The Beth Chatto Gardens.

On one of the most beautiful days of the month, and entirely out of the blue, came a chance to visit The Beth Chatto Gardens. Andy of Hyde Hall's Queen Mother Garden invited me along as he picked up a few plants from their nursery, patiently allowing me to dash around taking photos and answering my questions on the road home.

As all who have visited the place or are aware of its story know, this is a very special garden. What I admire most about it is that for all its international recognition and awards, it remains entirely personal to one lady and her family. She took this land from nothing, firmly chose her style to create a sense of identity, and selected species which would last. Being borne of one vision and one unique philosophy, a satisfying conviction radiates throughout the garden. Moreover, because it is a good vision and a good philosophy, one doesn't have to be a Chatto to take pleasure in the place. This will certainly inspire my principles as a gardener.

Hyde Hall, so far.

      Two months on from moving to Essex and beginning to garden with the RHS, I think it would be fair to say a lot has happened. All of it has been good, all of it has brought a smile to my face.

     I am living in a very sleepy town close to Hyde Hall with Martine and Hermine, a fellow apprentice and a trainee - both very lovely, and both willing to put up with me singing in the bath every evening.

      After being given a stocking-full of horticultural goodies (secateurs and a holster, a pruning saw, a knife, steel toe cap boots, steel toe cap wellies, a forestry helmet, safety glasses, five polo shirts, two sweatshirts, a fleece, a jacket, waterproof trousers, gloves, more gloves, and a partridge in a pear tree) from garden manager Ian Bull, work began!

    The crew is roughly divided into two teams (Hilltop and Clover Hill), along with several specialists - and it is with Clover Hill that I have spent my time hitherto. Their territory stretches from the nursery to the orchards and the ponds, the Australia & New Zealand Borders and the Tropical Border, the Queen Mother Garden,
the Modern Garden and the Country Garden, and indeed the wider estate. I'll refrain from listing all of the things I have been working on with them so far, but what I shall say is that I have been able to work in all of these areas, much to my delight.

Pastures new and infinite things to learn, this really is marvellous.

The RHS.

My days, it has been a while. I have some news.

In a moment of well-it-can't-hurt-trying, I applied for an apprenticeship with the Royal Horticultural Society.  The Royal Horticultural Society. What I expected was a polite suggestion that I acquire further experience before applying again... but three interesting interviews later, and many hours upon the train, came a pleasant surprise.

I am now an apprentice at RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Essex.