Bodnant Garden’s newest edition is home grown student

Jan 27 2011 by Samantha Castle, North Wales Weekly News

GARDENER Fiona Braithwaite has joined the grounds team at Bodnant Gardens after becoming the first student to complete a National Trust careership programme at the Conwy Valley attraction.

Fiona, 42, from Llanfairfechan, is the Eglwysbach attraction’s newest employee after completing the three-year programme set up to help the organisation grow its gardeners.

Having completed a horticultural training course, Fiona has also been awarded the City & Guilds medal of excellence award, which recognises exceptional people whose work makes them stand out.

Fiona will receive her medal at a special awards ceremony in London in May.

Ann Smith from the National Trust said: “We’re very proud of Fiona’s achievements. She joined us on a National Trust careership programme and at the end of this, when a permanent vacancy for a gardener became available at Bodnant Garden, she applied and was successful so is now part of our full team.

“The three-year scheme is a very prestigious qualification and opens up opportunities you only dream about. It’s open to anyone passionate about plants and is not afraid to develop themselves.”

Fiona added: “I originally studied for a degree in textile design and then went on to work in administration.

“But after completing my degree I found that any spare time I had was spent either working in my own garden, visiting other people’s gardens or reading everything about gardening I could get my hands on.

“I knew the only way I could fix this obsession was to broaden my horticultural knowledge and apply for the National Trust careership.

“It has been a wonderful experience and I have learnt so much – especially as I’ve been able to do a lot of hands-on work at Bodnant Garden.

“To have become an employed gardener here is a dream come true. I would certainly recommend the National Trust careership programme to anyone who wants to develop a career in this field.”

For more information about the careership programme contact 0870 240 0274. For details about volunteering e-mail wn.volunteering@nationaltrust.org.uk or call the National Trust in Wales on 01492 860123.