Capel Manor

Capel Manor Victorian Garden supported by Mr Fothergill's

With over 60 gardens and landscapes to explore you’re sure to find inspiration all the year round! And remember to visit the stunning Victorian Garden which we are pleased to be supporting.

For further information please visit: www.capelmanorgardens.co.uk

Mr Fothergill’s Award for the Capel Manor student who has demonstrated the highest skills in plant care

Each year we are pleased to work closely with the college and have established our annual award for the Capel Manor Student who has demonstrated the highest skills in plant care. The winning student receives our commemorative shield and a bursary of £500.

Capel Manor College's horticultural student Sarah Ruggeri is the 2016 winner of Mr Fothergill's Award for the student who has demonstrated the highest skills in plant care and propagation. She was recently presented with a commemorative shield and a bursary of £500 by the company’s joint managing director John Fothergill.

"Sarah has faced a great deal of personal challenges this year, but she has been determined to achieve this qualification. Her work is always to distinction standard, on time and with a flair for detail and creativity, especially in relation to propagation and growing plants in the protected environment. Sarah naturally helps other students within the group and is often the first to respond to queries and always gives generously with information to help" says Sarah Seery, head of horticulture at Capel. Sarah Ruggeri worked in the City for 20 years before deciding on a career change. She says "I did a couple of short courses first, a gardening course and a floristry course, and it was the gardening one that had me truly hooked. It's always something I've loved and I'm always outside in my own garden, but I hadn't really considered it as a career before. I then went on to do the Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture covering the Amenities, Crops and Hard landscaping units. It was hard work, but I loved it and thankfully passed with a distinction. I'm now looking to find work, ideally with a garden maintenance firm".