“No two days are ever the same”
Head Gardener Sarah Malleson shares her insights into this amazing garden of many rooms
How did you come to be head gardener at Hidcote? I changed career in 2003 to follow my dream of becoming a gardener. I volunteered at the National Trust garden at Standen in East Sussex and worked at a nursery, where I learnt a lot about plant display and broadened my plant knowledge. In 2005, I started on the National Trust’s Careership training programme – a three-year practical course with time spent studying for horticultural qualifications. For this I was based at Hidcote and I’ve been here ever since.
How would you describe a typical day? Since I became head gardener I’ve been getting to grips with the very broad aspects of the role. My day can consist of anything from planning the garden’s long-term vision to consulting with experts across the Trust, such as curators, environmental consultants and garden advisers. It could entail mentoring a member of the garden team or discussing bulb combinations for spring planting. I love the variety – no two days are ever the same.
What are the spring highlights at Hidcote? The garden can be quite slow to come out of winter because it’s 600ft above sea level, but it’s an enchanting place to be in early spring. The bones and structure of the garden begin to soften as bulbs start to flower, perennials put on their first flush of green and springf lowering trees, such as magnolias and ornamental cherries, burst into life. What do you love most about your job? I love a challenge and there’s no shortage of them at Hidcote. I feel privileged and humbled to have this role and look forward to caring for the gardens, alongside the talented and passionate garden team, safeguarding the legacy of Lawrence Johnston.
Which part of the redevelopment project makes you most proud? While I was on the trainee programme we restored the East Court Garden – the small courtyard in front of the Manor. It was fascinating to look into the history of that part of the garden and use old surveys, photographs and articles from Country Life magazine to piece together how the garden looked in the 1930s. We used these to help us reinstate the blue lias stone paths and parterres with cobbled surrounds, and the plants Johnston would have used.
What next? We’re getting stuck into the planting records so the borders sparkle with the rare and unusual plants Johnston would have grown. We’ll also be looking at the rejuvenation of hedges that have grown too big, and managing the tree collection. Visitors often come to Hidcote because of its reputation but know little of its creator or his vision, so we’ll also be working towards sharing the history and stories behind this amazing garden.