On 28 June 2019, HRH The Duke of Rothesay visited Castlebank Park and met with around 100 people involved in the park’s development including volunteers, young people, project funders and partners. Following the visit, The Prince’s Charities has given a generous donation towards the ongoing development of the park. The Duke of Rothesay is a well-known advocate of championing youth education, and as such, Lanark Community Development Trust has chosen to allocated a proportion of this donation towards a fully-funded bursary place for one young person to complete the RHS Level 2 Principles of Horticulture course in 2019/2020.

This qualification is designed for individuals wanting a route to employment in professional horticulture or further development. The theory-based qualification helps learners by assessing their knowledge of the principles which underpin horticultural practices. The qualification is comprised of two certificates:

• RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Garden Planning, Establishment and Maintenance
• RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth, Health and Applied Propagation

The qualification will be delivered at Castlebank Horticultural Centre, which is located within the historic Castlebank Park in Lanark. The Horticultural Centre features a recently renovated Community Hub building and a community growing area with multiple raised beds and polytunnels. Students will have the chance to enhance their theoretical learning by viewing practical demonstrations or undertaking practical activities within the Horticultural Centre or wider area of Castlebank Park. The course will run from September 2019 to June 2020, with exams in February and June 2020.

For full details of the criteria and application award see Lanark Community Development Trust website.