GLAS Special: Professional Gardeners’ Guild Ireland

The Irish branch of the PGG began in 1995 with just 10 members. We currently have members spread throughout the island of Ireland.

For over 45 years the Professional Gardeners’ Guild has been the meeting touchstone for professional gardeners employed in private gardens and estates

Horticulture

15 July 2026

PGG meetings and events

The Professional Gardeners’ Guild (PGG) organises national and regional meetings throughout the year in all parts of the country for members and their guests.

Meetings are informal gatherings of between 20 and 100 members; the object of the day is not only to look round the garden or gardens hosting the meeting, but also to meet other members, to exchange views, ideas, information and plants.

The Professional Gardener journal

The PGG produces a quarterly journal – The Professional Gardener, with articles produced almost entirely by members of the Guild.

Used frequently by members as a forum for discussion, a means of communication and a source of reference, it contains regular articles on plants and gardens, news, views and reports from both local and national meetings. There are also topical features focusing on a particular element of heritage gardening, e.g. tree planting or water management.

PGG traineeship scheme

In 1995, in response to the growing shortage of skilled, trained gardeners, the Guild set up a traineeship scheme, which has been used as a model for the more recent, HLF funded training scheme.

The PGG traineeship provides successful candidates with the opportunity to gain ‘hands on’ practical experience whilst working as part of the team within major gardens throughout the country.

Benefits of PGG membership

Benefits that members enjoy include conferences, regional and national meetings, a seed-exchange programme and access to a legal helpline.

The Guild produces an employment ‘job sheet’, which is sent out to members who are looking for work. It also maintains a register of self-employed members, which is made available to members of the public looking for professional help.

The objectives of the Guild are:

to promote and encourage professional contact, communication and co-operation between gardeners
to promote better management and maintenance of gardens and designed landscapes, especially those of historic, horticultural and botanic value
to promote and encourage the exchange of ideas and information on all aspects of professional gardening, including the use of both new technology and traditional skills, by means such as meetings, conferences and publications
to promote training of an appropriate kind in schools, colleges and the work place in order to provide the horticultural industry with skilled gardeners and garden managers
to promote gardening as a profession and to assist in the placement of professional gardeners in private employment
to promote and maintain close links with related organisations.

Our aims are to promote professional contact, share information and skills and, through our extensive ongoing learning and traineeships, to continue to provide the horticultural industry with skilled gardeners and garden managers.

Visit here today and join us.