Yorkshire takes on ten apprentice gardeners

The parks and open spaces of Kirklees in Yorkshire will soon have the benefit of ten new apprentice gardeners caring for them.

A total of 160 applications were submitted for the posts, which were whittled down during two open evenings and 70 interviews.

The new recruits will work in a range of environments, including a garden nursery, local parks and a golf course.

Kirklees Parks and Open Spaces team coordinator Steve Taylor explained the apprentices were raring to go after a week learning health and safety procedures.

"Our full-time staff have been really supportive of this scheme and people in the parks are already remarking that it is so good to see young apprentices being taken on," he said.

The Royal Horticultural Society recently announced personnel at its Garden Wisley site in Surrey had done their part in clearing up the local environment.

Employees organised a clean-up or Wisley village and the surrounding area.