Meet the gardener

Catrina Saunders at The Courts, Wiltshire

Cat Saunders was an archaeologist for 10 years, before embarking on a second career in horticulture. As Head Gardener at The Courts, she tends the seven acre garden with two other full time staff, one part timer and 10 volunteers.

David and Tom Stone at Mottisfont Abbey, Hampshire

David Stone has been Head Gardener at Mottisfont since 1978. His son Tom was brought up at Mottisfont from the age of four and has gardened there since 1996. Like his father, he still lives in the grounds.

Philippa Hodkinson at Lindisfarne Castle, Northumberland

Philippa Hodkinson was a ceramic artist before retraining as a gardener in 2000. In 2002, she took up the reins at the tiny eighth of an acre Gertrude Jekyll designed garden on Lindisfarne.