That's all folks!

That's it, I have finished my WRAGS training, a year working in a large garden, except in my case I worked in two. I cannot believe I have come this far! I am a Mum of two, ex-Londoner, ex-PA to a Photographer. Someone who used to garden in their spare time and have an allotment but I had sat at a desk in a previous life and I knew I didn't want to do that again.

When I started as a WRAG I had barely completed my RHS Level Two and was pretty freaked out by the size of the garden at Houghton Lodge. I remember wondering how on earth anyone managed it and knew all the plants and what to do with them at which time of year. It took me a while to settle down.

Six months in at Houghton, I learnt loads but had to leave which lead me to find Heale, another beautiful and large varied garden. My knowledge has come on in leaps and bounds but still I have so much to learn.

I spent yesterday sorting and tidying with Michael, having a fire, collecting Gourds, cropping veg, weeding borders. All this in Autumnal glowing sunshine, I could not have asked for a better week to finish up.

Yet as one door closes another opens and I will be continuing at Heale straight into next week as their part time Gardener, which will include veg production for the house. I am so excited! Alongside, I will be working for another two gardens and within time will be able to give more time to it, as my children grow up.

As I packed up and walked away yesterday, it felt like the end of a really special time. I have loved every minute and feel the WRAGS scheme offers an insight into a world often hard to penetrate as an inexperienced outsider. It has allowed me to enter into a large garden, to work with Gardeners from different backgrounds, to learn techniques and good practice, to meet the public (who are the most generous in their enthusiasm for the work and effort in the garden) and to manage my time and probably most importantly take it easy! The garden needs care but the seasons turn on and on and it is not the end of the world if all the weeding isn't immaculate! Slow and steady.

I am so looking forward to the next chapter. Thank you to GG (Andrew Bentley) and Michael Maltby for their time, knowledge and endless patience with me.