THE Women’s Farm and Garden Association is not widely known but it can give a big helping hand to women returning to work who would like to take up gardening or looking for a change in career.

It is a charity that runs a scheme for training in gardening and is aimed largely at women.

The project is called Women Returners to Amenity Gardening and training covers a year at two days a week.

WFGA already has more than 100 trainees placed in gardens all over England and is anxious to take on more gardens and more trainees to be involved in the unique scheme.

An information pack is available from The Women’s Farm and Garden Association, 175 Gloucester Street, Cirencester, Glos, GL7 2DP, on 01285 658339 or via email at admin@wfga.org.uk

■ WFGA was founded in 1899 by a small group of women concerned with the lack of opportunities for training, employment and advancement for women working on the land.

At the outbreak of the First World War, it launched and ran a scheme that formed the Women’s Land Army.