Mount Congreve School of Horticulture

Our students enjoying a final walk among the magnolias here at Mount Congreve Gardens on the last day of their Level 5 Horticulture course. From all the teaching team here, it's been fantastic to be around such an enthusiastic green-fingered bunch!
Wishing you every success as you progress on to the next chapter in your horticulture careers.

There is still time if you would like your chance to be part of the next course group. Don't miss out, apply now!

📅 Course starts: 27th April 2026
📝 Apply now - https://mountcongreve.com/school-of-horticulture/

This Local Training Initiative, delivered in partnership with Waterford & Wexford Education and Training Board, is a QQI-accredited Level 5 programme.

WWETB Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board
WWETB Adult & Community Education
Waterford and Wexford Adult Education Guidance and Information Service

🌱 Open Day at Mount Congreve School of Horticulture 🌱

Thinking about a future in horticulture? Come along to our Open Day and discover what studying at Mount Congreve is really like.

📅 Thursday 12th February
⏰ 10.30am – 12.30pm

This Local Training Initiative, supported by WWETB Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board, delivers a full-time QQI Level 5 Major Award in Horticulture and starts in April 2026.

On the day you can:
✔️ Meet our tutors and staff
✔️ Learn about the course content
✔️ Tour our facilities
✔️ Chat with current students about their experiences

📩 To attend, please register by emailing:
[email protected]

🔗 Find out more:
www.mountcongreve.com/school-of-horticulture

🌿 Whether you’re starting out or changing direction, this is a great opportunity to explore your learning journey in horticulture.



Mount Congreve Gardens
WWETB Adult & Community Education
This Is FET

🌱 Looking to study horticulture — or know someone who might be interested?

Applications are now open for our 2026 Level 5 Horticulture Course, based at the world-famous Mount Congreve Gardens, where you can begin your journey toward a rewarding career in horticulture.

📅 Course starts: April 2026
📝 Apply now - https://mountcongreve.com/school-of-horticulture/

Delivered in partnership with Waterford & Wexford Education and Training Board, this QQI-accredited Level 5 programme is delivered onsite at the Mount Congreve School of Horticulture and prepares students for careers across a wide range of horticultural sectors.

Mount Congreve Gardens
WWETB Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board
WWETB Adult & Community Education

Our Level 5 Horticulture students planted native birch and alder trees to help strengthen the existing stock of native plants in the estate’s biodiverse wetland area. This hands-on activity not only supports local wildlife and habitat, but also gives students the chance to leave a lasting mark that they can revisit and watch grow in the years to come. Well done all 👏🏻

WWETB Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board
Mount Congreve Gardens
WWETB Adult & Community Education

🎉 Huge Congratulations to our WWETB Learners! 🎉
Last week, learners from the LTI Programme proudly received their QQI Level 5 Major Award in Horticulture – and what an inspiring celebration it was! 🌱
Their progression stories are a powerful reminder of the dedication and commitment of our incredible LTI staff and the life-changing impact these programmes have. 💪
It was clear on the day just how much an LTI programme can transform lives, opening doors to new opportunities for every learner.

For those who don’t know, the Local Training Initiative (LTI) is a community-based programme designed to support learners who need a little extra help to access training and take the next step toward work or further education.

👏 Here’s to new beginnings and bright futures!

Congratulations to the Class of 2024/2025 Today we celebrate the newest graduates from the @schoolofhorticulture_ each of whom has achieved a QQI Level 5 Major Award in Horticulture in partnership with the @wwetb_official Set within one of the Great Gardens of the World, our students have spent the past year learning and working across 70 acres of historic gardens — from the four-acre Walled Garden and Georgian glasshouses to the Woodland and Wetland gardens — gaining invaluable, hands-on experience through every season. To our graduates — Claire Atkins, Des Brennan, Patrick Byrne, Euan Carberry, William Cheasty, Ciara McElwee, Valeria Navarro, William O’Neill, Eric Salmon, Rebecca Simpson, Luke Cosgrove, Laura Madigan, Stephen Glavin, Elaine McCarthy, and Gary O’Neill — congratulations on your dedication, creativity, and commitment to the art and science of horticulture. We are proud of what you’ve achieved and look forward to seeing the gardens and green spaces you will nurture in the years ahead. ——— The next full-time QQI Level 5 Horticulture Programme begins April 2026, just in time for the growing season. Find out more about qualifying as a horticulturalist at Mount Congreve Gardens via the link in our bio. #MountCongreveGardens #SchoolofHorticulture #WWETB #HorticultureGraduation #IrishGardens #GardenCareers #GreatGardensOfTheWorld #MountCongreve #WaterfordIreland

Here in the gardens, the stunningly beautiful Peony Walk is in full flower with our horticulture students helping to keep it looking at its best for everyone to see! Our Level 5 students deadheaded the peonies as part of their Ornamental Horticulture skills module. As peonies produce only a single flush of blooms each season, the purpose of deadheading in this instance is purely aesthetic—removing the spent flowers helps to maintain a tidy and visually appealing border for as long as possible. The Peony Walk includes varieties such as:
Paeonia 'Bowl of Beauty'
Paeonia 'Baroness Schroeder'
Paeonia 'Festiva Maxima'
Paeonia 'Lady Alexandra Duff'

The rambling roses in the background are:
Rosa 'Paul's Himalayan Musk'
Rosa 'Veilchenblau'

WWETB Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board
Mount Congreve Gardens
WWETB Adult & Community Education