While I wouldn't exactly say I came to horticulture 'late in life' I have come to it after spending many years as an HR professional first. I'm now loving my new job and in the words of the RHS and Alan Titchmarsh I am honestly just as 'proud of my new career' as I was when I was doing my first one. I worked just as hard to qualify as a garden designer as I did to achieve my HR qualification – and I still have much to learn in my new chosen field.
Perceptions of Gardeners
It saddens me then to hear and read that the majority of young people's perception of a career in gardening is as one only to be considered if they have 'failed' academically. In Victorian times gardeners and head gardeners were held in high esteem – it was their knowledge and skill that delivered one of the most coveted of status symbols: a beautiful and bountiful garden. How things have changed. Nowadays we seem to think that anyone can pick up a lawn mower and it makes them a gardener.
Horticulture Jobs are Demanding
Being a skilled gardener requires knowledge of many disciplines – of botany, biology, chemistry and other sciences; of art and design; crafts and workmanship. Gardening – just like many other jobs within the wider horticultural industry – requires knowledge and skill. I am still new to garden designing – I have studied hard to get to this point – and I know that I have barely scratched the surface of all the disciplines available to me in order to excel as a garden designer. I wish I'd come to it earlier – I wish I had been more aware of the opportunities that this industry offers but like many people (as reported in a recent RHS survey) it was not something that was ever mentioned by careers advisers when I was at school. I may not have been interested in horticulture and garden design back when I was making decisions about my future career but the whole sector – and all it has to offer – wasn't even included for consideration.
Horticulture: Sound Career Choice
The horticultural industry is worth about £9 billion in the UK and it is one of the very few sectors that are staying buoyant through this awful economic climate that we're trying to cope with. Not only is a career in horticulture a good bet economically, it is also crucial to the well being of our planet! It doesn't matter what your passion is I truly believe that there will be a job within this sector that will suit you. I have a passion for garden design but I have also carried through into my new career my HR professional's passion for developing people and giving people the opportunity to be the best they can be. I support the RHS campaign to put horticulture firmly on the career 'map' and would encourage anyone to explore what this diverse and fascinating industry has to offer. And to answer my original question – 'dead end job' is not even remotely on my radar in terms of gardening, garden design and horticulture in general; dead good job – brilliant job, in fact – most definitely is.