insideKENT Magazine Issue 123 - July 2022 | Page 167

National Trust
Lamb House , Sissinghurst Vegetable Garden , Smallhythe Place , Stoneacre
HOME + GARDEN
MEET THE GARDENER

MATTHEW MORDAUNT

National Trust

Lamb House , Sissinghurst Vegetable Garden , Smallhythe Place , Stoneacre

Where did your interest in gardening begin ?
Wildlife , in particular the flora and fauna of the UK , has always interested me and my time spent out in the woods , hills and meadows of Kent lead me to learn more and more about the natural web of life that creates the world around us .
Why did you want to be a gardener ?
I have always enjoyed spending time outdoors , stemming from a deep and abiding interest in wildlife and the natural world and spending much of my childhood watching nature documentaries . After studying wildlife conservation and working in countryside management , time spent in the family garden led me to sidestep into a career as a gardener .
Where did you study ?
I carried out my RHS level 2 course taught by a local teacher and delivered at Brogdale Farm near Faversham .
Who was your inspiration ?
My mother and grandmother are both keen gardeners ; the care and love they put into their gardens surrounded me as a child . The gardens they created were my first real experiences of horticulture through the osmotic experience of helping tend them . I also have fond memories of watching Gardeners ’ World as a child , then hosted by Geoff Hamilton , whose approach I was for some reason enthralled by .
How long have you worked here ?
I have been a gardener with the National Trust for four and a half years , having joined as an assistant gardener in September 2017 .
What appealed to you about working here ?
Initially the appeal was in finding a job that was endlessly diverse and based outdoors . Having worked in the conservation sector for many years , I also was keen to help preserve and enhance the gardens of properties important to my local area . The gardens I look after rely on teams of volunteers to support them , and working closely with such a passionate group of people and learning from the rich experiences of their lives is an incredibly rewarding part of the job .
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