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MEET THE GARDENER
QUENTIN STARK
Head Gardener , Hole Park
Why did you want to be a gardener ?
I wanted to follow in my mothers ' footsteps . She was a part-time gardener at a large private estate with a fabulous walled garden in Dorset .
Where did your interest in gardening begin ?
In my mum ' s neighbours ’ garden in Penshurst . Growing up , I used to help Eddy in his vegetable garden .
Where did you study ?
I did my YTS scheme at The National Garden , Kingston Lacy in Dorset for 2 years . During that time I went to Kingston Maurward College near Dorchester , and spent the 2nd year at Cannington College in Somerset .
Who was your inspiration ?
My mother as she always gardened and I would help . She used to bring plants home from her work as a gardener for me to grow .
How long have you worked here ? I ’ ve worked at Hole Park for 20 years . What appealed to you about working here ?
I was working as a propagator in a nursery for the Crown Estate at Windsor and the opportunity to work at Hole Park came up when the previous head gardener left . I could see the potential the garden had to offer and how amazing it could become .
Describe your typical day .
I meet the garden team at 7.30am to run through the jobs for the day , and then we crack on with the jobs which vary greatly from day to day .
In the spring this could be planting out tender perennials and bedding plants into pots and the exotic border for the summer display . In autumn we are still mowing , edging the lawns and weeding the borders , which are an ongoing job .
If the gardens are open , I could also be dealing with enquiries from the visitors . As well as checking the estate and the greenhouses each day , especially in spring with all the young plants that are propagated for the gardens . Our day ends at 4.30pm .
What ’ s your favourite part of the garden ?
I don ’ t really have a favourite part as each area has its own charm at different times of day , month and year . I do prefer the woodland garden , it ’ s a little more relaxed .
What ’ s your least favourite part of the garden and how would you change it ?
After 20 years there aren ’ t many parts of the garden that haven ’ t been changed or going through some development , which is a constant thing in a garden , as it grows and changes all the time .
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