What is a career in horticulture? It is not just being a ‘gardener’!

Introduction

The horticultural industry is the largest employer in the UK. With more than 18.5 million gardeners spending over £2,000 million a year on both plants and gardening products, there is a huge range of career opportunities available in the commercial sector of horticulture alone.

But there is much more to horticulture in the UK than the commercial sector; other possible career paths include

Amenity horticulture
Parks and gardens
Landscape design and architecture
Nursery and garden centre management
Plant propagation
Research
Journalism

A career in horticulture provides a huge range of opportunities for anyone of any age entering the profession. Once experienced, you can progress your career or diversify into a different area. You could even own your own business!

What do you get paid?

Parks Manager: £24,423-£38,505
Head Gardener: £15,774-£45,464
Education & Community Officer: £18,360-£29,991
Botanist: £18,400-£40,000

There are an estimated 13,000 production horticulture businesses in the UK alone, employing around 70,000 people. Businesses range in size from small private nurseries employing two ot three people, to large production organisations employing hundreds of people in different locations.

To find out more about careers in horticulture visit the following websites:

www.rhs.org.uk

http://www.growing-careers.com/

Careers at the RHS

The RHS, the UK leading gardening charity, employs more than 700 people and the range of horticultural jobs within the organisation are very varied.

Caroline Gorton aka ‘The Plant Detective’ | RHS Plant Pathologist

Being a plant pathologist is certainly an unusual job, and I have yet to meet someone else socially who does it too. Apart from the rarity value, it is rewarding because most people we advise leave knowing more about how to keep their plants in good health than they did before.

The majority of my time is spent examining dying and diseased plant material which our members send in. Not only do we identify the pathogens involved, but also advise on how to garden successfully with diseases present or how to control them. It can be demanding in the sense that often the cause of damage is not immediately obvious and to solve it requires detective work. To do this I employ microscopy, culturing fungi and DNA fingerprinting. I also carry out research into the diseases, which could yield more information for RHS members. My specialisation is honey fungus which is the most frequently identified killer of garden plants. Currently I am carrying out a survey of the different species of Armillaria found on dying plants.

I originally completed a degree in Botany which gave me a good general grounding in plant biology and pathology. In order to progress further in science I then completed a PhD in Forest Pathology. While writing up my thesis, the opportunity to work as a research assistant at the RHS presented itself. The rest, as they say, is history!

Barbara Collecott | RHS Librarian

Contrary to popular belief, being a librarian is a very enjoyable as well as an intellectually stimulating job. Every day is different being the librarian in charge of RHS Garden Libraries. Based at Wisley, my job involves planning new developments and new services in the libraries at Wisley, Hyde Hall, Harlow Carr and Rosemoor. The libraries are an important part of the charitable purpose of the RHS and are open to all. We get enquiries on garden-related subjects from the public and these can come from anywhere in the world. The Garden Libraries are very popular with visitors - including children, new gardeners, and researchers.

Volunteers are crucial to the running of the libraries - we have 30 at Wisley and some 70 in the other gardens; Hyde Hall, Harlow Carr and Rosemoor operate entirely by volunteers. There are no really typical days, but my job involves promotion (leaflets, signage, displays); overseeing book repairs and conservation; selecting books for purchase; staff/volunteer development and training; plus visiting and developing the other Garden Libraries.

I get much pleasure in helping people with their enquiries - and the element of research work involved. Being a hands-on librarian, gives me an insight of how the library can develop. I find the work very rewarding and satisfying and I enjoy being part of a small, close team. I also thrive on change and working with change.

I have an NCH in amenity horticulture and a degree in librarianship. Apart from five years as a gardener, I have spent the rest of my working life in libraries.

Rebecca Matthews-Joyce | RHS Environmental Policy Officer

My role as Principal Environmental Policy Advisor involves ensuring that the RHS practices horticulture and day-to-day business activities in a way that respects the environment and minimises their impact on air, land, water, animals and plants. I also spend a lot of my time monitoring the continuously expanding environmental legislation by which we have to comply. To do this I have to have a good understanding of science, nature and society. My first degree is in Environmental Science and I have a Masters degree in Community Enterprise, which is specifically for working with non-profit and charitable organisations. I also have a Diploma in Science Communication that enables me to convey strong environmental messages that are clearly understood by all. This is vital to my work in developing an environmental management system for the RHS.

Paul Alexander aka 'Dr Dirt' | RHS Soil Scientist

The majority of my time is actually spent managing and undertaking a variety of research projects, the vast majority of which aren't actually soils related. I am currently researching (among other things) different aspects of home composting, alternative media to peat and lime tolerance of a variety of different rhododendrons. The work is flexible in that I can be outside in the sunshine and inside when its raining, it's a shame my planning isn't as good as this and I'm often inside when its sunny and outside when its raining! I am also responsible for soil- and compost-related advisory questions, the majority of which seem to revolve around soil improvement, the simple answer being more organic matter!

My first degree was in Geography during which time I spent a placement year with Forest Research at Alice Holt Lodge. It was here that my interest in soils was started. I then completed a PhD in the effects on soils and crops of calcified seaweed applications. Shortly after completing this, the position I now hold became available and I was the lucky respondent.