Green-fingered scheme for growers

Volunteers on city farms and community gardens who want to build a career working in horticulture are being encouraged to take part in an apprenticeship scheme. A £1 million fund created by the Department of Communities and Local Government aims to recruit a new generation of green-fingered apprentices to keep England's parks and green spaces growing. Budding horticulturalists of all ages are being encouraged to apply for a traineeship scheme that will offer them the opportunity to improve their skills and make sure our towns and cities stay green.

Local authorities will be looking for people who can prove their gardening prowess and follow in the footsteps of one former green apprentice, gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh. As a youngster, Alan was given the chance to train as a green apprentice by Ilkley Council, Yorkshire.

His apprenticeship gave him the opportunity to get involved in an area he was already interested in but also proved a stepping-stone to a star-studded career in horticulture.

He said of the scheme: "The practical skills provided by apprenticeships are every bit as important as university degrees, especially those involved with the landscape and environment. As a former apprentice myself, I value apprenticeships tremendously and am relieved and delighted that this initiative is underway."

With the public health, environmental and social benefits of green spaces widely known, the new funding comes as part of the Government's drive for more top quality green spaces through programmes such as the Green Flag Scheme, as well as putting the green agenda at the centre of planning policy and housing growth.

The following list of councils has been provided with funding for apprentices. Individuals living in the areas covered by any of these councils and interested in applying for the scheme should contact the council direct to see if any places are available.

Birmingham City Council
Blackburn
Blackpool
Bradford City Council
Brent
Bristol City
Burnley
Camden
Coventry City Council
Gateshead
Greenwich
Hackney
Halton
Haringey
Islington
Kingston upon Hull
Knowsley
Lambeth
Leicester City Council
Lincoln City Council
Liverpool City
Manchester City Council
Mansfield
Middlesbrough
Newcastle upon Tyne City Council
Newham
N. E. Lincolnshire
Nottingham City Council
Oldham
Pendle
Preston
Redcar & Cleveland
Rochdale
Rotherham
Salford City Council
Sheffield City Council
S. Tyneside
Southwark
St. Helens
Sunderland City Council
Tameside
Torbay
Wakefield City Council
Walsall
Waltham Forest
Wigan
Wolverhampton