Hereford-based Wyevale Nurseries has this month appointed a member of its internal pool of homegrown young horticultural talent as its new Plant Healthy Lead.
Julia Giermaniuk’s new role includes maintaining inhouse support and co-ordination in preparation for the family-run company’s annual Plant Healthy audits, while also sharing best practice and fostering continuous improvement across divisions.
Julia, who is already a Tree Division Technical Specialist at Wyevale Nurseries, says: “I am delighted with my new appointment, which will mean, in addition to my role at trees, that I will be overseeing the requirements and compliance needed for the Plant Healthy Certification across all four of our nursery divisions.
“I am also now Wyevale Nurseries’ representative on the Ornamentals Technical Committee, which is a huge honour.”
After studying for a BSc in Plant Biology and MSc in Biotechnology, both at Aberystwyth University, the 27-year-old decided she wanted a more hands on, outdoor career, so she joined Wyevale Nurseries as a seasonal worker in April 2021.
While onsite she was soon identified as having talent and was promoted to a management trainee in the September of the same year.
Since then, she has progressed within the business and now oversees the plant protection department in the Tree Division, as well as helping with stock production and despatch tasks, as needed.
Julia also holds several Pesticide Application qualifications.
In her spare time, she keeps her green fingers busy outdoors and indoors and is a self-confessed houseplant hoarder.
She adds: “Most of my free time is either spent in the garden, looking after my ornamentals and vegetables, or tending to my ever-growing collection of 70+ houseplants!”
As a leading grower and supplier of quality UK grown stock, Wyevale Nurseries has a fundamental management responsibility to plant health and biosecurity.
Its Plant Healthy accreditation demonstrates its commitment and achievements set against an externally audited standard.
Andy Johnson, Managing Director of Wyevale Nurseries, says: “I am delighted that after four years with us, and building upon an excellent technical background, Julia has agreed to take on this key role.
“Plant health and biosecurity are at and the heart of what we do as a nursery, and it is great to see the project lead being headed up by one of our own young homegrown talents and backed up by the highly skilled staff in all our production departments. I wish Julia every success as she continues to build her career with us.”
Wyevale Nurseries has a product selection that’s admired across the industry and the talented team regularly introduces new, award-winning plant varieties.
