Claire is head gardener at Hestercombe Gardens in Somerset, where the formal garden is hailed as one of the finest examples of the world-renowned partnership between garden designer Gertrude Jekyll and architect Sir Edwin Lutyens. Portrait Andrew Montgomery
Earliest garden memory My mum worked on a fruit farm in Kent when I was small, so my summers were spent running around the farm with all the other children and scoffing as much fruit as possible. Also,I can remember making patterns on the path in our front garden with some curvy marigold seeds.
Was gardening your first choice of career? I have a degree in fashion and textiles and worked as a self-employed fabric designer, screen printing samples for the fashion industry. The industry was moving towards CAD and I knew I didn’t want a job at a computer. Then I was distracted by an advert for an organic gardening course and after about two weeks on the course I was hooked on horticulture. I’d found my ‘thing’. It has everything for me – nurturing, community, food, pattern, craft, colour – all wrapped up in a practical job.
Horticultural heroes I love Ron Finley the Gangsta Gardener – you have to listen to his TED talk. I love colour so I am a big fan of Christopher Lloyd, Gertrude Jekyll and organic florist JW Blooms.
Worthwhile tip for every gardener Gardening isn’t an exact science (although I am sure that most scientists wouldn’t agree). Don’t be afraid to have a go, it might work.
Most valuable training I did the three-year Careership programme with the National Trust and spent three years based at Barrington Court with a team of gardeners who’d been there for 30-plus years. It meant that every day was wrapped in history and stories and vast local knowledge.
Favourite planting style I love woodland gardens in spring. I like a garden to be slightly wild and untamed in its planting. And I like gardens that have evolved rather than been planned to the last detail.
Biggest challenge facing gardeners today Limited plant choice. It seems weird to me that we live in a global society and yet we are losing our choice of plants. Small-scale, skilled nurserymen are hard to find and plants are being lost if they’re not commercially viable.
Guiding principles I spent a year working at Garden Organic, which has hugely influenced how I work. I am also a big believer in bringing people together through horticulture. In 2017 I set up a project called Grow for Syria and we raised £5,000 for Help Refugee UK through horticultural projects. It was so inspiring to see people come together to support a cause at such a grass-roots level.
• Hestercombe Gardens
Cheddon Fitzpaine
Taunton
Somerset TA2 8LG
For details on visiting Hestercombe House and Gardens, and of available garden tours go to hestercombe.com
You can follow Claire on Instagram @clire_greenslade_