Greenhouse skills for unemployed teens

A new scheme has been launched to help Norwich teenagers find work, according to Norwich Evening News.

The project will teach unemployed teenagers garden and greenhouse skills and let them work towards a nationally recognised qualification.

The Mow and Grow project is run in partnership with Connexions and the North Earlham, Larkman and Marlpit (NELM) Development Trust.

NELM Development Trust chief executive Nick Craig explained that the scheme is set to run for a year and each intake of students will last for 13 weeks.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for local people to directly see the benefit of clearing and maintaining gardens and open spaces," he said.

"As well as being a benefit to the residents, the young people will be learning real skills that they can take with them into future employment."

It is not the only scheme in the UK that is arming would-be horticulturists with garden and greenhouse skills – the Times recently reported that Plymouth University is to begin offering a new sustainable horticulture course in conjunction with the Eden project, beginning September 2009.