This week, our Future Gardeners team launched a new version of the course started at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park! This is a pilot project and is, as always, free but only open to people local to the park. It is designed to enable people to gain the core skills they need to go on to access entry level jobs in the horticulture industry. Educational qualifications are not needed, and neither is previous experience or specialist education in the horticulture sector.

A partnership for success

The course has been made possible through a partnership with the (LLDC) London Legacy Development Corporation, The Skills Centre and idverde. Bankside Open Space Trust will deliver the classroom-based training and coordinate hands-on experience.

Future Gardeners - a foundation for horticultural career

Over the next eight weeks’ the students will complete a weeks’ construction skills training with The Skills Centre and two weeks’ work experience with idverde. There will be visits to Victoria Park, West Ham Park, The Sky Garden, The Tree Musketeers plus talks from idverde apprentices and Fresh Horticultural Careers. Garden design company, Garden on a Roll, will be helping them plant up planters in the community.

At the end of the course, the budding horticulturists will receive a City & Guilds qualification as well as pre-apprenticeship training. They will also be able to form links with key employers in the sector, including some at London’s finest parks and gardens, which will be useful if they are looking to continue their career in horticulture.

Turning a passion into a new start

Antoinette, aged 47 is from Newham and is taking part in the course: “'My name is Antoinette, I have lived in Newham all my life. I have 5 children and I live in Plaistow. I heard about this course through a friend, and I've always been an avid gardener. I'm always helping my mum in her allotment! I'm looking forward to learning new horticulture skills and visiting some amazing parks and sites. I can't wait to spend a few weeks working on the green spaces in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park – it’s a real honour!”

We’d like to thank Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Parks for London, Our Parklife, Worshipful Company of Gardeners, Royal Parks Guild and London Stadium for supporting this new course.

Our Future Gardeners course based in London’s SE1 continues - we are running round 17 now! If you are interested click here.