National Trust Extends Green Tips to Gardeners

By Kimberley, Miranda

Professional gardeners from private estates, public gardens and independent businesses discovered methods to manage their gardens sustainably at the National Trust property Nymans Garden in Sussex earlier this month. Head gardener Ed Ikin showed the Historic & Botanic Garden Bursary Scheme masterclass group the environmentally friendly systems that his gardening team are using, including integrated pest management, alternative fuels and hot composting.

Ikin and his team have experimented with various products but he said that among his preferred were compost tea, SB Plant Invigorator, solar panels and an electrical rotary mower.

Self-employed gardener Judy Gordon, who runs Mud & Flowers in Worthing, said the tips on rose care, compost and fuel were “useful for the private independent gardener”. Hadlow College lecturer Fiona Abrahams said the course was “useful for getting ideas for teaching”.

Gardener Tim Parker from National Trust property Polesdon Lacey said information on organic treatments of the rose garden and biological control products were ideas he and colleague Chris Gaskin could take back to Polesdon.

Masterclass: Ikin (above) gave advice to the group at Nymans Garden (top)

Copyright Haymarket Business Publications Ltd. Aug 21, 2008

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