Apprentice gardener is a bloomin’ marvel

GARDENER Sarah-Jane Horton has been given the thumbs-up by regulars at the Rifle Range Inn, Chadderton, for sprucing up the area and brightening their day.

The 24-year-old horticultural apprentice with Oldham Council threw herself into the job and has made a huge difference to the places for which she is responsible.

Sarah-Jane, who has worked for Oldham Council for four years, covers a big area, and refuses to take any holidays in summer so she can keep the weeds under control, the grass cut short, and the flowers blooming.

She looks after the grounds and also picks up litter and removes graffiti in Chadderton Way and Burnley Lane.

She also tends the green spots around the subways and local shops in the area, Park estate and Bare Trees estate, and the local lacrosse pitch.

But her biggest pride is in Fitton Park, which is near the Rifle Range Inn, and where regulars have watched her work tirelessly to transform it.

She works her week around crown green bowlers so she has the grass cut nice and short on the days they play, and has waged war on the weeds which threatened to overtake the beds which are now blooming with flowers.

The nomination from the pub regulars said: “Sarah-Jane is extremely hardworking, never stopping, no matter what the weather is like.

“She has transformed the area into a wonderful place to visit. She is always pleasant and kind and all the locals enjoy having a chat with her.

“For such a young girl to look after such a vast area is commendable.”

When Sarah-Jane heard she had been nominated, she said: “I can’t believe it. I really appreciate it, but I’m really just doing my job.”

Weeds

She admitted: “It is quite a big area, I work on my own and I only have half an hour break each day so I can get on top of it.

“I wouldn’t take a holiday in the summer because it doesn’t take long for the weeds to grow and the grass to grow, and I want to keep it all looking nice.

“The locals are always telling me what a good job I do and I am the best they have had, but I didn’t expect them to put me in for this. I am made up.”

She added: “I work quite hard and I am really proud of what I have achieved, particularly at Fitton Park.

“There were thousands, and I mean thousands, of weeds when I first started. I have never seen so many in one place and I’m just getting on top of it now.”