Guided Walk with the Head Gardener

James will guide you on a walk around the garden, ‘By turns naturalistic, uplifting, bold and experimental, it reveals its treasures gradually in a series of unexpected garden rooms, vistas, layers and colours'. (Standen guide book). On this walk, James will give a brief history of this classic Arts and Crafts garden, pointing out details and areas of interest along the way.

James began his career as a Gardener for the National Trust in 1987, at neighbouring Nymans where his father was Head Gardener. He then became Head Gardener himself at Standen and has overseen a significant garden revival project which led to the 12 acre garden becoming grade II listed. He heads up a dedicated team of over 50 staff and volunteeers. His particular favourites in the garden are the collection of Japanese maples started by Margaret Beale in the early 1900’s, and the Quarry, a magical area adjacent to the house, full of ferns, bulbs and azaleas.