The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)

Apprentice wanted to tend plants once loved by the Queen Mother

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A green apprentice is wanted for the Queen Mother's old Scottish home to help nurture a “romantic and unique" Royal oasis – with TV celebrity gardener Alan Titchmarsh on hand as one of the gurus.

The Castle and Gardens of Mey are looking to hire an apprentice gardener for a year.

Prince Charles is president of the trust that runs the castle and stays for a week every August.

Now he and the trustees want a gardening apprentice for the castle near John O'Groats in Caithness.

The gardening placement works towards an official SVQ accreditat­ion.

The candidate must be hard working, willing to learn and work as part of a team whilst being happy to work under their own initiative.

The website says: “The garden is full of marigolds, pansies, dahlias, primulas and nasturtium­s, while old-fashioned shrub roses and climbers form the highlights of the Shell Garden, where The Queen Mother used to sit with her corgis in the afternoons. It is as it was in her day, and the same Albertine rose still grows on the wall, as does the London Pride surroundin­g each rose bed.

“A new addition is a sensory border which contains plants of interestin­g textures, smells, taste and colours.

“Although the Queen Mother contribute­d greatly to many royal gardens, it is perhaps the Castle ofMey's that aremoreher­s thanany other.

“It is no coincidenc­e that her grandson, Prince Charles, is today one of our most celebrated royal gardeners.

“He is helping the trustees with their plans to extend the growing season for the benefit of our early season visitors, which is no easy task this far north. He greatly enjoys the gardens during his annual visits, just as his grandmothe­r did before him.”

“Highlights of Shell Garden, where Queen Mother used to sit with corgis”

 ??  ?? BY ROYAL APPOINTMEN­T: The Castle of Mey is looking for an apprentice gardener
BY ROYAL APPOINTMEN­T: The Castle of Mey is looking for an apprentice gardener

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