Tamsin Westhorpe is the Director of Stockton Bury Gardens , where her family have lived for five generation .
She is also an experient Horticultural Journalist , Gardener and RHS Flower Show Judge – with her experience in the industry cross over 25 years .
I spoke with Tamsin about Stockton Bury Gardens and her preferred garden store .
How Did You First Get Into Gardening?
“ As a baby , I love pottering in the garden and I ’ve always grown footling seedlings ; I even had a greenhouse when I was about 10where I used to grow tomato ! ” share Tamsin .
“ My uncle , who runs the home farm , has always had a Passion of Christ for gardening . When I was a child he lived on our family farm with my grandparents so when my sisters and I visited we view him create a beautiful , 4 - acre garden that make grow over our childhood .
“ This garden was Stockton Bury , which I now go .
“ I ascertain the whole mental process fascinating . Watching him was how I got into gardening . ”
From That, What Led You To A Career In Horticulture?
“ nonstarter , ” she express mirth . “ After leaving school , I want to be a sculptor , so I went to art school , but did n’t feel ready or primed in very well .
“ I leave and got sent to work at a family glasshouse in Worcestershire call Burford House Gardens and I absolutely fuck it . Until that moment , I had n’t view horticulture as a proper life history .
“ After that , I went on to study at Sparsholt College near Winchester to learn more hardheaded science and theory . I was there for 3 years and during that time , I spent a class act upon on location at Bournemouth Parks Department .
“ work there and doing the pragmatic , paw - on side of garden whilst being able to see what I ’d done at the terminal of the mean solar day was really rewarding . ”
Has Gardening Shaped How You Go Through Life?
‘ unquestionably . I feel confident gardening . I was never that confident at school so it was amazing to regain this life history .
“ I feel glad and safe in a garden . Being surrounded by nature and watch over the season change shove along my mind – I ca n’t understand how some mass are n’t interested !
“ I ’m not an expert in one particular works . I just make love being outside , working with plants and have successes and failures . It ’s quite artistic , which is what I always wanted to be . ”
Can You Tell Us More About Stockton Bury Gardens & What You Grow There?
“ We ’ve been there as a fellowship for 5 genesis , ” Tamsin says .
“ About 10 years ago , I decide to give up my cartridge redaction role at The English Garden magazine to help my uncle run it and became a nurseryman there .
“ The garden is 4 acres and is at the fondness of our working farm where we have cattle , sheep and a cyder orchard . My sister has now join us and runs our café – it ’s a right family business organisation !
“ works - wise , we have a lot of really unusual plant . The gardens are expectant all throughout the year , but it very much come into its own in the leaping . Some of the plants were present by amazing gardener such as Beth Chatto and Christopher Lloyd , who knew my uncle .
“ It ’s a existent collection of unusual plants set out in a lovely way that is n’t too sumptuous . There are sections to it , so it can be well digest . ”
What Does A Regular Day In The Working Life Look Like For You?
“ It ’s not very glamorous !
“ First matter in the break of day , I go to the butchers to pick up the nitty-gritty for the café . I then spend a yoke of hours in the garden to get it ‘ show ready ’ . When we ’re open for the time of year , it ’s all about nominate it count with child , so I do Lot of tasks like deadheading , cleaning bird bath , border – fundamentally all of the light sustainment .
“ I ’ve also been picking fruit this week , which goes straight to the café .
“ After this , I work on the front desk and receive the customer in . It ’s important for us that people can meet the home so we can serve any questions they might have and bid them advice if want .
“ It can be hard to check everything in , which is why we do n’t open on Mondays and Tuesdays – so we can hitch up ! ”
What Is A Surprising Garden-Related Fact About You That People Might Not Know?
“ I call back the fact I used to do a band of unripe - holding really shocks people , ” she shares .
“ I love a cracking lawn ! At Stockton Bury , we have no - mow areas and some other area that are mowed , as we wish to think beyond No - Mow May .
“ I was also an upcountry landscaper early on in my career , which involved repotting office plants and wiping any leaves that were stained .
“ Although I was process with plants , it was a very dissimilar experience and was a actual brainstorm into what authority biography was like . I ’d never experienced an indoor working environment . ”
Do You Have A Particular Memorable Moment From Your Horticultural Career?
“ The most memorable ( and funny ) memory is from when I first started to act in the parks , ” Tamsin explicate .
“ I would get dropped in the woodlands with a broom and a huge folio blower that had to be started by a pull electric cord . In those day , it was voiceless to get these machines going ! I was entirely on my own and sometimes , I just could not start it .
“ When I ’d get picked up for lunch , I ’d pretend that I could get it working , but in reality , I ’d been wreak extra hard with the broom to do the same amount of work as the foliage cetacean would have done . ”
Do You Have Any Upcoming Projects You’d Like To Share?
“ I love that use because I get to speak to diligence agriculturist about sustainability , young produce proficiency and consumer habit .
“ I also do a fortune of talk of the town all over the country and my aim is to demystify horticulture and make hoi polloi experience more relaxed about it . I also do class at Stockton Bury for beginners that are mainly available in April , May and June .
“ My lecturing and course of instruction are my main priority for next year , as I love doing both of those . ”
What Advice Would You Give To Aspiring Gardeners Who Are Looking To Give It A Go As A Career?
“ If you ’re not donnish , do n’t let that put you off , ” Tamsin says . “ When you witness something that you have it off , you ’ll learn it .
“ Get some practical experience . Help at open gardens or offer to offer . If you fancy doing a qualification , the RHS line are great , but seek to do them in person at a college rather than online , as you ’ll cope with like - apt people and be able to get adhere in right .
“ If you work with plants , you ’ll think back them . If you ’re just looking at a Holy Scripture it will be difficult to make the information stay . ”
