Learning new skills

Learning new skills

By Laurence Gale MSc

A group of 16-19 year olds from Wolverhampton have been busy learning new groundsmanship skills at various locations in the area, under the watchful eye of Danny Godfrey, chief training officer for Wolverhampton College. Wolverhampton College through the Cedars Horticulture Centre are promoting a number of courses for students in horticulture sport ground management and floristry.

The centre boasts two and a quarter acres of land including mature landscaped beds and borders, a range of mature and semi-mature trees, a gazebo, vegetable allotments, 100ft glasshouse, alpine house and propagation house. There are also a number of garden design plots, constructed by students, with modern water features, pebbled areas and a conservation garden. It also houses a fully operational machinery maintenance workshop and a range of modern horticultural machinery.

The range of courses has been developed to ensure that there is something for everyone who wants to study or become involved in horticulture. The foundation certificate in horticulture is a full-time course and is primarily aimed at school leavers, but is open to enthusiasts of all ages. It gives a broad overview of horticulture as a career and no experience is necessary.

At the end of the course the students should come out with a level one foundation certificate of horticulture , City and Guilds 9383 statutory skills certificate and a certificate in First Aid.

Many of the lads on the course are enjoying the opportunity of being able to work in an outside environment with many aiming to secure jobs in the future within the horticulture and sports turf industry.

See Link for details of Wolverhampton College / Cedars Horticultural Centre