Landscaper, GA Landscapes
Wisley Trainee 1999–2001
As a young lad, Gerald found gardening a good way to earn a bit of pocket money at the weekends. Responding to an advertisement, he did general garden maintenance for several years while still at school and later in life, he went to work on a kibbutz in Israel looking after a children’s farm and planting vegetables.
Eventually, Gerald decided to learn how to do things properly and enrolled on a two-year course in horticulture at Merrist Wood College, followed by a 10-week tree surgery course. A friend had begun the Wisley course and this introduction inspired Gerald to apply, though he was unsuccessful at his first interview. Determined to prove himself, Gerald got in when called back for a second interview.
The course itself was well-structured and all the trainees knew what was expected of them in terms of coursework. He also found himself back at Merrist Wood College one day per week studying for the RHS Diploma in Horticulture as well as being out in the garden ‘getting the job done’ on the three-monthly department rotation. Gerald remembers the RHS staff as characters – enthusiastic eccentrics!
Looking back, Gerald believes the course gave him a broad knowledge of horticulture and it encompassed the knowledge needed for landscape work, although it was not a particular part of the course.
Upon leaving the safe haven of Wisley and wanting to do outdoor work and be creative, Gerald followed the landscape route and joined a landscape company working on large, high profile domestic jobs. Eventually this company closed, but Gerald set up his own business and GA Landscapes was born, prospering to this day.
Overall, the Wisley course meant a tremendous amount to Gerald as it gave him the realisation that horticulture could be a ‘proper career’ and gave him a wider perspective of the options available. Being at Wisley also gave him the opportunity to do a bursary-funded study tour to the Pacific NW coast of America where he was able to study the rich diversity of plants in their natural habitats, as well as in botanical gardens, broadening his horticultural knowledge further.
Now Gerald has two people working for him on the practical side of his business, while he prepares quotes and keeps on top of the office side of things. Jobs come through recommendations now and he can get the type of work he wants – the challenging ones!