The Nursery scholarship
NOW OPEN TO APPLICANTS
The nursery was started by Christopher Lloyd in 1954, specialising in good garden-worthy plants. Operating in a traditional way, the nursery uses skills and techniques that are no longer seen in larger or more commercial operations.
The Nursery scholar will spend a year working in the nursery at Great Dixter learning from the team of friendly and knowledgeable staff.
They will learn to manage propagate and cultivate annuals, perennials, ferns, shrubs and trees from the garden here at Great Dixter, take part in regular plant idents and attend on site lectures. 85% of plants grown by us are produced on site. The nursery is unusual in growing in a loam based peat free potting medium which we make ourselves.
The aim of the scholarship is to ensure that these historic but effective methods are passed on to the next generation of nursery workers. Previous scholars have gone on to work at York Gate Leeds, Kew gardens London, the National Trust Plant Conservation Centre Devon and open nurseries of their own.
The placement begins in September 2025 at the same time as our garden scholars. The nursery scholar is a paid position and there is the option of living in subsidised accommodation on site. Anyone joining without a RHS Level 2 in horticulture will receive time off and funding to gain an RHS qualification during their time with us.
Candidates must have the right to work in the UK
To apply please send an application form (MS Word version) application form (PDF version) to [email protected] along with a covering email and a copy of your CV.
(nb: some people have had trouble downloading the application form- please feel free to email [email protected] directly to be sent a copy)
The deadline for applications is the 8th April 2025. Interviews will take place on the 16th April 2025.
Our current Nursery Scholar is Isabel Sanders – pictured above.
Isabel comes to us from Greece and has both an MA in History of Art and an Msc in sustainable heritage. She made the leap to horticulture by gaining an HNC in Horticulture with plantsmanship from Scotland’s rural college and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, and has spent the last 10 years working in Greece as a gardener and planting designer, including a 2 year apprenticeship at Sparoza Garden (garden of the Mediterranean Garden Society), working with the curator.
During her time at Great Dixter, Isabel is looking forward to expanding her plant knowledge and plant palette, further developing her propagation skills, learning about different soil mixes and growing media, and better understanding the business workings of the nursery. She hopes to be able to take her learnings back to Greece and open her own nursery specialising in Mediterranean and dry climate plants, as well as possibly starting a sustainable cut flower business. She is keeping a diary of her time with us which will be posted below.
Below are diary entries by Sam Walker, previous scholar.
Other previous trainees were: Sam Walker, Eleanor Machell, Shaun Blower (now part of the nursery team), and Ellie Pay.
For more information on the nursery scholarship please contact [email protected] or phone 01797 334042
