SPRING has sprung – which means preparations are in full swing for an annual plant sale starting this week.

Entry Level Programme students at Weymouth College have been busy over the last few months preparing for the week-long spring sale, which is run out of the garden shop in the grounds of the college in Cranford Avenue.

The sale, which gives students invaluable work experience, has been running for many years and always proves popular with local customers.

Students learn retail skills as well as gaining horticultural knowledge.

Horticultural instructor Trish Lea said as a bonus this year the students are doing a course on horticulture as part of their course so they will be awarded with certificates at the end of the year.

A horticultural level one course open to all is also launching at the shop next year.

Trish said: “Students on the entry level programme spend months planning the sale and in early spring they started growing the plants from seed and plugs and making up the hanging baskets.

“They learn about horticulture as they go along.”

She said the students are assisted by volunteer Russell Godwin, a former student. Trish added: “Despite the wet conditions the plants are looking blooming lovely!”

The shop is open throughout term time on Thursdays and Fridays and sells local preserves, traditional biscuits, snacks and hampers.

The plant sale runs from this Wednesday until Tuesday, May 8 including the Bank Holiday Monday from 10am to 2pm.

On sale will be bedding plants, shrubs, perennials, climbers, hanging baskets, tomato plants and many more.

Customers are asked to bring a box.