SRUC student inspires career changers to study horticulture
After 20 years working as a nurse, Cherie Low decided it was time for a completely different career - swapping hospital wards for gardens and discovering a new passion through horticulture.
The 39-year-old from Longforgan, Perth & Kinross, enrolled on the NC Horticulture course after spotting it on the SRUC website. She initially began studying at the Edinburgh Campus before transferring to Elmwood, where the specialist horticultural facilities and designed garden spaces provided the ideal environment to develop her practical skills.
Now progressing to the HNC Horticulture course at SRUC's Elmwood Campus, Cherie is encouraging others who may be considering a career change to take the leap.
She said: "It's never too late to change your path. It is scary to make the leap, but it's absolutely worth it."
The NC Horticulture course gave Cherie a broad introduction to the industry, combining hands-on practical experience with the scientific knowledge needed to build a successful career.
She particularly enjoyed the biology and plant identification modules, which helped her better understand how plants grow and thrive.
She said: “It's a really good place to start and build a strong foundation. You learn practical skills alongside the science behind them, and that gives you confidence to keep progressing.”
Cherie’s dedication throughout the course saw her recognised as the Best Student of the Year, highlighting the progress she has made since returning to education after two decades in healthcare.
Looking ahead, she hopes to combine her new skills with her love of historic and public gardens, with ambitions to work in a National Trust garden or at the planned Eden Project Dundee.
Her story highlights the opportunities horticulture can offer to people from all backgrounds, whether they are leaving school or looking for a fresh start later in life.
Marc Harper, Senior lecturer in Horticulture at SRUC's Elmwood Campus said: “Cherie’s story shows that you don’t need a background in horticulture to succeed. Our courses are designed to give students a strong foundation in both the practical and scientific aspects of the industry, while building the confidence to pursue exciting careers. Whether you're leaving school or looking for a complete career change, horticulture offers a huge range of opportunities, and we'd encourage anyone with an interest in plants or the environment to consider studying with SRUC.”
With applications open for SRUC's horticulture courses, Cherie hopes others who have been thinking about a career change will be inspired to take that first step.
She said: “If horticulture is something you're interested in, don't let your age or previous career put you off. I never imagined I'd be back studying after 20 years, but it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made.”
If you are exploring your options through Clearing, there’s still time to find the horticulture course that’s right for you. Visit the Clearing page for more information
Posted by SRUC on 21/07/2026
