Oldham College apprentices help create award-winning NHS wellbeing garden 

Our horticultural apprentices have helped create an NHS mental health and wellbeing garden which was awarded a Silver-Gilt medal at this year’s Southport Flower Show. 

Seven apprentices took part in the project alongside three NHS Practical Horticultural Skills learners, service users and hospital volunteers.

Titled ‘Grow Your Own Rainbow – Hope, Health and Happiness’, the garden was created to promote mental health and wellbeing. 

The apprentices helped with the build and planting, putting their training into practice on a live project. Their work included planting and pruning, mulching raised beds, identifying and selecting plants, working from scaled plans and adapting as the build progressed. 

Thomas Mallon, who is completing the Level 2 Horticulture/Landscape Operative apprenticeship with us while working at Knowsley Council, said: “I enjoyed getting stuck in as part of a team to create something great, and meeting new people. I also enjoyed seeing the difference we made from start to finish. 

“Being involved in a project that will help people’s mental health makes me very proud. I have had friends and family on both sides, from people who work in the mental health sector in the NHS to people who have used the services provided.” 

Ruari Roche, who is also completing the apprenticeship with us while working at Knowsley Council, said: “I enjoyed having the opportunity to help build a garden with great features and a variety of plants. I enjoyed seeing the progress as we got further into the project. 

“It’s rewarding and motivating to know that it could make a difference to others.” 

The project gave our apprentices the opportunity to put the skills developed through their training into practice outside their usual workplaces, while working on a high-profile project. 

Nick Atkinson, Tutor Assessor in Horticulture at Oldham College, has volunteered in NHS mental health horticulture for around seven years and has been involved in building show gardens at Southport Flower Show for 15 years. 

He said: “This gives the learners the opportunity to work alongside other apprentices from different employers. 

“From the comments made by the apprentices, you can tell how much of a difference completing the garden made to them.” 

The apprentices enjoyed the experience so much that, with the support of their employer, they returned for an unplanned second day to continue working on the garden. 

The completed ‘Grow Your Own Rainbow – Hope, Health and Happiness’ garden received a Silver-Gilt medal at Southport Flower Show and was also featured on BBC Breakfast. 

Interested in a career in horticulture? Find out how you can develop your skills while working in the industry through our Level 2 Horticulture/Landscape Operative apprenticeship.