'Job chance of a lifetime' at Aberglasney


The clock is ticking on the ‘chance of a lifetime’ to secure a special horticultural traineeship at the showpiece Aberglasney House and Gardens in the Tywi Valley.
Up for grabs is an 18-month placement at the stunning gardens, one of the finest heritage horticultural sites in the country.
“It really is a chance in a lifetime for a young gardeners; the chance to live and work here in the glorious surroundings of Aberglasney,” said head gardener Joseph Atkin.
“But anyone interested will have to get their skates on as the deadline for applications is next Monday (August 15).
“The timescale is very tight as it is a chance for us to use grant money provided through the Heritage Horticulture Skills Scheme (HHSS). We’ve had applications from all over the country, but we are putting the message out there once again as we don’t want people who may have been away on holiday recently to miss the opportunity of applying.”
The money for the traineeship has been accessed through the Heritage Lottery Fund under the Skills for the Future programme to provide traineeships in practical, specialised, heritage horticultural period techniques.
The aim is to increase the number of highly skilled gardeners available to the heritage horticultural sector in Wales (and the UK).

Mr Atkin, pictured above, said: “Aberglasney is one of only six locations in Wales chosen to have one of the traineeships.
“The idea is an excellent one and is ideal for someone looking to further their horticultural studies and experiences.
“Long-term, the project will also help us build the skills base here in Wales and we will end up with a bigger pool of highly-skilled gardeners who can help the heritage horticultural sector in Wales.”
Mr Atkin said the successful trainee at Aberglasney would be provided with quality, practical, work-based training in new specialised accredited modules, with an emphasis on standards of practical excellence.
The placement is for 18 months.
Applicants must:
• Be 18 or over (because of Heritage Lottery Fund rules)
• Have a RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Practical level 1 qualification or equivalent
• Not have undertaken any other horticultural traineeships
The traineeship offers a bursary of £12,857 over 18 months.
At Aberglasney, accommodation will be provided.
Application forms are available on www.hhss.co.uk
CVs should not be included. Please return to: Lantra SSC, Dept HHSS, Royal Welsh Showground, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys, LD2 3WY by 15th August. Interviews will be held in the week of the 5th- 9th September.
HHSS is run by a group of associated garden sites: Aberglasney, Bodnant, Cardiff City Council, Dyffryn Gardens, National Botanic Garden of Wales, Newport City Council and St Fagans: National History Museum, with the application and placement process being administered by Lantra (the Government’s land-based and environmental skills body).


Lantra and HHSS welcome applications from all members of the community.
For more information about Aberglasney Gardens, visit the website –
http://www.aberglasney.org

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