The Nursery Scholarship

The Nursery Scholarship at Great Dixter offers a year-long paid placement working in the historic nursery, learning traditional propagation and cultivation techniques. The nursery was started by Christopher Lloyd in 1954 and specializes in good garden-worthy plants, operating in a traditional way using skills and techniques no longer seen in larger or more commercial operations. 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 identification sessions and attend on-site lectures. The nursery is unusual in growing in a loam-based peat-free potting medium which they make themselves, with 85% of plants grown on site. The aim is to ensure these historic but effective methods are passed on to the next generation of nursery workers. Previous scholars have gone on to work at prestigious institutions including York Gate Leeds, Kew Gardens London, the National Trust Plant Conservation Centre Devon, the RHS, and have opened nurseries of their own. The placement begins in September each year and includes the option of subsidized accommodation on site. Anyone joining without an RHS Level 2 in horticulture will receive time off and funding to gain an RHS qualification during their time at Great Dixter.