Award for blogging gardener

An apprentice gardener with Shetland Islands Council, Liam Anderson, this week won two awards at Lantra Scotland’s Learner of the Year Awards, at a ceremony at Dunblane Hydro.

Liam, who works at Lerwick’s flower park, won a CARAS (Council of Awards of Royal Agricultural Societies) prize as well as being runner up in the horticulture category.

Liam is working towards a Modern Apprenticeship SVQ level 3 in parks, gardens and open spaces while working for the sport and leisure service, based at the Jubilee Flower Park in King Harald Street.

His training is overseen by staff at Train Shetland and he attends periods of block-release study at Elmwood College in Fife, part of Scotland’s Rural College network. Liam has previously completed an SVQ level 2 in horticulture, where he was awarded a prize for best SVQ.

He also write the popular flower park blog on the Council’s website, where he provides updates on activities in the park and gardening advice

Shetland was well represented at the awards ceremony with Martin Mladenov, from Lerwick, also winning a CARAS award, recognising his work as a husbandryman at Scottish Sea Farms, and having completed a Modern Apprenticeship SVQ level 3 in aquaculture.