CARMARTHENSHIRE attraction Aberglasney has welcomed two new students to the gardening team as part of the Student Bursary Scheme.

Hannah Finnemore and Jason Paine have recently started the 12-month, funded, training opportunity at Aberglasney Gardens in Carmarthenshire.

Hannah applied for the traineeship at Aberglasney as she felt it really suited her style of learning and work ethic. She particularly wanted to work at Aberglasney because she feels the friendly atmosphere really shines through everyone who visits. Hannah is originally from Norfolk and has always had an instinctive drive to explore nature. Before joining the team at Aberglasney she did the RHS course with Coleg Sir Gar which meant she was already familiar with the gardens.

“When I started at Aberglasney and looked closely, I could see how the planting choices were horticulturally interesting to me and diverse, as well as modern in choice, whilst remaining sympathetic to the historic features and surroundings,” said Hannah.

“I love that everyone is enthusiastic to improve the gardens even more and the project assignments are an interesting challenge for me. I hope to continue working in a garden like this and to develop my own garden design style.”

Aberglasney’s Garden’s Director, Helen Scutt said: “Our new students have just fitted right in with the gardening team already. Since our gardens are ever evolving, we are able to provide students with unique and valuable opportunities to participate in significant landscape projects. I’m sure this year’s students will enjoy playing a part in making Aberglasney’s gardens special for our visitors to enjoy.”

Jason Paine is from Swansea. It was the pandemic that made him assess his future career path and gave him the opportunity to evaluate whether he could make a living out of gardening. He was working in a café at a local country park when the pandemic struck. Owing to social distancing, he was asked if he would like to work outdoors and carry out some maintenance, he agreed and from then he hasn’t looked back!

After completing the RHS practical horticulture course at Coleg Sir Gar, Jason secured a place as an apprentice gardener at Swansea botanical gardens and then a role as a gardener with the National Trust at Newton House in Dinefwr. He also gained his level 2 qualifications in theory and practical horticulture before applying for the bursary scheme at Aberglasney.

Jason said: “I wanted to work at Aberglasney as it is one of the places that has, in a strange sort of way, grown with me. I remember visiting as a young boy with my parents and walking through the yew archway and enjoying tea and scones with jam by the pool garden.

“Years later as I continue to learn the craft of horticulture at Aberglasney I constantly see it in new ways and consider myself very lucky to learn from experienced gardeners and head gardeners and especially lucky to be mentored by head gardeners who trained at Kew and Wisley.”

The Bursary at Aberglasney is a 12-month funded training opportunity to work and learn about the historic and diverse gardens. Students gain hands-on experience with the professional gardening team and will be trained in all common UK garden tasks as well as more specialist subjects including specialist bulb planting and a variety of propagation methods.

Full details are on the website: www.aberglasney.org .