Over 1,300 young people applied but just 19 have been picked for a new place on the Homebase Garden Academy training programme.
Now in its second year, the pioneering scheme will run for 12 months and gives the successful candidates a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop their gardening skills, working alongside award-winning garden designer Adam Frost.

Over the next year the students will spend time learning from Mr Frost about garden planning and design, working with top garden suppliers to develop detailed product knowledge covering planting and landscaping, and learn practical horticultural skills to earn them a RHS Level 1 Award qualification.

All the students will also be working full-time at their local Homebase store to help customers with their gardening dilemmas.

"Attracting young people into careers in gardening is increasingly challenging," commented Mr Frost. "By working with Homebase, we have the opportunity to do something special and inspire the next generation of gardeners."

Homebase garden trading director Matthew Compton added: "As one of the UK's leading garden retailers, we're committed to championing horticulture as a great career choice, and we're excited to welcome our second intake of Garden Academy students to what we know will be a great start to their careers."