CAFRE Greenmount Campus will host a horticulture open day on Wednesday 11 March. Tours start at 10.30am, 3pm and 6pm. Attendees can inspect facilities and speak with staff.

The campus offers a foundation degree in horticulture on a part-time basis. Modules include plant science, hands-on training, pesticide application qualifications and industry projects.

Gary Hegarty completed the foundation degree. He worked nearly 20 years as a senior sports designer at a national newspaper before enrolling.

Hegarty resides in the west of Northern Ireland. He now runs Mindful Gardens, a self-employed business focused on sensory and wellness garden spaces.

During his studies, Hegarty designed and built a sensory garden for the RTÉ Super Garden event. He is parent to a child with autism.

The programme shifted to online delivery for its first two years due to Covid-19 measures. Practical sessions followed in later years.

CAFRE delivers training in agriculture, food and rural enterprise across Northern Ireland campuses.