Britain’s best-known gardener, Alan Titchmarsh, has joined forces with the RHS to reach out to the next generation of horticulturists. The RHS vice president today launched the RHS Chelsea Centenary Appeal, with the aim of helping the charity highlight the breadth of opportunities that horticulture offers.
Titchmarsh said: “A survey of 1,000 people last year revealed that 70% of 18-year-olds believe horticultural careers should only be considered by people who have ‘failed academically’. Nearly 50% of under-25s think horticulture is an ‘unskilled career’. “Recent findings, which form part of ‘Horticulture Matters’, a report by the RHS and horticultural industry, highlights the extent of the skills shortage in UK horticulture. “We must act now to make horticulture appeal to young people. We must engage with them in an interesting way to discover the immense job satisfaction and wealth of opportunities horticulture can offer.”
Celebrities paint gnomes for eBay auction
Among the fundraising activities during the year-long appeal, a host of celebrities including Sir Elton John and Dame Maggie Smith will be painting garden gnomes, which will then be auctioned on eBay during the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, sponsored by M&G Investments.
Projects will include apprenticeships, creating an RHS Learning Centre at RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex and further supporting the RHS Campaign for School Gardening. This will enable schools across London, Essex and the South East to experience learning in an inspiring environment using the resources and learning opportunities for free. Learning centres at the other three RHS Gardens attract 40,000 school visits a year.
The charity aims to create 15 apprenticeships in the next three years. The first four apprentice places will be launched this year. There will be two at RHS Garden Hyde Hall and two at RHS Garden Wisley.
Source: RHS – Alan Titchmarsh Launches the RHS Chelsea Centenary Appeal
