Category Archives: Uncategorized
Oxford trainees visit Wales
Our two HBGTP trainees from Oxford Botanic Garden, Robert Taite and Emma McFarline, recently paid a visit to the National Botanic Garden of Wales. They were hosted by apprentices Jen Keyte and Ben Wilde, who…
Merry Christmas to all!
We would like to send a Christmas message to all of our trainees and partners. Thanks for all of your hard work this year! Here is a festive photo of Rowallane, Northern Ireland, taken by…
Joint Trainee Seminar
At the end of October, our 17 new HBGTP trainees travelled to Pullborough in Sussex. They were joined by trainees from the Professional Gardeners Guild scheme and the MacRobert Trust. The trainees spent a very…
Graduation Ceremony at Wrest Park
August 29th 2018 saw both Stream 1 and Stream 2 HBGTP trainees graduate in beautiful sunshine at Wrest Park. This is our third graduation ceremony, with 14 out of 22 trainees attending with friends and…
Welcome to our new HBGTP Trainees!
We are very excited to welcome 17 new trainees onto the Historic and Botanic Garden Trainee Stream 1 Programme. The trainees who were successful out of a very high number of applicants are: Aberglasney: Charlotte…
Sophie’s Trip
Last year Sophie was fortunate enough to attend the inspirational ‘Urban Growth’ conference in Sweden hosted by Julia Andersson and Peter Korn. Peter gave a talk on his method of gardening which involves planting into…
Round 4 trainees visit Midlands gardens
This past weekend saw our 1st year Stream 2 trainees exploring historic gardens in Warwickshire and Worcestershire as part of their Tudors Heritage Garden Module. The group, guided by expert guide John Watkins (Head of…
Julie’s Magnolias
Recently, one of our trainees, Julie Fairhurst, has taken on the task of updating the mapping and recording of the National Collection of Magnolia at Bodnant Gardens in North West Wales. Equipped with a…
Stream 2 trainees complete 2 week Study Block
Our 1st and 2nd year Stream 2 trainees recently spent a fortnight at Wrest Park, studying for their RHS Level 3 Diplomas under the direction of tutors from Capel Manor College. The trainees sat their…
Previous HBGTP Trainee appointed as Head Gardener at Perennial’s York Gate
Congratulations to Ben Preston, who has recently started work as Head Gardener at Perennial’s York Gate, Leeds. Ben completed a HBGTP placement at Audley End in 2014. Since then, he has worked as Head Gardener…
Round 3 Trainees visit Georgian Gardens on Heritage Module trip
Our 2nd year Stream 2 trainees recently spent a weekend based in Oxford, visiting a variety of landscape gardens to learn more about this era of garden design. The weekend was led by Dr Michael…
2nd year Trainee Dave Bull travels to USA
With financial assistance from the RHS bursary scheme and the Great Dixter Christopher Lloyd bursary, David was able to travel to and spend two weeks working at the famous Longwood Gardens in Philadelphia. An excellently…
Record numbers graduate from HBGTP Scheme
Thursday the 24th of August saw 25 HBGTP trainees graduate in beautiful sunshine at English Heritage’s Wrest Park, Bedfordshire. Trainees graduating come from a range of backgrounds. For some, joining the scheme marked the first…
Trentham trainee Alex visits Audley End
One of our current trainees at Trentham, Alex Clarke, enjoyed an exchange visit to Audley End recently. Pictured are Audley End trainees Fred Stratford and Anna Cartwright with Trentham trainee Alex (front). The trainees got…
Sophie Cook visits Romania on the AGS Study Tour
Sophie says: ”I was fortunate enough to receive funding from the RHS to join a study tour run by the Alpine Garden Society (AGS) to view alpine species in Romania this summer. Over a period…
Our new HBGTP Training Support Officer
We are delighted to announce that we have appointed a new Training Support Officer for the HBGTP. Joanne Illsley begins work this week (part-time: Monday, Thursday and Friday). Jo’s role involves visiting the trainees at…
New HBGTP Manager appointed
We are pleased to announce that the HBGTP has recruited a new Manager! Elinor Davies will be a familiar face to many of you as she has been with the HBGTP for nearly 2 years…
Dave Bull’s week at Great Dixter
Dave Bull, one of our Stream 2 trainees based at Wrest Park, recently spent a week in the beautiful gardens at Great Dixter. Dave’s visit during the week of 24th April was funded by the…
Farewell to our Scheme Manager!
HBGTP Scheme Manager Fiona Dennis is moving on. Having taken the scheme from its beginnings in 2006, she has seen the programme complete its 10th year and deliver its 200th trainee. Fiona is going back…
London Gardens Network Seminar
HBGTP trainees recently attended the LGN Seminar held at Kew, which focused on the challenges facing our gardens today, including how biosecurity can help us. Great to see our trainees learning and networking with others…
