A NINE-year-old boy has charmed garden officials into offering him a work experience day after applying for a landscaping job as part of a school project.

Lincoln Johnson, from Ormsgill, was inspired to write an application to Continental Landscape, who manage Barrow Park, during a letter-writing class at school.

In his letter, the aspiring-gardener wrote: “I would be really good having a job at your business because I have grown up landscaping people’s gardens for them.

“I have a lot of good qualities, such as I am helpful, caring, happy and funny.

“I’m so careful with the machinery.

“I’ve never had an injury in my life!”

According to Lincoln’s mother, Sherrona Shaw, Lincoln has been interested in gardening for years, often cutting the grass for local people and planting flowers in his garden patch.

She said: “Lincoln’s been following grass cutters around since he was little, he’s so interested in it!

“It’s not everyday you get a child who has a passion like this - I have no idea where it’s come from.

“He also enjoys litter picking and goes around the community picking up litter. He’s one of those kids that just loves getting on with jobs, he’s also part of the mini-police.”

She added: “Getting kids involved in taking care of their community as well as the environment is so important.

Continental Landscapes responded with their own letter, writing: “Unfortunately, as you are currently only nine and still at school we could not employ you.

“You come across as a very keen and enthusiastic young man with very good initiative for someone so young.

“We are always looking for experienced landscapers and grass cutters especially ones with a good knowledge of health and safety.

“As a good gesture we would love to invite you to our depot to have a look at all our ride on mowing machinery and kit in the next school holiday.”

Mrs Shaw said: “I think it’s brilliant they took the time out to reply to Lincoln and it means so much to him.

“They’ve made a little boy so happy.”