Landscaping and Horticulture students at Gower College Swansea have benefited from a unique working partnership with Swansea University over recent months.
The learners have been working alongside the Grounds Maintenance team at the Singleton Campus to carry out a range of practical jobs such as turf laying, weeding, flower bed preparation, watering and planting containers for a seasonal display.
One especially exciting aspect of the project has seen the students helping with the regeneration of the Abbey Gardens. Here, they have worked alongside University staff to remove the old plants and to prepare and improve the beds. They have also completed a planting scheme consisting of daliahs, ornamental poppies, erigeron, marigolds and campanula, to name a few.
These beds will not only look stunning over the summer months but they will also provide vital nectar and pollen to bees and butterflies.
“This partnership has been fantastic as it’s given the students a unique opportunity to work alongside professionals in the field of horticulture, collaborating on meaningful projects that enhance the University for all,” says Curriculum Leader Paul Bidder.
“It’s really boosted their confidence – they have taken such a pride in this work over recent months and are eager to get to the University each time so they can make more progress. Gower College Swansea is very grateful to the University for providing our learners with this exciting opportunity which we hope will continue into the future.”
Ben Lucas, Associate Director of Commercial and Campus Services at Swansea University, said:
“We’re delighted to support this partnership with Gower College Swansea and to welcome the students onto our Singleton Campus. It’s been fantastic to see them working alongside our Grounds Maintenance Team and contributing so much to the conservation of our historic Abbey Gardens.
“The partnership reflects our civic mission priorities - to be a university for the region and to make our spaces open and accessible to all. We’re proud that our beautiful, Green Flag accredited grounds can provide a meaningful learning environment for the horticulture students, who have been a pleasure to work with - we look forward to continuing to build on this close relationship with the College in the future.”