Sponsored Horticultural Training
The Friends currently work with the WFGA (Working for Gardeners Association), who run WRAGS (Work and Retrain as a Gardener Scheme), to sponsor a trainee in the Garden. Full details of the scheme can be found on their website.
Our current WRAGS trainee is Beth Inch. One of our former trainees is Adrienne Brocklebank.
Beth Inch
Beth began her training with WRAGS at the Cruickshank in April 2022. Beth’s keen interest in gardening was inspired by her father, whom she credits for her love of horticulture.
When asked what part of the garden she enjoyed most, Beth said she couldn’t choose, but especially loved working in the plant nursery. Beth’s time at CBG has been fruitful thus far, and she hopes to get a job in the horticultural sector after her training is complete.
Adrienne Brocklebank
Adrienne began working with WRAGS in the autumn of 2019, after living abroad for 10 years. Despite her training being interrupted by the COVID pandemic, Adrienne gained important experience working alongside the garden’s staff.
Reflecting on her time at CBG, Adrienne said, ‘The WRAGS programme in CBG equipped me with a broad range of skills, demonstrated that I was genuinely interested in working with plants and provided me with useful references. It gave me the backing I needed, as well as the confidence, to put myself forward for work in the horticultural sector. Shortly after finishing my training in CBG I was offered a job in a local garden centre and nursery.’