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SAC Professional Gardening Diploma – First Graduates Make the Grade
William Sinclair (on the right) next to the owner of Glenarn Gardens, Mike Thornley. (opens in new window)
SAC’s Diploma in Professional Gardening has given its first graduates a solid foundation for the future. Offering opportunities for students who already had a keen interest in Horticulture the course was begun two years ago. During that time students have been in full-time work with experienced horticulturists, and completed an HNC in Horticulture and a range of industry related training courses.
Peter MacDonald, the course tutor and main creator of the course, looks back on the last two years with some satisfaction.
“I believe that with the knowledge gained, the practical skills learnt and the confidence students have developed during their time on the course the students should go on to have very successful careers in horticulture”, he said.
One of the strengths of the course is the diversity of opportunities the students’ work placements provide.
Former bricklayer William Cunningham, from Kilmarnock had his work placement with North Ayrshire Council. He was involved in the design and planting of bedding plant schemes and a community garden. He also gained experience in arboriculture and tree assessments and dealing with the public, especially after unseasonal storms. He led the team designing the North Ayrshire Council display at this year’s Ayr Flower Show.
In contrast to this, William Sinclair, from Kilwinning, who was in the printing trade, worked in two gardens in Argyll. His time was split between Geilston Garden, a National Trust for Scotland property noted for its fruit and vegetable gardens and its herbaceous border, and Glenarn, a private woodland garden, famous for its collection of rhododendrons. At Geilston William helped replant the herbaceous border and spent time in the kitchen garden growing a wide range of vegetables and establishing an asparagus bed. At Glenarn he helped renovate a rockery and replant areas of rhododendrons which had become overgrown..
The students received excellent employers’ reports as well as producing high quality course work at college over the two years.