Despite being a nation of garden lovers, there seems to be real crisis facing horticulture in Britain with the number of skilled gardeners in sharp decline.
On Saturday 19 July, over 40 of The National Trust’s finest gardens across England and Wales are open to raise funds for The National Gardens Scheme and to highlight the Trust’s gardening ‘Careership’ – to ‘home grow’ the heritage gardeners of the future.
© National Trust
On the day, many Trust gardens opening for the scheme will have special guided tours – giving visitors the chance to meet Careership students or graduates and Head Gardeners, and learn more about the care of historic gardens and careers in Trust gardens. Gardens taking part include Cotehele, Killerton, Hanbury Hall, Cliveden, Hidcote, Biddulph Grange, Blickling Hall, Clumber Park, Wallington, Stourhead and Powis Castle.
In recent years the heritage sector has been particularly hard hit by the decline in qualified gardeners with an understanding of historic gardens.
In 1991 The National Trust set up the three-year Careership training programme. The National Gardens Scheme has supported The National Trust for 50 years and in the last seven years has donated around £190,000 a year to this particular programme.
Mike Calhan, The National Trust’s Head of Gardens, said:
'We have championed the Careership programme for many years and the National Gardens Scheme support continues to be vital in enabling us to train the gardeners of the future. The success of the programme can be measured by the number of post-Careership gardeners that are now employed by the Trust and by major private owners. Many have risen to the horticultural heights of Head Gardener.
'However, we cannot rest on our laurels. We need to continue training new gardeners for the country’s historic gardens and estates. We hope visitors will come along on 19 July and find out more about how we care for our gardens.'
Julia Grant, Chief Executive of The National Gardens Scheme, said:
'This is an important relationship between two charities passionate about our gardening heritage and the future development of gardening skills. The NGS funding supports Careership and helps The National Trust to pay trainees a salary. This is key to the success of the programme because many people wouldn’t be able to switch careers without some security of income.'
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