A warm Welsh welcome for Scottish horticultural apprentices

Horticultural apprentices Jamie McGubbin and Kieran Jordan from the City of Glasgow’s Parks Department have just completed a one week work experience placement with Cardiff Council’s Parks Services.

The apprentices were given an opportunity to develop their skills and broaden their experiences in a variety of parks across Cardiff.

This is the first time Cardiff Council’s Parks Services have extended a welcome to our Scottish colleagues and they intend to reciprocate in the New Year when a new intake of apprentices has been recruited. The exchange scheme, which is rare within local government, has enabled a future partnership to be established with City of Glasgow’s Parks Department and demonstrates Cardiff Council’s commitment to training and development opportunities.

During their placement they teamed up with Cardiff Council horticultural apprentices, Alex Sibley and Ben Light who are currently undertaking their third and final year of the apprentership scheme. The apprentices were given an educational tour of the Arboretum, Bute Park, Coopers Field, Blackweir, Cardiff Castle, Roath Park and Parc Cefn Onn. Bute Park and Roath Park are two of the four Cardiff parks to receive a prestigious Green Flag Award, which is the national standard for quality parks and green spaces, other parks include Victoria Park and Grange Gardens.

They spent a day with the ranger service at Forest Farm repairing footpaths. They were also involved in planting seasonal bedding in Alexandra Gardens and had guided tours of the barrage and Wetlands. The pair were very impressed by Cardiff parks and gained invaluable experience from this opportunity and received an insight into the many functions managed by Cardiff Parks Services.

Billy Kenny Training Coordinator for Land & Environmental Services Training Centre in Glasgow said “I would like to thank Cardiff Parks Services for the warm welcome and support and enthusiasm for this worthwhile placement scheme. Our apprentices gained a lot from the experience and we look forward to welcoming your apprentices in the New Year.”

Cllr. Nigel Howells, Executive Member for Sport, Leisure and Culture said “We were very pleased to welcome the apprentices from Glasgow. This scheme has established a future partnership with City of Glasgow’s Parks Department and demonstrates Cardiff Council’s long-term commitment to first class training and development opportunities in a hands-on skills based environment.”

Photograph: Cardiff Parks Services apprentices teamed up with the Glasgow apprentices in front of the prestigious Green Flag Award attained by Bute Park.