Horticultural Therapist

Typical Salary

£17,000 To £30,000

Typical Hours

37 to 39 variable

evenings / weekends managing your own hours

How To Become a Horticultural Therapist

You can get into this job through:

a university course
specialist courses run by private training organisations

College / University

You could do a foundation degree, higher national diploma or degree course in horticulture, although this isn't always essential.

1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma

2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

a degree in a releva

Apprenticeship

Apprenticeship are not listed for this job.

Routes into this Career

Routes into this Career are not listed for this job.

Other Routes

You can attend short courses run by Thrive, a national charity who offer Step into Social and Therapeutic Horticulture workshops.

Skills And Knowledge

You'll need:

knowledge of psychology
counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
excellent verbal communication skills
sensitivity and understanding
knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
the ability to work well with others
leadership skills
the ability to work well with your hands
to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Day To Day Tasks

In your day-to-day duties you may:

develop clients' practical or social skills, confidence or self-esteem
help clients to learn or re-learn basic skills, including numeracy and literacy
provide outdoor activity and exercise to restore strength and mobility after injury or illness
support clients to take horticultural qualifications or to move into employment
work closely with other professionals like psychologists and social workers
manage staff and volunteers
draw up proposals for projects

Working Environment

You could work in a garden, on a country estate or in a therapy clinic.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and physically demanding.

Career Path & Progression

You could use horticultural therapy as part of a wider role, like occupational therapy. With experience and further study, you could move into a supervisory role, or research.

Volunteering Opportunities

It can be really useful to get experience of working on a horticulture project, on a paid or voluntary basis. You'll get a better understanding of the role, and make contacts who could help when looking for work.

Volunteering opportunities are available with Thrive if you live within travelling distance of their gardens in Battersea (South London), Birmingham, Gateshead or Beech Hill (near Reading). Thrive also has details of other horticulture projects in the UK.

You can find out about other local volunteering opportunities from Do-it.

Tips & Information

Career tips

You may have an advantage if you are moving into this career from other areas of horticulture or jobs such as social care, occupational therapy, nursing or teaching.

Professional and industry bodies

You can join the Association of Social and Horticultural Therapeutic Practitioners for access to local groups, industry newsletters and support from mentors.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a horticultural therapist from Thrive and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture.

Restrictions & Requirements

You'll need to:

pass enhanced background checks, as you may be working with children and vulnerable adults