Christopher Lloyd established the garden at Great Dixter as a place where young and old gardeners would meet and share their excitement for plants. His writing in both books and the press stimulated gardeners all around the world.
Students come to Dixter to learn practical skills and develop a deeper understanding of the craft of traditional flower gardening. Fergus Garrett, Christopher’s friend and head gardener, continues his legacy, both in the borders at Great Dixter and through his work with students.
We offer informal placements, which are usually short term (from a month or to a few months in length) which students carry out on a voluntary basis (although we provide living expenses and accommodation), as well as formal traineeships and scholarships. These are detailed below.
We also offer a bursary for EU based young and trainee gardeners for travel and training.
The Chanticleer USA Christopher Lloyd Scholarship was conceived in order to provide a gardener from the United States with a year-long, practical education in the traditional style of ornamental gardening as practised at two of the world’s most respected gardens, Great Dixter in East Sussex, England, and Chanticleer near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Read more
The nursery trainee usually spends 12 month in the nursery at Great Dixter learning from the team of experienced and knowledgeable staff who work there. The nursery operates in a traditional way, using skills and techniques that are no longer seen in larger or more commercial operations. Read more
As well as formal scholarships, Great Dixter offers placements for trainee gardeners from around the world. Read more
The Ruth Borun Scholar spends a year working in the garden at Great Dixter, is paid minimum wage and offered subsidised accommodation on site. This Scholarship is generously funded by The Anna and Harry Borun Foundation in memory of Ruth Borun. Read more
The Christopher Lloyd Scholar spends a year working in the garden at Great Dixter and learning from Fergus and the team. Read more
Fergus Garrett and the Great Dixter Charitable Trust see the Christopher Lloyd Bursary as a way of giving something back to the horticultural world by creating opportunities for trainee or young gardeners to widen their experience and gain inspiration from experts in the UK or abroad by travelling to, and/or learning in, horticulturally interesting places, attending courses and conferences and studying plants in the wild. Read more