The idea behind “Roots into Horticulture” came about from a RHS teacher discussing with her students about what they would do now they had finished their course. They didn’t really know what was out there. The teacher being a person with contacts, she agreed to get some people to talk to them and Roots into horticulture, along with her trusted garden design friend, was born. This year’s was the fourth incarnation with a more informal format to allow for more Q & A sessions.
The talks this year were from flower growers, interior plants, garden designer and planting designers, kitchen gardener and garden photographer plus talks from education pathways.
Often the root into horticulture is via career changers. Such as Sam Taylor from insurance to working in the kitchen garden at Michelin starred restaurant, from marketing to garden design and planting designs and working with design agencies, Alexa-Ryan Mills. Only one talk was from a college landscaper who during covid switched to garden design and did an employee buy out of his original business, Cameron Trend.
Blooming Green which is a cut flower garden, where you can pick your own and they also do floristry as well as events on site. Jen and Bek are cousins who had the benefit of a grandfather with a farm who let them have a redundant apple orchard for their cut flower garden project. It has been a success and they even featured on a channel four TV “My Dream Farm” show. I am not sure it could be repeated easily but as an alternative crop they have made it successful as pick your own PYO, events such as pick your own and pizza plus running a floristry business, alongside workshops too. Bek is the grower and Jen is the florist and they have been running their business since 2007.
Bennet Smith provided an illuminating talk on garden photography with some amazing images. Bennet spoke of the need to track four weather apps and when they all align the chances of getting the right conditions for garden photos are more likely. The right conditions he referred to as “the golden hour” and is about an hour after sunrise. May and September seem to be his favourite time of year to taking photographs. He suggested when budgeting for gardens that you allow between £500 and £800 for the photos. They benefit of professional photos are many but specifically it shows the garden designs to the best effect and there by promoting your design skills.
Educational pathways were provided by WRAG (Work and retrain as a Gardener) and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture.
WRAG, I had never heard of which is such a shame as it looks amazing. The WRAG scheme was launched in 1993 to provide paid, part-time, practical horticultural training. The original organisation was WFAG (Women’s Farm and Garden Association). It costs £600 to join the scheme and the association will find you a placement where the placement pays the WRAG gardener a national living wage over 12 months. The trainee’s are expected to study also but the emphasis is on finding a practical placement. Placements are limited but still worth joining the association for the other activities they offer.
The Chartered Institute of Horticulture was about continued learning to achieving chartered status which will enhance the credibility of any gardeners.
The most inspiring talk was from Kali Hamerton-Stove a founder of The Glasshouse social enterprise about training women prisoners on day release in horticulture focusing on indoor plants. It grows, installs and maintains interior landscapes in the city as well as selling plants and running a shop. The purpose is the reintegration of prisoners into society by giving training skills and support through their return to society. Please check out their website theglasshouse.co.uk.
I left the day buzzing with all this inspiration and renewed vigour to pursue my own purpose of being a virtual assistant/ business consultant for the landscape industry.
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