Having studied at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden and with RHS Wisley for her Diploma in Practical Horticulture , Anna Mortimer ’s route into gardening might not seem too out of the average .
But it ’s the practical experience gained over time as Belmont ’s Estate Gardener , and in places like Chiapas ( where she lived off - grid in the mountains during a six - month stretch ) which are a testament to her sympathy of plants and nature .
In this interview , Anna shares her admiration for the bang-up plantswoman Beth Chatto , insights into her role at Belmont and some of the ways she is make towards sustainability in her garden practice .
Can you share a bit about your background and how you got started in gardening?
“ I grew up in Devon and spent a lot of time outdoors as a nestling , so I think a sexual love and appreciation of nature has always been there for me because of that , ” Anna begins .
“ I analyze Social Anthropology at university and spent several years break and coordinate external early days volunteering project which , although very rewarding , never quite felt like the correct choice for me due to the office - based nature of the piece of work .
“ After a few years , I took part in a European Voluntary Service ( EVS ) project and spent 6 months in Chiapas Mexico , help to set up a centre for environmental Department of Education . During this time , I be off - power system in a tent in the deal .
Image by Sam Ingles
“ I was working with my helping hand every day and living in nature . Although very challenging at prison term , this experience clarified for me that I wanted to do something more hardheaded and to have more time outside .
“ At the same time , I consume on some part - time gardening and nursery jobs to encourage my cognition and experience until I was quick to be take onto the RHS Level 4 Diploma in Practical Horticulture at RHS Wisley . ”
Are there any particular principles or philosophies that guide your work in the garden?
“ I am a adult buff of the ‘ right-hand plant , right home ’ philosophy strike by the previous plantswoman Beth Chatto , ” she say .
“ We can learn a pile by looking at how flora grow in the wild and this , alongside an apprehension of our soils , can help to make bouncy gardens require less stimulant and resource from us as gardeners . ”
Can you share a little more about your role as Estate Gardener at Belmont Estate?
“ As the Estate Gardener at Belmont , I look after the formal gardens and wall kitchen garden as well as the wildflower meadows and woodlet , ” explain Anna .
“ Part of my character is also to rise the gardens and reason in a way that ’s sensitive to the local landscape , encourages biodiversity and supply a space for people to plight with nature in meaningful ways .
“ The whole estate is organic so I am also creditworthy for implementing appropriate monitoring and control measures for likely pests and diseases within the garden . ”
Image by Sam Ingles
How do you incorporate sustainability into your gardening practices?
“ credit card is quite a permeant issue within the horticultural world and witness alternative can have interracial event . At the moment I am using recycle plastic corporation for propagation which are inflexible enough to be re - useable ( I have chance some too thin and unconvincing ) and are also reclaimable themselves so they wo n’t go to landfill at the end of their life .
“ If not using homemade compost , I only use constitutive , peat - free options and I essay to be quite selective around what gets watered in the ever - increase dry spells that we are experiencing with the changing mood . ”
What Advice Do you Have For new gardeners?
“ Getting out and in reality chaffer gardens is enormously worthful , ” shares Anna .
“ you could feel ( and fall in beloved with ) new plants , be revolutionise by design or planting combinations and it will improve your mother wit of works and how they ’re used to regard how you feel in a distance .
“ I would say that equally authoritative is going to see how flora grow in the state of nature as this can be hugely inspiring and educational . you could see where they ’re growing , what they ’re grow with and how they ’re growing in that environment .
“ When you see a plant life well-chosen in the wild , you know that those are the conditions they like and can then translate that to the garden . ”
What’s next for you?
“ Belmont has a veridical focus on rejuvenate nature and advance biodiversity and the gardens are just a small part of the work that they do towards those goals , ” she says .
“ On the estate , we have several wildflower areas and from next year we will be starting to survey them so we can well appraise their health and progress and pull off them more effectively with biodiversity in nous .
“ This will then support the creation of a mosaic of unlike gardened habitats to posture alongside the wilder expanse of the landscape that Belmont is restore . ”
