JOHN STOA GARDENING EXPERT

There’s no doubt that things have changed over the years – there used to be plenty of demand for gardeners on private estates, garden centres and nurseries but that isn’t the case these days.

When I worked as a gardener with Dundee Council in the 1950s we took on 15 apprentices each year and the youngsters all got tuition from the older men.

The apprenticeship lasted five years and you were on reduced wages until you had completed our training and had the necessary skills and knowledge.

The first nail in the coffin came when the unions decided to reduce apprenticeships to three years, resulting in training getting curtailed.

Cutbacks badly affected the horticultural industry and there was no demand for training.

And even if young folk were qualified, where were they going to work apart from with private contractors?

The RHS has properties all over the country and they’re always going to need young volunteer gardeners to train up – but if they can’t employ them full-time, these youngsters are going to struggle to find work.

My advice to any young people who enjoy gardening would be to join organisations like the RHS, the Broughty Ferry Rock Garden, or the University Botanic Garden as a volunteer to help out and increase their experience, but don’t expect it to lead to a job.

We love to see young families on the allotments here in Dundee and we often hold competitions for the wee ones – to grow the tallest sunflower or the biggest pumpkin.

Get them out in the great outdoors learning about gardening.