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CAFRE

Emma McFarline – Alumni

Emma McFarline, from Omagh graduated from the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) Greenmount Campus in June 2018.

What course did you study at CAFRE and how has it influenced your career?

I studied the Foundation Degree in Horticulture at CAFRE, Greenmount Campus in Antrim. I studied on the course full-time over two years. I was attracted to it as it had a good mix of classroom and practical work that allowed me to develop a broad range of horticulture skills.

Greenmount Campus offers extensive horticulture facilities to support the courses taught by the college. From the spectacular Richardsons Walled Garden to covered areas for landscaping practice and modern production glasshouses, you get to experience many facets of horticulture. It was only when I really got into the course did I appreciate the wide variety of careers that my Foundation Degree could offer me. Through the extensive grounds at Greenmount Campus which provided us with the ultimate outdoor classrooms and production facilities I developed appreciation and understanding that every horticulturist should have. As the course and range of modules progressed I found myself becoming interested in both propagation and heritage gardens, and so far in my career I’ve been able to work in both areas!

What is your fondest memory of your time at CAFRE?

I really enjoyed our class study tour to Belgium. During the trip we visited lots of different horticulture business and attractions providing us with fantastic insights and many inspirational ideas to take back to home.

What was your first job?

I thought when I completed my course at CAFRE my learning was complete, but I was wrong. Since taking up work in the industry I have been learning so much and gaining many new skills. I spent one month at RHS Wisley, then one year at Oxford Botanic Gardens as part of the Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme. Following that, through Elizabeth Hess Scholarship, I spent over a year at Tresco Abbey Gardens, before moving to my current job at RHS Rosemoor.

What is your current job and responsibilities?

I have recently taken up employment with the RHS, working at Rosemoor in Devon as part of the ‘Formal Garden’ Team.

I am mostly working with establishing new plantings and repairing turf around the gardens. I’ve had to recap on all my hardy plants knowledge as I was used to working with very tender plants when employed at Tresco Abbey Gardens.

Working with the RHS offers me fabulous opportunities. The organisation works to extremely high horticultural standards. It’s great to be part of an expert team and, I’m learning more and more every day.

What advice would you give a new graduate?

I recommend you gain as much and as broad an experience as possible early on in your career. Allow your roots to spread and sample all that horticulture can offer and then choose a direction, watch your career grow!

If you are the type of person who gains satisfaction from seeing the results of your labour or creating wonderful green spaces l would highly recommend you look into the courses at Greenmount Campus.