WRAGs Scheme
I spent a lot of time with my Grandma whilst growing up, and I am sure this is familiar to many, she taught me to love the natural world. I learnt how to tend to flowers and vegetables, spent many summers in my early 20’s working on organic farms around Europe and I had recently undertaken a Permaculture Design Course, but for some reason, it had never occurred to me previously that I could work as a gardener.
I heard about the WRAGs traineeship during the first lockdown of 2020. Like so many others, I had found refuge and solace in gardening. After unexpectedly losing my job in outdoor education, I had secured a summer job as a Kitchen Gardener on an estate in Berkshire. It was an abrupt and unplanned transition from my previous life but it bought me a lot of joy and helped ground me during a time that was filled with so much uncertainty. It was whilst working at the estate, during day-long conversations, hoe in hand, within the old victorian walls of the potager that I got to know each of the gardener's horticultural journeys. WRAGs was mentioned at one point and I went on a google search to find out more.
WRAGs stands for ‘Work and Retrain As a Gardener’ and was launched in 1993 by the WFGA to provide paid, part-time, practical horticultural training. As a trainee, you work for 12–14 hours a week, for a full calendar year, under the instruction and guidance of the head gardener.
I signed up, and a few months later I received a call from the regional manager explaining that there was a place available with Florence Gardening. I jumped at the opportunity, went to meet Alison (and Fred, who was still a very tiny puppy!) and after their warm and friendly welcome, I knew immediately it was the place for me. I was handed my dungarees and joined the team the following Monday.
From day one it has been such a good experience.
Everyone at Florence Gardening has been through the WRAGs scheme themselves, and I think as a result it makes for a wonderful learning and teaching dynamic – the team are so approachable and generous with their knowledge and understand the WRAGs process. They always have time for my questions, and really help to explain things to me. I also work alongside another WRAGs trainee, Hannah, and we are also studying our RHS Level two together – it’s delightful having someone else to learn with. Each month comes with new things to learn, which is recorded and put into a ‘Monthly Assessment Form’ which is then sent to our regional manager to keep track of our progress.
We regularly start the week with plant idents that Alison has prepared for us, and it’s a great feeling seeing how our plant knowledge has built up week by week as we walk through Alison’s garden and stop to greet each new and familiar plant. I’ve learnt about so many different elements of gardening, even in the short space of 6 months –from the best way to propagate Calamagrostis to the importance of checking plants for vine weevil! My favourite gardening jobs are pruning, mulching and caring for soil health.
It’s also an added bonus that Alison is a garden designer, so we regularly plant up newly landscaped gardens, or bring life into tired borders. Learning more about the design process and seeing how a garden transforms is fascinating for me!
WRAGs has been a great intermediary in helping me to find Alison and Florence Gardening. I am looking forward to the spring-summer season, continuing my learning, and embracing the novelty and delight of writing ‘gardener’ on future forms.
Click here to find out more about the WRAGs scheme and WFGA.
Author - Hannah Clarke
