Apta, the leading supplier of quality flowerpots and accessories to the UK garden trade, is looking to strengthen its merchandising team with the recruitment of motivated and ambitious Product Merchandisers...
Project Regeneration launched at Burford House and Gardens
Since British Garden Centres acquired Hillview Garden Centres at the end of 2019, they haven’t let the grass grow under their feet. Particularly at Burford House and Gardens which has seen a major investment in the retail and restaurant operations in the first few months of this year. Now attention is turning towards the long established 4-acre gardens, once famous for being the home of Treasures of Tenbury, clematis growers to the nation.
It is 15 years since the last Head Gardener, Maurice Bracher, retired. He didn’t hang up his gardening gloves for good though as a few years ago he took on the voluntary role of leading The Burford House Garden Angels – a group of amazing volunteers that have been restoring and caring for the gardens. As part of the British Garden Centres vision they want to invest in the gardens and bring them back to the glory of their heyday when visitors travelled from all over the UK, and beyond, to see the National Clematis Collection growing in the gardens. To achieve this they are now recruiting a new Head Gardener and launching an Apprentice Development and Training programme.
Charles Stubbs, joint MD of British Garden Centres, explains: “As soon as I saw the garden, I knew we had a gem. The superb structure of the planting in the gardens and the wide range of clematis replanted over recent years makes this a beautiful place.” He went on to explain his vision for the gardens; “I want this to be a horticultural treasure once again. Somewhere that people travel to from miles around to enjoy the wonderful plantings and settings. We’ll host more and more events in the gardens and ensure they become a year-round attraction.”
The new Head Gardener will be walking in the footprints of the world renowned Raymond Evison who was born at Burford House and learnt his trade under the expert tutelage of John Treasure, the plantsman responsible for the formation of the gardens over 50 years ago. Burford House and Gardens sit in the beautiful Worcestershire countryside, between Tenbury Wells and Ludlow.