Sponsored Horticultural Training
The Friends currently work with the WFGA (Working for Gardeners Association), who run WRAGS (Work and Retrain as a Gardener Scheme), to sponsor a trainee in the Garden. Full details of the scheme can be found on their website.
Kaori Fujiki
Kaori began working with WRAGS in 2023, completing her traineeship in 2024. Prior to her WRAGS traineeship, Kaori had been a freelance writer and part-time Japanese language teacher while living in Montreal. She started volunteering in the Cruickshank Botanic Gardens in 2019, immediately after moving to Scotland, whilst continuing to write freelance for Japanese media.
Reflecting on her time at CBG, Kaori said, ‘As I look back on the past year, I am astounded by the vast amount of knowledge and experience I have gained, all thanks to the guidance and encouragement of the warm and supportive staff team at CBG... I am deeply aware that none of this would have been possible without the generous support of the Friends of the Cruickshank Botanic Garden. Your contributions have been instrumental in facilitatiing my training journey, and for that I am immensely grateful’
Beth Inch
Beth began her training with WRAGS at the Cruickshank in April 2022, and ended in 2023. Beth’s keen interest in gardening was inspired by her father, whom she credits for her love of horticulture.
When asked what part of the garden she enjoyed most, Beth said she couldn’t choose, but especially loved working in the plant nursery. Beth’s time at CBG has been fruitful thus far, and she hopes to get a job in the horticultural sector after her training is complete.
Adrienne Brocklebank
Adrienne began working with WRAGS in the autumn of 2019, after living abroad for 10 years. Despite her training being interrupted by the COVID pandemic, Adrienne gained important experience working alongside the garden’s staff.
Reflecting on her time at CBG, Adrienne said, ‘The WRAGS programme in CBG equipped me with a broad range of skills, demonstrated that I was genuinely interested in working with plants and provided me with useful references. It gave me the backing I needed, as well as the confidence, to put myself forward for work in the horticultural sector. Shortly after finishing my training in CBG I was offered a job in a local garden centre and nursery.’