Award-winning Newby Hall and Gardens has boosted its gardening team with the appointment of a horticultural student.
Laura Martin-Ginns joins the Newby team as a trainee, fulfilling her dream to pursue a career in gardening after almost two decades working in the tourism and legal sectors.
Working with head gardener Lawrence Wright and his team of seven, Laura will be involved in all aspects of maintaining and developing Newby’s award-winning gardens.
After studying the RHS Level 2 online with RBGE Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh Laura enrolled with Askham Bryan College, York to complete the practical element of the course, subsequently applying for a 12-month placement with Newby Hall through the Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme (HBGTP).
She said:
“My gardening experience is limited to my own garden and allotment to date, so this year-long placement at Newby will enable me to greatly increase my knowledge and gain many new skills.
“After the year's training I hope to cement my learning, skills and knowledge through further practical experience, ultimately working towards managing a garden for the enjoyment of future generations.”
Newby’s head gardener Lawrence Wright said:
“We are delighted to welcome Laura to our team as part of the HBGTP programme which has made a significant contribution towards securing the future of the country’s historic gardens.
"Laura will have hands-on experience of a wide range of horticultural tasks in our 25-acre garden, enabling her to develop a broad set of professional skills which will stand her in good stead for a future horticultural career.”
The HBGTP is managed by English Heritage.
The scheme enables passionate individuals wanting to establish a career in horticulture to earn a salary while working alongside professional teams to learn technical knowledge and high-level practical skills at some of the best historic gardens throughout the UK.
To date, the scheme has benefited more than 300 trainees, with many students going on to top jobs within the industry.
The present-day gardens at Newby Hall are largely attributed to Major Edward Compton, who inherited Newby in 1921.
The current owners, his grandson, Richard Compton and his wife Lucinda, continue to drive the family’s vision of conserving and developing the garden for the future.
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