Vacancy on the Gardening Team

Holkham Hall 

There is a vacancy on the gardening team at Holkham. The walled garden is large at six and a half acres but the entire Holkham Estate is some 25,000 acres so the work is wide ranging. Tim Marshall, the Head Gardener (or more accurately, the Landscape Manager) is looking for someone who will fit in with the existing team and who will be able to work with both propagating  plants and spraying back plants where necessary.
 The details from the Holkham website are: ...........

We are looking for a Landscape Assistant to work within our landscape team. The successful candidate will have plenty of practical horticultural experience; ideally a level 2 in Amenity Horticulture or similar and a PA1 and PA6 spraying qualification. A good plant knowledge and a high level of propagation skill is needed. A full driving licence and the ability to safely use a wide range of garden machinery is necessary.
The ideal candidate will be recognised as someone who takes pride in their work and will help us to continually improve the grounds here at Holkham. As employers we are happy to help you continue your training to enable you to become a top grade horticulturalist. The position is for a 39 hour week with hourly rate of pay dependent on experience.
To apply please send a letter of interest and your CV to :
Tim Marshall - Landscape Manager
Holkham Estate Office, Wells-Next-the-Sea NR23 1AB
Email: t.marshall@holkham.co.uk

Magnolia stellata (Star Magnolia)

The Star Magnolia, along the pathway backing onto the produce garden, is noted for its beautiful spring  blooms but this week in October the seeds look stunning in the low autumn sun.

Cosmos

Cosmos

The produce garden is bright with Cosmos flowers at the moment, which are being grown for cut flowers to take up to the Hall. Cosmos is native to scrub and meadow areas in Mexico where most of the species occur. 

The Orangery roof work

The roof of the Orangery

The builders are putting the slates back on the roof of the Orangery which is the building opposite the entrance to the walled garden. The building is correctly known as 'Wyatt's Vinery" and dates from around 1780. Water had been penetrating quite freely so the builders have been replacing roof struts and beams where needed and re-roofing. Originally the upstairs was used as a dormitory for single under-gardeners, probably about thirty or so, whilst downstairs was a kitchen, and dining room where a 'matron' would have looked after them.

Pumpkins and Squashes

Pumpkins and Squashes

Pumpkins and Squashes, a colourful display in the back vinery and a tribute to the first season of the new produce garden in the Holkham Walled Garden.

Rosa odorata 'Mutabilis'

Rosa odorata 'Mutabilis'

The original label from planting in 1998

It took a stumble and fall in the undergrowth and then a full length sprawl whilst frantically trying to save the camera,  to discover this holy grail...the original planting label for the Rosa odorata 'Mutabilis'; final proof of identification.This rose, planted thirteen years ago in April 1998, is now about 5-6ft high and 5-6ft across and grows up against a south facing wall which backs onto the new produce garden. It has had a very long flowering season this year starting in early spring and still producing flowers now in late October.