Aberglasney Gardens has announced that Swansea’s Jason Paine and Norfolk‑born Hannah Finnemore have joined its team under the 2025 Student Bursary Scheme, a 12‑month funded placement offering hands‑on training in one of Wales’s most historic gardens.
Jason, from Swansea, said the pandemic forced him to rethink his future. After being moved outdoors from a café job, he discovered a passion for gardening that led him to Singleton Park Botanical Gardens in Swansea and later Newton House at Dinefwr near Llandeilo before securing his Aberglasney bursary.
Jason Paine said:
“Aberglasney has grown with me. I remember visiting as a boy, walking through the yew archway and enjoying tea and scones by the pool garden. Now I’m lucky enough to learn from head gardeners trained at Kew and Wisley.”
Hannah, originally from Norfolk, studied at Coleg Sir Gâr before joining Aberglasney. She said the gardens’ mix of historic features and modern planting made the placement an ideal fit.
Hannah Finnemore, one of Aberglasney’s new bursary students, pictured among banana palms in the gardens’ subtropical section.
(Image: Aberglasney)
Hannah Finnemore said:
“I love that everyone is enthusiastic to improve the gardens even more. The projects are an interesting challenge and I hope to develop my own garden design style.”
Aberglasney Gardens Director Helen Scutt said the pair had already “fitted right in” with the team.
“Our gardens are ever‑evolving, and students get unique opportunities to take part in major landscape projects. I’m sure this year’s students will enjoy playing a part in making Aberglasney’s gardens special for our visitors.”
The Aberglasney bursary runs for 12 months, offering training in everyday gardening tasks and specialist skills such as bulb planting and propagation.
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