"Experience the transformation": Unveil the journey of being a volunteer at one of the world's most prestigious botanical gardens.
Great Dixter, a renowned garden in East Sussex, England, is opening its doors to those passionate about gardening and horticulture, offering unique volunteering opportunities for individuals eager to learn from experienced gardeners.
At the helm of Great Dixter is Fergus Garrett, who has been the head gardener for over 30 years. Fergus is dedicated to sharing his knowledge with students and volunteers, embodying the spirit and shaping the aesthetic of Great Dixter. His leadership has fostered a vibrant, bold, and biodiverse garden that reflects the legacy of Christopher Lloyd.
The garden, known for its experimental planting, welcomes weeds such as buttercups, bird's foot trefoil, oxalis, and dandelions, while embracing cow parsley in recent years. The philosophy at Great Dixter is to grow plants hard, keeping them well ventilated, even in cold conditions.
Volunteer opportunities at Great Dixter provide a chance to work alongside experienced gardeners, focusing on soil health, species conservation, and innovative planting techniques. The garden serves as a training ground for students and horticultural professionals from around the world, fostering inspiring discussions and hands-on learning.
One such volunteer, who started working at Great Dixter at the beginning of last year, has been drawn by the unique combination of high horticulture and the Arts and Crafts structure of the garden. The volunteer, who had a shelf full of books by Christopher Lloyd, was offered a place during the pandemic and has loved every moment since.
For those seeking specific details about scholarships or formal volunteer programmes, contacting Great Dixter directly through their official channels or visiting their website would be advisable. The publicly available information highlights volunteering roles and educational training but does not detail scholarships explicitly.
Great Dixter is open from March to October, Tuesday to Sunday, 11am-5pm. For more information, visit their website (greatdixter.co.uk) or contact them at 01797 252878.
In addition to volunteering, Great Dixter sometimes hosts special events, such as "Behind the Scenes" tours, offering a closer look at the garden and providing additional pathways to involvement and learning.
For those passionate about gardening, Great Dixter offers a unique and enriching experience, with good-quality tools being a joy to use and bad ones being a waste of time, money, and temper. Some new discoveries for gardening tools include the Niwaki hori hori tool, Sneeboer planting spade, and the Haws Warley Fall watering can.
Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, Great Dixter provides a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for all. So, why not take the plunge and immerse yourself in the horticultural haven of Great Dixter?
- Fergus Garrett, the head gardener of Great Dixter for over 30 years, is committed to imparting his horticultural wisdom to students and volunteers.
- At Great Dixter, plants are grown hard and kept well-ventilated, in line with the philosophy of growing them resilient even in cold conditions.
- Volunteering at Great Dixter offers hands-on experience working alongside experienced gardeners, focusing on soil health, species conservation, and innovative planting techniques.
- The unique combination of high horticulture and the Arts and Crafts structure at Great Dixter draws volunteers from around the world.
- For specific details about scholarships or formal volunteer programs at Great Dixter, visiting their website or directly contacting them through official channels is recommended.
- Great Dixter gardens are open from March to October, and they occasionally host special events like "Behind the Scenes" tours for an intimate look at the gardens.
- Good-quality gardening tools like the Niwaki hori hori tool, Sneeboer planting spade, and Haws Warley Fall watering can can enhance the gardening experience, whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out.
