The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has appointed Fiona Slight to the role of Curator at RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate, Yorkshire.
Fiona will take over from Paul Cook this summer, who became Curator in 2013 and is leaving the role after 12 years to pursue personal endeavours.
Head of RHS Garden Harlow Carr Liz Thwaite says,
“After an extensive search, Fiona’s passion for horticulture and vision for RHS Garden Harlow Carr left us in no doubt she is the best person to take on the role.
“Paul leaves an impressive legacy at RHS Garden Harlow Carr."Taking the garden to a new level, developing the Woodland, Streamside and Alpine collections.
"With the RHS Harlow Carr team, he has created some of the most iconic plantings in any of the RHS Gardens.
"While he will be missed by us all, and we wish him all the very best, we are delighted Paul is handing over the mantle to Fiona, with whom he has worked for three years and who herself has had a remarkable career to date and shares his bold vision for our beloved Yorkshire garden.”
Fiona brings a wealth of horticultural experience to the role and has most recently spent the last two and a half years as Garden Manager at RHS Garden Harlow Carr managing the Alpine, Streamside, Woodland and Floral teams.
On being appointed Curator, she says,
“I am thrilled to be given the opportunity to take on the role of Curator at RHS Garden Harlow Carr.
"Horticulture has been a lifelong passion, and it is an honour to work for the RHS and at Harlow Carr to carry on the great work that Paul Cook and the previous Curators have achieved over the last 75 years.”
Fiona’s horticulture career started in 1989 as a 17-year-old trainee with the National Trust for Scotland at Belhaven House Garden in Dunbar.
After completing her off-the-job training on the Isle of Arran at Brodick Castle, her Diploma and HNC in Horticulture.
She went on to work at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh as a gardener in the Herbaceous and Rock Department.
Immediately prior to working at RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Fiona spent several years as a Kitchen Gardener at Mount St John Garden in Thirsk and at Rudding Park Hotel, before moving into a Head Gardener role at the latter.
She commences her new role in September 2025.
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