Growing up in the open countryside, Luke has engaged with nature and the environment all his life. His tale sees him transition from a hobby gardener and hairdresser to becoming a horticulturist and STH practitioner. He is currently completing his first year of the STH Diploma after receiving The John Weightman bursary.
“Living in an agricultural area, I was fortunate to see the seasons. I followed the crops and harvest, and the general needs and maintenance of the land. At home, my mum was always interested in the garden, so I naturally enjoyed and noticed the garden around me. As an adult, I started to visit historical gardens that were more designed and managed where I enjoyed seeing the vegetable gardens, walled gardens, and the wider estates.”
Later in life, Luke moved to Birmingham where he worked as a hairdresser and living in a city, he took an interest in window boxes and container planting. He then had the opportunity to have an allotment which is when he became involved with a community garden.
“I volunteered once a week at the Martineau Gardens which is a charity and therapeutic community garden. I enjoy working in public open gardens in a thought-out space that isn’t immaculate but natural, life-giving, productive, beautiful, and people-focused. Feeling the influence of the people in a garden and being part of a committed community supporting and engaging with a space is lovely.”
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Luke’s salon was shut so he could no longer work full-time as a hairdresser. This allowed him to consider a career change and explore his interest in horticulture as a mature student.
“When the colleges reopened, I enrolled at Birmingham Metropolitan and took multiple certificates in horticulture training while volunteering at the community garden which was great for my own wellbeing at this time providing structure and direction. I completed a City and Guilds level one certificate in Practical Horticulture and RHS level 2 certificates in Practical Horticulture, Plant Science, and Garden Planning and Maintenance – giving me the whole RHS diploma.”
Luke’s training enabled him to start leading and assisting sessions with the client gardeners at the community garden, which led to Luke’s application for the John Weightman bursary on Thrive’s Diploma in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (STH). Luke was awarded the bursary after demonstrating his commitment to learning and practice.
“I was so grateful to receive the bursary as I couldn't afford to complete the diploma without it. I’m also appreciative of the flexible and accommodating course leaders, they have been very supportive helping me to stay on track with the coursework through both the distance and on-site learning. It's a huge commitment, and the generosity of the bursary coupled with the understanding nature of Thrive, has made it possible for me to manage both financially and logistically.”
Luke’s circumstances changed during his time on the diploma course which meant he also had to relocate within Birmingham. No longer a hairdresser and living in a new home, Luke embraced his career change – training with Thrive, working at a botanical garden in a horticultural role and volunteering at the community garden to support its STH practice.
“I’m optimistic about my future in STH. It's an exciting transition. As a career changer and because of my circumstances, I'm hugely grateful for this opportunity to be equipped with something I want to do. During the course, it's been interesting to speak to other people who are either in or coming into the industry and to see their presentations and hear about their own projects or lived experiences.”
“I'm planning to remain in Birmingham working within STH, and I’m working at a National Trust Garden which is wonderful. I hope to keep engaged with the gardens I'm already involved with as I particularly enjoy the social side of STH. I love the fusion of people in community gardens and the consistency they create in people’s lives as an inclusive, safe environment where people feel included and can give back too. The impact of these spaces on the individual but also within society is very special.”