Our first ever Trainee, employed for the 2024 season, was Anya Hall, who moved down from Glasgow to take up the position. Anya had an arts background and, when she came for interview, had already started to build her floristry portfolio, as well as enrolling on an RHS course in the principles of horticulture.

Anya quickly proved to be exactly what we had been hoping for – someone who had a natural affinity with flowers, but was unfussy and prepared to muck in with whatever jobs were required. She became an indispensable part of the team at all three host farms, and expanded the scope of her role beyond anything we had envisaged.

At the end of her time with us, Anya moved straight into employment with a florist back home in Glasgow, as well as setting up Aery Floral Studio, a new home for her floral design work. She plans to grow her own stems between an allotment and her small courtyard garden.

Anya says:

“I’ll remember the spring & summer of 2024 with such fondness. Although the traineeship was hard work it was so rewarding. Living on site at Ravenshill provided a truly immersive experience, working in the beautiful English countryside and being in close contact with flowers at almost all times - including sleeping under dried flowers for a time, which had my hay fever going!

There was every opportunity to get stuck in and take the role as far as I wanted, and to learn as much as possible about all aspects of flower farming, from the practical skills involved to the challenges of pursuing it as a business.

If you want to gain insight into cut flowers & growing through hands-on experience, then I cannot recommend this traineeship enough. I am so grateful for this experience and getting to work with wonderful teachers such as Michael, Nanda and Rozanne.”