Borders College plume itself on being a globally engaged institution and a recent international on-line visit to Holland highlighted this .

The students , along with lecturer Nigel Gibb , recently relate up with Dutch cultivator Maarten Westerbos to get an perceptiveness into growing and selling flowers on an industrial scale .

Set up through Microsoft Teams , Nigel bring out Maarten to the students and talked a little about his experiences work for Maarten as a scholarly person in Holland back in 1999 . A series of maps were used to allow the students to see where Maarten ’s business was based in relation to the Scottish Borders .

Maarten was delighted to be give the chance to talk about his occupation and began with a tour of his commercial-grade nursery , based in Aalsmeer , close to the city of Amsterdam .

He talked about various plant species that his company bring forth and showed the students the equipment and processes used in potting and planting , as well as introducing them to his workforce .

Maarten took questions from the student and spoke in - deepness about sustainability , climate effect on growth and battle disease in plant .

Selling most of his plants through the bombastic plant and heyday auction in the World in Aalsmeer , he also spoke to the educatee about the importance of produce his product to a high standard and how this can bear on the price at auction .

A second session was also delivered on the day from Maarten ’s home town of Nieuwveen , with a circuit of the impressive glasshouse and a lesson on how water from Holland ’s famed canals is used in the production mental process .

Nigel Gibb commented : “ This was a great opportunity to join up with my former employer to help give our scholarly person an insight into the commercial yield of works in Holland . It permit our educatee to recognize the potency of being able to use the transferable skills learnt on our Horticultural course at dwelling house and overseas . "

“ Our students were very enthusiastic and booked to be able to ask questions freely and to improve their knowledge and understanding . I am very thankful to Maarten for pass on up two hours of his working day to do our online link up . We plan to try and do this with some other agriculturalist in the cheeseparing hereafter . ”

The tour end with Maarten talk about the future of the diligence and promote the students to develop a passion for plant growing and take every chance in their vocation .

Mary Thomson , Curriculum Learning Manager for Rural Skills , comment : “ Nigel has support the Horticulture students in building globular connections through this excellent guest talking to . The Horticulture section also maintains an excellent regional focus through our web including biotic community projects with local groups such as Newtown in bloom and partnership work with Mertoun Estate .

“ In the future , we desire that our Dutch colleagues might have an chance to visit us in the Scottish Borders . ”

The College hop to build on its relationship with Maarten and the opportunity of future employment and potential work placements for the pupil was discussed .

Source : Borders College