UK: Walberton Nursery hosts Erasmus+ student

Walberton Nursery was approached early in 2017 by Florentios Economou, to ask if he could undertake a work placement as part of the Erasmus+ trainee-ship programme. As a business who places significant importance on encouraging young people into Horticulture, Walberton were only too pleased to offer Florentios a position.

Florentios is an undergraduate student at the Cyprus University of Technology in Limassol, studying for a BSc in Agriculture Sciences, Crop Science and Technology. His degree covers fundamentals of horticulture such as propagation and nursery production, in addition to the more scientific aspects of plant pathology. Florentios targeted Walberton Nursery primarily because of its focus and expertise in the area of plant propagation, although as part of his placement Florentios has covered tasks as wide-ranging as grading and preparing plants for sale; dispatching finished product; making media and sub-culturing in vitro material in the laboratory; collecting and preparing propagation material; hand and machine potting; trimming; and general plant husbandry.

Of his time at Walberton, Florentios said, “These two months, will definitely play a major role in my development as an agriculturist and in my future. Through my placement in the nursery, I have learned new things and saw new technologies, put theory into practice and test my knowledge. I was lucky to meet the great staff working in the nursery. From day one they embraced me in their family, they trusted me during the daily tasks and taught me a lot of things. Also the nursery was located in a very peaceful place, giving you the opportunity to relax, enjoy the moment and discover things you never knew about yourself. You have nothing to lose from experiences like this. Only positive things you can gain. The only thing you have to do is to open your wings and enjoy the flight. Great things will wait for you on the horizon.”

Both Walberton and Binsted Nurseries would welcome similar trainee-ship opportunities in the future, so if you have something in mind, get in contact via admin@walbertonnursery.co.uk.

For more information:
Tristram Plants
www.tristramplants.co.uk

Publication date: Tue 22 Aug 2017