News

Applications are open!

1 March, 2024

Applications for the HBGTP are now open and for anyone considering applying, here’s everything you need to know…. There are 17 trainee placements available this year based in 14 prestigious UK gardens, with some gardens…

Read more…

Placement Gardens Announced

1 February, 2024

We were delighted to receive a considerable number of applications from gardens around the UK, expressing their interest in hosting a HBGTP trainee this year. After a much-deliberated recruitment process, we are pleased to announce…

Read more…

What’s coming up in 2024?

16 January, 2024

We are kicking off the new year with the announcement of our new 2024-25 placement gardens in February. We are very excited about this as we have some new gardens joining the programme this year…

Read more…

Autumn update

2 November, 2023

In September we welcomed our 2023-24 cohort of trainees onto the programme. While the trainees are busy settling into their placement gardens, we have started the process of recruiting gardens for 2024-25. If you are…

Read more…

Trainee Seminar 2023

31 October, 2023

This year’s HBGTP Trainee Seminar was held in West Sussex, in partnership with the Professional Gardeners Guild (PGG). Over 40 trainees and apprentices attended, enjoying 4 action packed days visiting gardens, listening to talks and…

Read more…

HBGTP Graduation 2023

12 September, 2023

We are very pleased to announce that a further cohort of trainees have graduated from the Historic & Botanic Garden Training Programme (HBGTP). Their success was celebrated on the 30th of August at Wrest Park,…

Read more…

The HBGTP Bursary

22 August, 2023

Being a trainee on the Historic & Botanic Garden Training Programme (HBGTP) offers a number of benefits during a 12-month placement. Trainees receive first-class training from professional teams in a variety of beautiful British gardens,…

Read more…

HBGTP Supervisor and Mentor Seminar 2023

HBGTP Supervisor and Mentor Seminar 2023

3 August, 2023

We are pleased to report the success of our annual Supervisor and Mentor seminar. Supervisors and mentors are crucial to the trainee experience, providing the skills and support to oversee the traineeship in the placement…

Read more…

HBGTP Study Tour 2023

18 July, 2023

This years HBGTP Study Tour was located around the Cheshire area. Our current trainees spent the weekend visiting a number of beautiful gardens, meeting Head Gardeners and other professionals in the industry. The study tour…

Read more…

Breakfast at Chelsea

19 June, 2023

Every year the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) hosts a Young Peoples’ Breakfast at the Chelsea Flower Show. This event gives young people the opportunity to network with each other and meet leading individuals in the…

Read more…

The National Garden Scheme pledge to support the HBGTP

26 January, 2023

We are excited to announce that the National Garden Scheme have made a generous pledge of £125,000 to support the Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme. The National Garden Scheme has donated over £67 million to…

Read more…

From HBGTP trainee to Aberglasney’s Student Bursary winner

22 November, 2022

Former HBGTP trainee, Jacky Hall, has recently won the Aberglasney’s 2022 Student Bursary. Jacky spent her 12-month HBGTP placement at Ness Botanic Gardens before graduating in August 2022. She is now working at Aberglasney Gardens…

Read more…

Former HBGTP trainee becomes National Trust’s first ever scholar

31 October, 2022

One of our recent graduating HBGTP trainees, Claire Margetts, has recently become the National Trust’s first ever horticultural scholar. Claire spent her HBGTP placement at Aberglasney Gardens before graduating in August 2022. Claire has now…

Read more…

Trainee Seminar 2022

31 October, 2022

This year’s Trainee Seminar was held in West Sussex where our new HBGTP trainees spent four jam packed days visiting gardens, attending seminars and taking part in group activities. The seminar was attended with fellow…

Read more…

HBGTP Trainees 2022

As one placement year ends, another begins

27 September, 2022

We would like to congratulate our 2021-22 trainees who have recently completed their traineeships with us. They are: Adam Reeve (Wrest Park) Bronte Allsop-Vale (Aldourie Castle) Claire Margetts (Aberglasney) Daniel Liston (Wrest Park) Ellis Gant…

Read more…

HBGTP Trainees at Waddesdon Garden

South Oxfordshire Study Tour

14 July, 2022

We recently took our 14 current HBGTP trainess on a weekend tour of spectacular gardens around South Oxfordshire. The study tour was kindly funded by The Royal Horticulture Society. The gardens visited included: Le Manoir…

Read more…

Harry Watkins gives talk to HBGTP trainees

8 February, 2022

One of the benefits of being an HBGTP trainee is the opportunity to hear from leading members of the Horticultural world on a regular basis. Our trainees recently enjoyed an online presentation from Harry Watkins,…

Read more…

Merry Christmas from the HBG Training Programme!

17 December, 2021

Festive best wishes to all. Elinor and Anna will be on leave for Christmas from Friday 17th December until Tuesday 4th January. Here’s a snowy picture of Wrest Park in the meantime!    

Joint Trainee Seminar held with PGG

12 November, 2021

Our new HBGTP trainees recently spent a weekend visiting gardens in Sussex and attending lectures and workshops with fellow trainees from the MacRobert Trust and the PGG. Activities included a public speaking masterclass, a quiz,…

Read more…

Congratulations to our completing trainees!

31 August, 2021

We would like to congratulate our HBGTP trainees who have now completed their traineeships with us. They are: Stewart Turtill (Audley End) Jennifer Warner (Audley End) Lewis Belcher (Birmingham Botanics) Emily Hall (Osborne) Nadya Pearson…

Read more…

Latest Posts

My Thoughts...

I now have a challenging, rewarding healthy career and an exciting future. I'm certain that without the leg up that the HBGBS gave me this would not be the case, they definitely facilitated my path into Horticulture.

Dene Wood