Inspiring the next generation

Ecological surveying with children © Grace Edmunds-Jones

Grace Edmunds-Jones was part of the first cohort of students to enrol on the Level 3 Apprentice Landscape Technician course at Capel Manor College when it launched in May 2021. Having now become a Technician Member of the Landscape Institute (TMLI), Grace offers insights into the benefits of this important route into the profession and why she hopes to inspire others to follow the same path.

I have been interested in conservation for a long time; exploring apprenticeship opportunities online, I came across the Landscape Technician Apprenticeship offered by Plymouth City Council. Intrigued by its potential to combine my passion for art and conservation, I applied. This apprenticeship seemed like a promising avenue to gain new skills and contribute meaningfully to environmental action.

As I started the apprenticeship, I had no landscape design knowledge. However, childhood experiences of helping my mother in the garden sparked an early love for plants, and years spent working at a garden centre boosted my plant knowledge.

I’ve been working at Plymouth City Council since May 2021, starting as an Apprentice Landscape Technician. A month later, I enrolled on my online learning journey with Capel Manor College. The weekly classes were packed with valuable lessons, from site survey and analysis to technical design and management. We also took a course on using Vectorworks and translating hand-drawn designs into digital. I put my knowledge to work by designing a community garden at my place of work, the Plymouth City Council-owned Poole Farm.

The community garden redesign enabled me to put the skills learned in our weekly classes into practice. I also attended a permaculture design course through Plymouth City Council, where I gained insights into working with nature, utilising renewable resources, and creating efficient and beautiful designs. These principles heavily influenced the design of the community garden. Leading this project at Poole Farm allowed me to see it through from start to finish. I continue to manage the site today, providing valuable hands-on experience that complemented my apprenticeship.

I am currently still employed at Poole Farm and have been seconded to a role as Natural Infrastructure Assistant. My primary responsibilities include leading educational sessions for groups of children and young people, focusing on nature appreciation and biodiversity, as well as overseeing practical conservation tasks and volunteer activities. I am also involved in redesigning various areas of the farm, with plans underway for the development of a natural play space and a sensory garden. I collaborate with other council teams for various projects, including the creation of landscape schemes for a major roundabout, and contributing to the development of a new management plan for the woodland area in Plymouth’s Central Park.

In my view, being successful in my role means learning and making a difference every day. The variety of tasks I handle gives me opportunities to grow. I love that my work directly impacts the landscape, making it more biodiverse. Plus, I get to share my passion for nature with visitors, especially kids, hoping to inspire the next generation of nature lovers.

Grace Edmunds-Jones

Grace Edmunds-Jones is a new Technician Member of the Landscape Institute (TMLI) and Natural Infrastructure Assistant at Poole Farm.