New scheme is giving opportunities to men and women to work and retrain as gardeners Are you thinking about a change of career and would you like to work outdoors with flowers, shrubs, trees, vegetables or fruit?

Do you enjoy gardening but feel you don't know enough about it? How about a year's part time training in a beautiful garden?

A local garden is offering a placement for interested people to learn practical gardening skills.

The Work and Retrain As a Gardener Scheme (WRAGS) provides women and men of all ages with the opportunity to work under supervision for two days a week for a year in a carefully sourced garden.

Fees for the course are £400 (paid as a lump sum or can be paid in instalments) and the trainee is paid a non taxable training allowance of £5 per hour by the garden owner to help cover fees, travel/childcare and other costs. trainees are monitors and assessed by a local co-ordinator through monthly reports and two visit over the year, and at the end of the training, the person would have a recognised certificate.

The scheme is offered by the UK charity The Women's Farm and Garden Association (WFGA), which was established in 1899 and set up the first Women's Land Army in 1916.

It offers a 'win-win' situation, as garden owners benefit from the help they receive from enthusiastic and committed trainees, who in turn gain practical experience to go on to various careers in horticulture.

There is an opportunity available now at Ryton House, in the centre of Lechlade - a beautiful garden split into distinct areas.

However if this doesn't suit it is always worth enquiring as placements may come up suddenly, for a variety of reasons, across the county, and neighbouring counties - new gardens come on stream and there may be more opportunities available if trainees are prepared to travel further afield.

The scheme is just one of many options offered by the WFGA. members can also benefit from useful networking events and forums, workshops and workdays, informative newsletters, garden tours, future funding for further training and discounts on some gardening accessories and clothing.

If you think you would benefit from a placement, or for more information about WFGA membership or WRAGS, see www.wfga.org.uk or call 01285 658 339 or email admin@wfg.org.uk Based on information supplied by .