WFGA Newsletter - Summer 2025

Cultivating Knowledge Summer 2025

Welcome to the first of our newsletters showcasing the Working for Gardeners brand. We really hope you like our new colours and logo.

In this edition, Donna writes about her year as a WRAG Scheme trainee and the opportunities that have come her way I was really lucky to meet her when she designed and built her Beautiful Border at Gardeners’ World Live in June and I know how hard she has worked. Congratulations on an amazing year to Donna and to all our trainees graduating this summer

If you didn’t manage to get to Gardeners’ World Live this year, you may have come across us at Scone Palace Garden Fair where WRAG Scheme trainee, Lizzie Cameron, not only won a Gold medal but also Best in Show; or at Chelsea Flower Show where Pelham Plants created an amazing display telling the Working for Gardeners story

I hope you’ve managed to get to some of our events. They are always a great opportunity to explore new places and meet new people We’ve got lots coming up and you’ll find all the details on our website

This newsletter marks the end of my tenure as Chair, and I'm happy to say I'll be staying on as a Trustee, as I hand over the reins to Cathy Hastie It's been a pleasure to oversee the introduction of our new branding, and to have connected with so many of you this year

Happy gardening!

Sue Reed Chair

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Introducing Cathy Hastie, Our New Chair of Trustees

I'm delighted to take over the role of Chair of this amazing organisation that has been such an important part of my gardening life for many years

It's been a fantastic to work with Sue, and I'm very grateful that she continues to share her insight and expertise with us

I echo Sue's words about our inspirational trainees and I'm indebted to the team of Regional Managers that supports them, and the office team who make it all possible

For those of us who spend time in gardens, the past year has been what we might politely call a 'challenge' From biblical rain, to mediterranean heat, keeping our plants alive and free from pest and disease has been a tall order

Our wonderful gardening network and workshops have provided us all with an invaluable source of information and guidance I particularly enjoyed a workshop run by fellow Trustee Amanda and team on box hedging, and I'm looking forward to meeting many more of you on future events

Thank you for your continued support and I hope that you will continue this journey with us as we begin the next stage of our evolution, beginning with our stunning new branding

Cathy Hastie

New WRAGS Gardens

Welcome to the following new training gardens

Old Inzievar House

Standon Hall

Clayton House

Highlands

Gledenholm House

Athelas Plants

Space2Grow

Craig y Bwla

Runcton Manor

Pelyne Farm

Woodpark House

Trevince Estate

Worcester College

Westcott

Tithby Road

Alex Bell Garden Design

Nethercott House, Farms for City Children

Pied Beauty Flowers (aka The Thame Flower Company)

Dalslwinton House

Windlehill Farm

Westbourne Drive

Rossend Castle

Harthill

Ford And Kent Gardens Ltd

Pie Corner, Hertfordshire

Yew Tree Cottage

Lanjeth Nursery and Water Gardens

The Old Rectory, Thruxton

Kailzie Gardens

Paget House

Thank you to all our amazing Regional Managers for making this happen

New gardens can join the Scheme at any point in the year, so if you know of a garden you think would be interested, please do let your Regional Manager know

Winterbourne House and Garden, Birmingham Annual General Meeting 31 May 2025 st

A Fond Farewell

Two of our Regional Managers will shortly be moving on to pastures new; Emma Moffat (South), and Kate Nicoll (North Wales & Borders) On behalf of all the WRAG trainees, placement gardens, and members that they have helped support over the years, and from the entire Working for Gardeners team, we’d like to say a big thank you, and we wish them both the very best of luck in their individual future endeavours!

A Gold Medal and ‘Best in Show’ for WRAG Scheme Trainee Lizzie at Scone Palace Fair!

Pictured L-R: Viktoria Szilvas, Caroline Straker, Lizzie Cameron, Katie Brown, Annie Stewart, Kate Martin, and Brian Cunningham, Head Gardener at Scone Palace

Scone Palace held its fourth Garden Fair this year and all three Regional Managers for Scotland, including myself, Annie Stewart (Scotland North), Caroline Straker (Scotland South), and Jennifer Andrew (Scotland South West) were in attendance As in the past three years, the Fair included a Scottish Design Competition: one for Small Space Gardens and, new this year, one for Showcase Gardens both with the theme of “Hope”.

There were ten entries shortlisted for the Small Space Gardens and these included four members of Working for Gardeners These four are following in the footsteps of previous WRAG Scheme trainees In 2023 Kate McClorey and Chelsea Lowe entered the first Small Space Garden Show and Kate got Gold and was chosen as the Best in Show

Of this year’s entrants, two of the four, Katie Brown (‘Cocoon of Hope’), and Kate Martin (‘There is Always Hope’), members of our WRAG Scheme alumni, are now successful gardeners dipping their toes into garden design A third, Viktoria Szilvas (‘A' Rainbow of Hope’), is waiting to start her WRAG Scheme placement The final entrant, Lizzie Cameron with her lovely ‘The Resilience Garden’, is about to finish her WRAG Scheme placement year in a garden in West Linton. Having done a short design course, Lizzie decided to test her skills and put in an entry to Scone. It proved a successful move, as not only did she get awarded a Gold Medal by the judges, but, like Kate in 2023, was also given Best in Show

We hope to encourage more of our WRAG Scheme trainees to enter next year’s competition.

Annie Stewart Regional Manager, Scotland North

Gloucestershire - Lawn Care, March 2025

The magnificent lawns at Forthampton Court, and attendees learning in the sunshine

Event Feedback

If you enjoy hearing about the experiences that our members have on our events, then make sure you are subscribed to our weekly email Bulletins which contain updates on new Working for Gardener events, with feedback and reviews There’s plenty more on social media too!

A Day at Chelsea

I’ve been to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show as a visitor before but never as an exhibitor so I was proud to collect my pass I was off to help Paul Seaborne, the owner of Pelham Plants, on his stand in the Great Pavilion It was a warm but slightly drizzly day and I couldn’t be more excited to be there!

It's very peaceful at Chelsea early in the morning Officials and workers in yellow vests; a few exhibitors tweaking and tidying; and a scattering of early visitors Having said hello to Paul and his amazing WRAG Scheme trainee Phil Rankin, I wandered off to look at the show gardens. A benefit of being a volunteer at Chelsea is early entry into the show grounds so you get a great view of all the gardens and exhibits without the crowds I loved Monty Don’s dogfriendly garden – particularly the colours – gorgeous deep burgundy lupins and poppies, studded with orange geums and soft purple flowers The SongBird Survival Garden was beautiful and wild, incorporating crucial elements for birds – water, food and shelter.

This year Pelham Plants chose to celebrate and honour us –Working for Gardeners – and our WRAG Scheme which helps so many people get into horticulture Paul has supported and benefitted from 3 trainees over the last few years, and we were so pleased that he chose to represent Working for Gardeners via his design and planting. The stand looked really beautiful and included many ornamental edible plants – edimentals – all grown and nurtured by Phil and Paul at the nursery

It was a very busy afternoon, the pavilion packed with people, and I loved chatting to visitors about what we do at Working for Gardeners and helping to sell the plants that Paul and his team produce. It was great to be working with Phil and three other fantastic trainees: Rhoda Parry, training with Sakura Valley Oast House; Lesley Sealey, at Ashburnham Place; and Melissa Turpin, at Shermanbury Place

I took time during the day to walk around and soak up the Chelsea atmosphere – people drinking glasses of champagne, sunshine filtering through tall trees, jazzy bands, the smoky scent of bbq and the sound of green parakeets high in the trees! Plenty of inspiration for the garden too!

But the best thing about the day for me wasn’t the show gardens or the Chelsea vibe – it was working with our fabulous WRAG Scheme trainees and selling Paul’s fantastic plants. A really great day.

Sarah Farr

BBC Gardeners’ World Live Beautiful Borders Report

From 12 to 15 June 2025, BBC Gardeners’ World Live (GWL) returned to the NEC in Birmingham, drawing around 90,000 enthusiastic visitors to explore an extraordinary horticultural showcase. With a record 48 Show Gardens, Showcase Gardens, and Beautiful Borders, the event celebrated creative planting, sustainable design, and wildlife-friendly gardening

As a WRAGS trainee and WFGA member, the experience was both inspiring and educational In the six months leading up to the show, I learned so much and experienced so many firsts opportunities I never would have had without taking part.

For my own Beautiful Border, ‘Nature’s Resilience’, I collaborated with my local school, where the children helped build the bug house and grew some of the plants My dad helped with the bench and structural parts of the bug house, while a local blacksmith taught me how to create the metal elements of my arch. I even attended a willow weaving course to learn how to craft the other side of the arch I made my first-ever statue, and learned how to design, plan, and deliver a show garden from start to finish

The atmosphere was warm and welcoming - everyone was there to learn, share, and support one another It never felt competitive; instead, it was collaborative, creative, and genuinely fun I made new friends and had an unforgettable time

The Show’s theme, ‘Cultivating Connections’, couldn’t have been more fitting I met so many incredible people and made connections I never imagined possible.

It was amazing to see the show open and watch the public enjoy the gardens I loved talking to visitors about my garden and the experience of creating it, and I especially valued the chance to share what WRAGS has done for me and how it can help others starting out in horticulture.

The GWL Beautiful Border participants that Working for Gardeners chose to support were selected from our current trainees, and those that had completed their placement up to 12 months previously Applications open in November 2025 for the 2026 Show

Seven Beautiful Borders at the show were designed by WFGA-affiliated WRAGS trainees and each told a meaningful story. Among these talented designers, Isabel Sabine was awarded Best WFGA Border and a Platinum Award for her border ‘Apple Core Values’ (above left) - a thoughtful celebration of mini-orchards, seasonal change, and community seed sharing

The scale and impact of the event were staggering: 48 gardens, floral theatres, expert advice stands, chef-led demos, and the “Make a Metre Matter” campaign, where visitors pledged more than 11,000 square metres of wildlife-friendly planting at home

Gardeners’ World Live 2025 was a celebration of creativity, community, and horticultural passion For the WRAGS team, it was a powerful platform to share our skills and ideas. I’m incredibly grateful to have taken part, and I look forward to putting everything I’ve learned into practice as I move forward in my horticultural journey I’m excited to build on the experience - continuing to learn and grow in the world of conservation, wildlife gardening, and sustainable horticulture

Hannah Becket WRAG Scheme Alumna @sagegreenlandscapedesign

Placement Report

As my placement draws to a close it is humbling to reflect on the past year, it seems quite surreal that 12 months ago I was in turmoil about returning to a career in accountancy after the birth of my son. Little did I know, that the career of my dreams was just around the corner.

My WRAGS placement with Working for Gardeners has been invaluable to my future career as a gardener and garden designer The opportunities that have come my way from being part of this Scheme have been magical from working in a stunning 10 acre private garden, to exhibiting my beautiful border at BBC Gardeners’ World Live this summer and appearing on podcasts and the radio to talk all things horticulture. These are all pinch me moments.

Each month I am learning new and exciting aspects of horticulture and I now have a seasonal portfolio of all the practical tasks that are completed each month in the garden It will be a reference point for all my gardens to come I now know when to prune different shrubs, all about lawncare, the many ways of propagating plants, how to identify and manage pests and diseases and so so much more.

Rain or shine there is always something to tend to in a garden My placement has taught me how to holistically think about a garden, being aware of how the climate is affecting plants and how I can care for them to encourage them to thrive has been a huge part of my placement. Observing the garden over the changing seasons and learning so many new plants has been magical I’ve kept a record of all the plants I’ve come to love, and I can now recommend them to future clients with confidence, knowing what conditions they need, when they are thriving, and how to care for them year-round.

To anyone considering a WRAGS placement: I cannot recommend it highly enough It has been, without doubt, one of the most rewarding and transformative years of my life.

Sussex - Flower Bowl & Hand Tied Posy Workshop, June 2025

Pictured: Hamsey House, and Clara’s beautiful flower bowl creation

On a sunny morning in early June I headed with a friend towards the South Downs and Hamsey House, which is tucked away in the little hamlet of Hamsey, near Lewes Amy met us outside the house and showed us the way to her flower studio at the bottom of the garden, where we enjoyed tea and coffee and waited for the rest of the group to arrive

Once we were all there, Amy gave us a tour of her beautiful garden and told us some of the history of the house and the garden which, she explained, has undergone many changes in recent years. There are large herbaceous borders, a wildflower meadow and orchard, a vegetable and cutting garden complete with chickens, and even a willow cutting area

A demonstration from Amy followed as to how to create a floral bowl Then came the fun part as we were let loose in the garden with snips to choose the flowers we wanted to work with! Roses, foxgloves, clematis and wild grasses, it was all fair game!

We regrouped in the flower studio and spent a lovely hour peacefully creating our bowls. The results were beautiful and all so different!

As well as being a talented florist, Amy also takes wonderful photos so we were able to decamp to the summerhouse and have some great shots taken of our creations, along with testing our phone camera skills

More tea and coffee along with some excellent banana bread accompanied Amy’s hand demonstration and again we were able to put our skills to the test!

Heading home with armfuls of flowers, we reflected on a really enjoyable morning Amy is running another workshop in September and I’m very tempted to book on again!

Clara Sewell-Knight, Member @clara at the cottage

Staffordshire - John Massey's Garden at Ashwood

Nurseries - Recent Developments, June 2025

Working for Gardeners’ garden visits always provide an opportunity for gardeners to come together to learn, share, enjoy and be inspired, and the day at John’s garden at Ashwood Nurseries with Nigel Good, is one not to be missed.

Nigel Hope, the Head Gardener and leader of our tour awakened our senses by introducing himself as the successor to the infamous Adam, his predecessor, who had so sadly and unexpectantly passed away aged 27. We were going to start our day in the garden that John Massey, the owner of the garden, had created with the help of Nigel in memory of this remarkable gardener

It was a magical English, summer day and we found ourselves in Adam’s garden under three Betula utilis var jaquemontii 'Doorenbos' (see picture below left) Nigel explained that their bark was power sprayed annually and they were pruned with such care so that one could enjoy their magnificent white barks to perfection Immediately one got the impression that everything in this garden was created with love and thought Each section had been planned and started from scratch Beds were thought of, created, dug, earth was moved in, plants put in position and planted and finally loved It looked like it Here was a garden in its youth but it took little imagination to see how much enjoyment it would give to all those fortunate enough to come to Ashwood.

We moved into the more established areas of John’s Garden and Nigel introduced us to plants, why he had chosen them, their habitat, their structure and the reason that they were planted together “Don’t plant a plant without considering what you plant next to it” We went on to enjoy pots and hanging baskets (see picture above right), gravel planting and topiary Nigel was full of tips, advice and knowledge, all of which he shared with us so generously. No one has greater knowledge of plant names than Nigel

Parsonage Farm featured in Garden’s Illustrated

Did you see this glorious garden featured in the May 2025 issue?

It’s always a thrill to see one of our WRAG Scheme gardens featured in the big publications and even more so when they mention the contribution of their WRAG trainee Many thanks go to Parsonage Farm.

In 2026 we will be working hard to encourage the gardens we work with, to share their pride in helping new gardeners to cultivate the knowledge they need to grow new careers.

Northumberland - Learning the Traditional Skill of Scything, July 2025

Pictured right and below: Ross Pearson

There are few better ways to spend a sunny day than swinging a scythe around a meadow under the benevolent gaze of a Grade II listed 1500s house Last week, I did just that on a WFGA scything course led by William Sutherland: self-sufficiency sage, scything guru, and owner of a scythe collection that would rival the grim reaper.

The day began indoors with tales of blade and hay as William’s original A-frame scythe (bought in Rothbury circa 1962 and still sharp enough to give me a short back and sides) was passed around like a holy relic We then decamped to the meadow, a dreamy sward of perfectly manicured long grass, where we tried in earnest to copy the expert’s graceful sweep. Turns out, watching a master glide through grass is one thing; replicating it is more like trying to tango with a wheelbarrow But slowly, and with much mutual encouragement (and mutual sweat), we got it

By lunchtime, we were all channelling our inner medieval haymakers. There were sharpening tutorials, cunning mowing strategies, and a lot of comparing notes with other scythe-curious sorts: gardeners, green-wood workers, bodgers (the good kind), and a lucky few that discovered scythes of their own in abandoned barns or had one passed down through the family

The day ended with a guided wander through the deliciously quirky gardens at Stagshaw, courtesy of the endlessly enthusiastic head gardener Tina Snowball, and Regional Manager of the WFGA And, in a moment of pure joy, I bought one of William’s handmade scythes, modelled on that very 1960s A-frame It now hangs in my shed like an heirloom from a life I didn’t know I needed We left with sore shoulders, grass in our boots, and a head full of ancient knowledge It was glorious.

Ross Pearson

@rosspearson.org

Monmouthshire - Wild Gardening

Workshop at Nant-y-Bedd, July 2025

Alumni Network

If you have successfully completed a WRAG Scheme placement we would love to keep in touch and see what you’re doing now, no matter what your subscription status We’ve created a ‘Private Group’ on LinkedIn to help you network with other alumni. Come and join in, be part of the conversation, or start one?

https://www linkedin com/groups/13342017/

Garden Voices

We would love to hear more from our gardens, so if you are training a WRAG or hosting events, tell us how important that is to you If you would like to submit an article for the next newsletter please email: admin@wfga org uk

We are also keen to improve the information and advice that we provide to gardens about the WRAG Scheme, so if you think something is missing, drop us a note and as we start updating the documentation, we can fill in those gaps.

Donations

Working for Gardeners is almost entirely self-funded, through subscriptions, events and WRAG Scheme fees We are immensely grateful for all that support but we could do more

We have wonderful training gardens on our books that would love to offer a WRAG Scheme placement, and help somebody start their new career, but they can’t due to lack of funding A Donation to Working for Gardeners could help make that happen If you would like to make a donation either to generally support the work that we do, for a specific garden, or towards training placements in general, you can do so via our website, or contact the office for more information on 01285 841468.

Finally a little ‘Thank you ’

A big thank you to all our wonderful contributors, and thank you for reading our new style newsletter, ‘Cultivating Connections’, right to the very end! We hope that you’ve enjoyed it - please do let us know This is so much more fun when you get involved If you’d like to write a report or article for the next edition, make it your news and send us your ideas to admin@wfga.org.uk.