Experience the genius of Hidcote and develop high quality craftsmanship skills with the help and support of the professional team of gardeners at this unrivalled English garden

Hidcote Garden

Hidcote is the archetypal 'garden of rooms' setting the style for the English garden in the 20th-Century. The series of contrasting gardens unfolds cleverly against the bold architectural framework, belying its small scale. Hidcote is the coherent application of one man’s vision achieved and perfected over a relatively short period of time. The garden is an exposition of garden design and plantsmanship and a mecca for garden lovers.

© NTPL / Stephen Robson

The scholarship

The scholarship will offer the opportunity for a student to work with skilled and experienced staff over a wide range of horticultural tasks. These include; glasshouse nursery work, alpine gardening, conservatory planting, stream garden maintenance, high caliber seasonal border work, project work and research plus the day to day maintenance of a heritage garden.

'The educational program at Hidcote has been developed to ensure that high quality gardening skills are passed on, to support the retention of skills and sustaining the craftsmanship of gardening at Hidcote, within the National Trust and to support the horticultural industry'

Hidcote has very good links with other National Trust gardens plus externally with other gardens. There are also international links through our twinning arrangements with Serre de la Madone in Menton, France and the European organization Jardins sans Frontier. Students will be able to take advantage of visiting other gardens and visiting properties which have these close links with Hidcote Manor Garden.

© NTPL / Stephen Robson

The training

Students will learn through a number of methods, such as being coached or guided and from general practical experience. It will be as much the student’s responsibility to discover and learn by being self-directed and motivated, as it will be for Hidcote staff to guide and coach.

The garden has eight full time garden staff led by the Head Gardener, Glyn Jones. Students will be mentored by a Senior Gardener, but it is likely that a number of the team will be involved with guiding and coaching as the year progresses depending on the work required.

'We really want students to make the most of their time at Hidcote. The opportunities are limitless and we want to help people to develop their skills. It is also important that we play our part in passing on high quality gardening skills for future generations'

It is important that training delivers the required result. Time will be put aside to evaluate how the scheme is performing. On successful completion of the scholarship a certificate of achievement will be issued to illustrate what the student has attained.

© NTPL / Nick Meers

Hidcote Manor Garden offers

• Developing high quality skills from a professional gardening team
• Extensive project program of improvements and conservation
• Diverse and broad areas of garden maintenance tasks
• Border maintenance
• Stream Garden maintenance
• Glasshouse production of seasonal stock
• Alpine garden maintenance
• Conservatory plant maintenance
• Project management
• Tree management and maintenance
• Management of the plant collection
• Links with other gardens and institutions
• Introduction into the management and maintenance of a garden with conservation and heritage objectives

To apply:

Please contact Mike Beeston

Hidcote Manor Gardens
Hidcote Bartrim
nr Chipping Campden
Gloucestershire
GL55 6LR

mike.beeston@nationaltrust.org.uk