The nursery was started by Christopher Lloyd in 1954, specialising in good garden-worthy plants. Operating in a traditional way, the nursery uses skills and techniques that are no longer seen in larger or more commercial operations.

 The nursery scholar spends a year working in the nursery at Great Dixter learning from the team of friendly and knowledgeable staff.

They learn to manage propagate and cultivate annuals, perennials, ferns, shrubs and trees from the garden here at Great Dixter, take part in regular plant idents and attend on site lectures. 85% of plants grown by us are produced on site. The nursery is unusual in growing in a loam based peat free potting medium which we make ourselves.

 The aim of the scholarship is to ensure that these historic but effective methods are passed on to the next generation of nursery workers. Previous scholars have gone on to work at York Gate, Leeds, Kew gardens, London, the National Trust Plant Conservation Centre, Devon and open nurseries of their own.

The scholarship is primarily a practical training position: while scholars will have the opportunity to attend study days and other courses on site and beyond, applicants should be aware that learning will mostly be through hands on learning.

The placement begins in September 2024 at the same time as our garden scholars. The nursery scholar is a paid position (National Minimum Wage) and there is the option of living in subsidised accommodation on site. Anyone joining without a RHS Level 2 in horticulture will receive time off and funding to gain an RHS qualification during their time with us.

Eligibility

Applicants must be a UK citizen or have the right to work in the UK and be over 18 years of age. 

Selection Criteria

Successful applicants will have:

-       Interest and motivation to work in the sector

-       Skills that the placement would develop or enhance

-       A desire for self-development and their own goals

Desirable:

-       Qualifications, including vocationally relevant qualifications

-       Previous horticultural training / work experience 

Our current Nursery Scholar is Sam Walker- pictured below. 

Sam joins us from Leeds, Yorkshire where he has been working at a large scale commercial nursery. He was awarded a triple distinction in the Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Horticulture from Askham Bryan College in York, and has a range of horticultural experience in both nurseries and garden and parks settings. He’s particularly interested in learning traditional propagation techniques.  He is keeping a diary of his time with us which you can read below: 

September 2023

October 2023

November 2023

One of our previous trainees Shaun Blower, (pictured above) has continued on at Dixter as a nursery worker and is now involved in training others.

Other previous trainees were:

Eleanor Machell, Shaun Blower and Ellie Pay. 

Along with our previous deputy head of the nursery Sophie Cook, Ellie has also been instrumental in setting up a zine called the Young Propagators Society. You can follow it on Facebook and Instagram and download a copy.

For more information on the nursery scholarship please contact [email protected] or phone 01797 254048