Job

Great Dixter: Nursery Scholarship

Opportunity for a nursery scholar to spend a year working in the nursery at Great Dixter to learn their unique skills & techniques.

Great Dixter Nursery

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 aim of the scholarship is to ensure that the historic but effective methods practiced at Great Dixter 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 scholar will learn to manage propagate and cultivate annuals, perennials, ferns, shrubs and trees from the garden at Great Dixter, take part in regular plant idents and attend on site lectures. The Great Dixter nursery is unusual in growing in a loam based peat free potting medium, made on site. 85% of plants at the nursery are produced on site.

The scholarship is primarily a practical training position: while scholars will have the opportunity to attend study days and other courses on site and beyond, applicants should be aware that learning will mostly be through hands on learning.

The placement begins in September 2024 at the same time as the garden scholars. The nursery scholar is a paid position at the national minimum wage, with the option for living in subsidised accommodation on site. Great Dixter will also provide time required and funding to gain an RHS Level 2 in horticulture if the candidate hasn’t got the qualification.

Eligibility

  • Applicants must be a UK citizen or have the right to work in the UK and be over 18.
  • The successful applicant will be interested and motivated to work in the sector, have the skills that placement would develop and have a desire for self-development.
  • Relevant qualifications are desirable, as is previous horticultural training and/or work experience.

Applications will be accepted until the 1st April 2024. The selection committee will consider all applications equally. Interviews will be held at Great Dixter on the 23rd April 2024. Full application details can be found here.