The award winning Highdown Gardens in Worthing, received more good news this week.  Their apprentice, Sam Dexter (21, Worthing), has won the coveted Plumpton College Top Horticulture Apprentice of the Year award.

This news comes in the same week that Highdown Gardens won, for the second year running, a TripAdvisor certificate for Excellence. More details here.

Jo Hooper, Highdown Gardens Manager and Head Gardener adds “Sam is studying towards a Level 2 Work Based Diploma in Horticulture at Plumpton College.  We are extremely proud of Sam who has put  an enormous amount of work into his studies and contributed greatly towards the upkeep of Highdown Gardens.  Sam started with us in February 2015 and is due to complete his apprenticeship in May next year.  He has a very bright future in horticulture ahead of him and the award is very well deserved.”

Sam Dexter says “I have enjoyed my experience here at Highdown Gardens and have learnt a great deal, from identifying plants to general maintenance tasks. Plumpton College has offered me the chance to enhance my practical knowledge with theory and research. I feel the apprenticeship has given me a good basis to progress through the industry. I would recommend doing an apprenticeship to anyone who is interested in following a career in horticulture and I’d like to thank the Council for the opportunity.”

Councillor Clive Roberts, Worthing Borough Council Executive Member for Environment adds “Many congratulations to Sam.  He is an important part of this award winning Garden and a shining example of the many young people in Worthing who benefit from Apprenticeships.  Jo and her team have done a great job of sharing their wide breadth of knowledge with Sam, and in turn have helped this talented horticulturist maintain the high standards Highdown already enjoys, for a long time to come.”

Highdown will be recruiting for a new horticultural apprentice early next year, please keep an eye on the apprenticeship website www.apprenticeships.org.uk for details.