Apprentices transform garden of historic house

Apprentices have been working on a garden ahead of the Trowbridge Flower Festival

A team of four apprentices have transformed the garden of a 300-year-old house in time for a town's flower festival using plants from a national collection.

The horticulture apprentices from Wiltshire College & University Centre's Lackham campus used rambling roses at Parade House in Trowbridge.

Victoria Fiander, from the college, said: "Normally we would like a year to plan and grow for a project like this but fortunately we had the roses we have been cultivating as part of our national collection and they were perfect for it."

The town's flower festival started this month and events are planned until September.

The rambling roses used are from the college's specially cultivated national collection

They were asked to plant in the front of the Georgian town house just a few weeks ago.

Now used as a venue for events, it was built for wool merchant Robert Houlton in about 1720.

Ms Fiander said: "The students worked really hard. They began by carefully inspecting each plant and applying precise pruning techniques to maintain its health, form, and structure."

Tristan Huft Higgins said the apprenticeship had been giving him "a good background in the practical side of things".

"You really have that opportunity to learn through doing. Learn about the plant life around you through witnessing it grow through the different seasons," he added.

The flower festival is organised by Trowbridge Chamber of Commerce and features 50 businesses around the town entering displays.