PLANTING the seeds to a successful career in gardening, a Rugby woman has been accepted into the Homebase Garden Academy.
Ann Crearie, 60, beat more than 1,200 to secure her place at the academy – a 12-month programme helping to lead budding gardeners into promising careers while developing their skills and knowledge.
Over the next year, Ann will spend time learning about garden planning and design from award-winning gardener designer Adam Frost, working with top garden suppliers to develop her product knowledge covering planting and landscaping, and learn practical horticultural skills to earn a Royal Horticultural Society Level 1 Award qualification.
She will also be working full-time at the Rugby Homebase store, helping customers with their gardening dilemmas and how to make the most of their outside space.
Ann said: “My father was the Head Gardener at a large country house located by the sea in Galloway, Scotland and from a young age I used to follow him round with my sisters learning about all the plants and how to care for them.
“It was his enjoyment of looking after a garden that gave me the push to apply for the Academy and I’m really pleased to have secured a place.”
Chris Cullinan, Store Manager from Homebase Rugby store said: “The Academy is a fantastic opportunity for people from different backgrounds to come together to share their passion for gardening and turn it into a career and Ann is a great addition to our team.”
