Six employees of the Bermuda Parks Department have celebrated completing the Gardeners Training Programme.

Khari Martin, Khalil Matthews, Allan Furbert, Mark Anthony Swan, Rolando Wilson and Darren Maybury were awarded their certificates by Minister of the Environment, Telecommunications and E-Commerce Neletha Butterfield during an awards ceremony.

The students attended classes twice a week for nine months taking courses including horticulture, botany, plant and soil science, propagation, turf installation and maintenance, and machine and equipment maintenance.

Minster Butterfield told the students: ?I?m thrilled to see that the entire staff of the parks department is so enthusiastic about the achievements of their colleagues.

?Hopefully more staff will be encouraged to further their education and learn more about Bermuda?s horticulture and environment to promote the preservation and protection of Bermuda?s environment for many generations to come.?

Director of Parks, Lisa Dawn Johnston, said: ?The success of these employees has raised the level of enthusiasm within the department, and the fruits of their studies will be seen across the Island?s national parks, school grounds, gardens and roundabouts.

?The Department of Parks encourages their participation in any way we can. It is our goal to provide these training opportunities to our employees and in doing so continuously raise the standards of the landscapes we manage.

?I would like to thank both the students and their instructors for their dedication, enthusiasm and hard work?.