JOBS & CAREERS SPRING 2018 - 176

career
Grow your

If you don't like the idea of spending your days in an office, how about spending
them in the garden? We take a closer look at the world of horticulture

H

elping plants thrive and
transforming outside (and
indoor) spaces makes working
in horticulture one of the most satisfying
careers around. We're not just talking
gardening. Horticulture covers everything
involved in the art and science of growing
plants, from designing private gardens and
running garden centres to growing fruit
and tending the turf at Wembley.
It isn't a niche industry, either.
According to the Royal Horticultural
Society, 300,000 people work in the
industry in the UK, and it contributes
£5bn to the UK economy every year. So, if
you've ever caught yourself staring out of
the window, looking for an excuse to get a
bit of fresh air, you may want to consider
one of the following positions.

IMAGE SHUTTERSTOCK

Arboriculturist
Arboriculture involves planting, growing,
maintaining, managing and removing
trees and shrubs. An arboricultural
consultant can give professional advice on
the health and safety of trees, often in the
form of written technical reports. An
arboricultural contractor - or tree surgeon
- carries out pruning, planting and felling
jobs, and should be able to identify pests
and diseases. With experience, you could

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run your own business, or progress to
management or consultancy work.
What skills and qualifications do I
need? You'll need a good head for heights
and a degree of physical fitness if you're
undertaking tree surgery. Depending on
the level you want to achieve, you'll need a
qualification in land-based studies, rising
to a diploma in arboriculture. A consultant
will need qualifications in the care and
management of trees.
How much can I earn? Salaries start at
£15,000 to £21,000 for an arboricultural
contractor, rising to £25,000 to £30,000 as
an arboricultural consultant.

Garden designer
As a designer, you may be responsible for
landscaping, designing and replanting new
areas within a park or the grounds of a
stately home, or may be commissioned to
design new gardens for individual clients.
Most designers are self-employed or work
with a business partner, although some
work for bigger garden design companies.
What skills and qualifications do I
need? Good design skills and a creative
ability, plus excellent communication
skills, are important. You'll need a
qualification in garden design, and a RHS
diploma or similar would be valuable too.

How much can I earn? Salaries start at
around £15,000, rising to £30,000 with
experience, depending on how many
garden design commissions you get.

Horticultural scientist
You'll research plant genetics, soil and
growth patterns, developing techniques
for better production, dealing with pests
and diseases and controlling weeds. You
may work for a government research
institute, university, or food processing
and marketing company.
What skills and qualifications do I
need? A degree is usually required in
a subject such as horticulture, botany
or ecology, and possibly even a PhD.



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