Do you know a young gardener who might benefit from some grant aid with their studies?
The next deadline for SRGC/DA Grants is 31st March 2015
In spite of an extended deadline and further attempts to spread the word of the student grants available from the SRGC there has been only one applicant this year for a Diana Aitchison Grant.
With an apparent rise in the number of young people wanting to follow a career in horticulture and much press coverage being given to the need to encourage more entrants to horticulture such a poor response is both disappointing and rather surprising.
As we have seen earlier in this thread, The Explorers' Garden at Pitlochry has often been involved with giving students a work placement. This year's student enjoying several week's work experience and training at Explorers' is not an SRGC grant aided student nor is she a horticulture student - I thought you might be interested to read about her to see just one aspect of what an SRGC grant might enable a student to achieve, quite apart from grant aid to their college or university studies.
Swiss Student Joins Explorers Garden
Jennifer Andenmatten, a junior year International Relations and Environmental Science student from Meilen, Switzerland joined Explorers Garden, Pitlochry, last week for a five week placement.
Jennifer will spend her time working alongside Julia Corden, the Garden Manager (and modern day plant hunter!) and her team of volunteers, learning about the diverse range of plants at Explorers, while enhancing her knowledge in conservation and sustainability.
A keen traveller, Scotland was the only country in Europe Jennifer was yet to visit, spurred on by an internship programme through her university course; Jennifer got in touch with Julia, and began her journey to Explorers. Staying in Pitlochry throughout the duration of her placement, Jennifer is enjoying the change of pace from her town in Switzerland and hopes that further travelling will help her carve out a career in International Relations working for The United Nations.
Located opposite Pitlochry Festival Theatre, the garden is a stunning area of 6 acres divided into sections representing different parts of the globe. The garden offers a unique visitor experience, blending amazing and rare plants together with the stories behind the men who risked death bringing them to the UK.
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Jennifer (pictured with Meconopsis Sheldonii flowers) commented, “I’m enjoying my time here, and looking forward to learning the differences between Scotland and Switzerland in terms of environmental conservation.” Under the expert guidance of Julia Corden, Jennifer will learn about Scottish botany and the conservation techniques used by the team in Explorers Garden.
A team of over 50 knowledgeable volunteers assist Julia in everyday care of the gardens, as well as giving tours to the public; Jennifer added “It’s lovely to meet all the volunteers who give their time to this wonderful Garden”.
Additionally, Jennifer aims to gain experience in guiding visitors around the garden. Guides bring the gardens to life with their impressive knowledge, and provide visitors with an insight into the many different plants, trees and wildlife as well as information covering the varied history, art and architecture on display.
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The garden team has carried out a large Bio Diversity Project over the last 18 months. They were able to carry out this work with help from The Brown Forbes Trust and Bio Diversity Tayside.
Part of this bio diversity project was to build Bug Hotels this is the largest one, fixed to the side of Pitlochry Festival Theatre.
The Explorers Garden,
Port na Craig, Pitlochry, Perthshire PH16 5DR 01796 484626
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Explorers-Garden/249567425229951 (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Explorers-Garden/249567425229951)
Just one of the opportunities an SRGC Grant could give to a student of horticulture - if you know of anyone with an interest in plants who is planning to study horticulture - please make sure they know about all the help that can be available to them!
SRGC Grants : http://www.srgc.net/site/index.php/extensions/grants (http://www.srgc.net/site/index.php/extensions/grants)
Grants for Horticulturists - a site with links to various Grant giving organisations :
www.grantsforhorticulturists.org.uk (http://www.grantsforhorticulturists.org.uk)
Grow Careers : Set up by The_RHS and administered by the Institute of Horticulture - ‘Grow Careers’ is the initiative for information on horticultural careers, courses and jobs in the UK :
http://www.growcareers.info/ (http://www.growcareers.info/) and on Twitter : https://twitter.com/GrowCareers (https://twitter.com/GrowCareers)
For young folks seeking a special group of like-minded people :
"YoungHort" - a group set up via social networking to bring together young people in horticulture
http://younghortcontact.wix.com/younghort (http://younghortcontact.wix.com/younghort)
https://twitter.com/YoungHortTeam (https://twitter.com/YoungHortTeam)