15 December 2008

Last week 22 pupils from Co. Antrim schools visited The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise’s Greenmount Campus for a hands on practical, making Christmas planters.

The pupils are all studying the First Certificate in Horticulture and visited the college to see the facilities and to make the planters for Christmas.

“It’s been a great afternoon, getting to see round the greenhouses with all the plants. I have just started the course back in September and love the practical parts the best. You get to see how plants grow and develop and learn how to take cuttings for next year’s crop” said  Becky Seawright from Antrim Grammar school.

The instructor for the afternoon at Greenmount Campus was Roderick Barnes, who demonstrated how to plant and maintain the Christmas planters. Roderick commented “Christmas is still a popular time for buying plants as gifts and today the pupils have had a go at preparing planters using seasonal Christmas plants. They have been very enthusiastic and keen to learn, I think they have enjoyed being artistic grouping different plants together, mixing foliages and colours”

For further details of Horticulture courses, full and part-time contact the College on 0800 028 4291

Becky Seawright from Antrim Grammar school, with Nancy Montgomery and Roderick Barnes.