and shops attached to a garden centre.

More information
See the Horticultural Trades Association
website: www.the-hta.org.uk.

Words: Olivia Holcombe. Images: Shutterstock.

D

o you love all things
green and leafy?
When it comes to a
sector to work in, it's
easy to see the appeal
of being surrounded
all day by beautiful plants and flowers.
Having a solid working knowledge of
horticultural practices and plants is
definitely useful, but don't worry if you
don't feel you have 'green fingers'. There
are still hands-off roles in this area that
don't involve actually growing things.
According to the Chartered Institute
of Horticulture, 'the total value of output
for the horticulture industry in the UK is
estimated at £9 billion per annum - and
it provides regular employment for more
than 37,000 people in the UK.'
Horticulture is a diverse and
important industry, covering roles such
as gardener, landscaper, garden centre
manager, designer, commercial grower
and horticultural manager. Here we take
a closer look at three possible areas
you could blossom in...
http://www.sgd.org.uk http://www.rhs.org.uk http://www.the-hta.org.uk
JobsAndCareersWithSarahWillingham2016

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