Horticultural Education- is it needed?

[Gardening_Girl]

hello everyone,
I've been thinking about this for a couple of weeks now and just wondered what the views were on studying horticulture? I understand that a level 2 NVQ ( GCSE equivalent) is necessary for basic training and standardization of those wanting to work in horticulture but are degrees needed unless you are wanting to work in a specialisation? or will it just (from a employment perspective) segregate you from the hands on manual work and into paper pushing management?

thoughts??

[Compo72]

I studied agriculture to HND level years ago
Before attending college I did 2 years practical farm experience that certainly helped me .

In my opinion . You need quality experience where you actually learn something . Rather than just a general labourer .

It depends what you out of working in horticulture. .
To what education level you want to be .
If you go for higher degree level education . Make sure your course has year out or work placements .
It is After-all a practical job working in or on the land


Whether it's agriculture or horticulture . Both industries need new blood .

as one old boy told me .
You might not become a millionaire in this game .
You will get far more job satisfaction which is priceless


Good luck in your studies



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[andy_j]

I think it depends on what you want to do in the horticultural field. Personally, i believe the more qualifications you get, the better chance of a better job. However, if you really want to go place...maybe become a head gardener etc, you've got to become a fanatic and no amount of sitting in class rooms can help you with that....it's got to come from you.

When i was a young 16 year old with Brighton parks some 32 years ago, i did a 4 year city and guilds course in decorative horticulture along with all the other trainees. When it got to lunch time, all the lads would be down the pub or driving past the nudist beach etc etc....i spent lunch times walking around the palm house or the other greenhouses in the nursery or around the shrub dept learning every plant name i could. When i learnt the plant names, i learnt the family names etc etc.

These days, i still do the same...i go round garden centres and nurseries and just note down plants of interest. I think nothing of driving up to Wisley to spend an hour in the herbaceous border...then come home again.

Now, as garden manager to the largest municiple rock garden in the UK, i take youngsters on work placements whilst they're at college. One girl is now in her second year at Wisley studying for a diploma after being with me for a year and another lad has just been given a years apprentiseship at Glyndebourne....so we must be doing something right.

Good luck with whatever you choose and remember to be a fanatic !!!!

Andy

[chris]

It's a shame horticulture doesn't come with a reasonable salary.

I always keep an eye out - and saw a head gardener job in cov I think, needed a min of 4 years experience, RHS level 2 (min), responsible for a team of 3 gardeners - for £25k

I've no idea what the team would be on? 17/18?

If the salaries were competitive, the market would be even more so,'attracting more people into the field, opening up their eyes to the 'real world' problems of agriculture ( IMO, both go hand in hand) - when you learn about horticulture you do so about your environment too.. It may be enough to stop driving down prices & the creation of super / intensive farming. Maybe... Maybe not. It'd certainly help.


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[Gardening_Girl]

i have a Bsc (Hons) in Applied horticulture (level 6) and have studied horticulture since leaving school (im 21 now) and I just seem to be finding horticulture as more of a hobby. I would love to have a full time job just doing maintenance i.e national trust, RHS or any other large gardens and I have 6 years experience (using all my free time volunteering whilst studying). Having left uni in July I find it disheartening that some companies wont look at me twice due to the fact that they are looking for apprentices. I don't care about wages i'd take 12K if it meant I could be out in the open 5 days a week. unfortunately it is becoming apparent that I need to take a job I hate to pay the bills......suppose my location doesn't help but I cant move as my partner is disabled and would struggle to get another job and he cannot drive :-/ apologises for the rant!

christy

[andy_j]

At 21 Christy, you're still very young (not wanting to be patronising). There must be a few jobs in horticulture around ? What about the local parks dept or any nurseries around...do you look in the Horticulture week mag....something will eventually turn up.

What about setting up your own business or trying interior or exterior landscaping. Or you could go back to college to study garden design.

Sometimes you do have to think a little bit outside the box...maybe write off to companies (what about golf courses etc) and ask if they'll put you on file if they have no vacancies.

Keep trying, im sure you'll get your dream job in the end and hope to see you presenting Gardeners World in the near future !!!!!

[redser]

I believe Monty Don has no formal training.

[roitelet]

Neither has Carol Klein, she was an Art teacher with a plant stall in Barnstaple Pannier Market. She just LOVES growing and gardening.