Budding gardeners Niall Wilcock, 16, of Par and Michael Skelcher,14, of Probus, on work placement and work experience respectively, spent a whole day last week planting over 3,000 daffodils and other spring flowering bulbs.
By March 1st visitors can expect to see a vibrant splash of colour from Cornish Chuckles, Trelawny Gold, Scilly White and St Keverne daffodils to snowdrops, Grape Hyacinth, crocus and Scilla along the Sycamore Avenue at Trewithen, a garden the Royal Horticultural Society has deemed one of the top five in the South West.
Trewithen Head Gardener, Gary Long, said the help the students had given had proved invaluable.
"Without Niall and Michael the daffodil display would probably not have happened," he said. "We are desperate for volunteers of any experience. I can't offer money but I can offer some other perks like free entry to Trewithen, discounts on plants from the garden's nursery and travelling expenses – people just have to give me a call."
For Michael, a pupil at Roseland School, the task of planting the bulbs marked the end of his week's work experience at Trewithen – an experience he said had helped him to grow as a person and had been great fun.
He said: "I can't wait to bring my mum back here in the spring to see all the daffodils. I helped plant a Mountain Ash tree as well but I'll probably have to wait until I have grandchildren to show that off."
Niall spends one day a week at Trewithen as part of the horticultural course he is studying at Duchy College, Rosewarne, Camborne. He is completely committed to a career in gardening and spent his whole summer working voluntarily at Trewithen before discovering he had been accepted on his course.
"I've wanted to be a gardener as long as I can remember," said Niall. "I remember helping my great granddad with his vegetable patch. I grow my own vegetables now; I've got fruit trees too. I know I could earn more money in other jobs but gardening is a way of life and one I enjoy. Being indoors all day would do my head in."
Gary said he was delighted to offer work to both the students as his career had a similar beginning.
He said: "I was the same age as Michael, 14, and doing my work experience week from school with John Bassett Landscape Gardening in Truro. Thanks to that experience I realised gardening was the career for me, not landscaping. I wanted to be the head gardener at a Cornish garden."
Like Niall, Gary studied for his professional qualifications at Rosewarne spending his weekly work placement day at Trelissick.
"I've always been so grateful for those early experiences I'm delighted I can give these youngsters a similar opportunity, I'm putting something back!" said Gary.
Visitors will have an opportunity to see Trewithen's Spring flower display when the gardens re-open on 1 March 2008.
To contact Gary about being a Trewithen volunteer, please ring him on 01726 883647.
Recent Comments