Using the campus’ pear trees as a case study! Thirty students from the “Green Professions” CFA (apprentice training centre) in the CHEP (Centre for Teaching and Promoting Horticulture) in Tremblay-sur-Mauldre (78) came to the site of the future Paris Saint-Germain Training Center this week, to prune the orchards.

This is a first mission for these apprentices, who are all studying for a BTS (Higher National Diploma) in “Landscaping”, a BP (vocational diploma) in “Landscaping” or a BPA (agricultural vocational diploma) in “Landscaping projects”, as part of a partnership signed between the CHEP Yvelines and Paris Saint-Germain. The students were in charge of pruning and shaping the 2.5 ha of fruit trees over the winter season. This was a huge undertaking, as it involved pruning all 2,800 pear trees in one week! Brice Delhommaye who supervised the students, alongside fellow teachers Brian Brisson and Cédric Gimel, said, “This hands-on learning project is a real challenge, but the apprentices are really happy to work for Paris-Saint-Germain and are prepared to brave the cold!”

The students from the CHEP Yvelines will be back to tend to the trees at various stages of their flowering cycle. Their next task will be to harvest the pears in September, pears which will not have been treated in any way.