connor : thriving at furzey gardens

Connor joined Furzey Gardens as an Assistant Gardener after rebuilding his confidence with support from Empowering Employment and the Positive Path Foundation.

‘I had a bit of a rough journey,’ Connor admits, after resigning from his first gardening job. ‘Jane got my confidence back and supported me with getting this job here, it’s helped massively.’

Connor’s job at Furzey Gardens is hands‑on: ‘You’re learning all the plants and planting them at the right time of year… there’s weeding, mowing, strimming, cutting back, pruning.’ Gentle guidance from his Empowering Employment adviser matters: ‘He’s given me encouragement and a confidence boost so when visitors ask questions, I can answer.’

Connor is also passing skills on: ‘We’ve got a couple of students doing work experience. I guide
them, make sure they’re OK; I’ve never done that before, but I like it.’

The setting lifts him daily: ‘Hearing the birds is like music in the background… the fresh
air washes a bad day away.’

Looking ahead, he smiles: ‘A friend’s thinking of starting a gardening business, maybe
that’s something I could do with him.’