THE GARDEN
The garden consists of a 2.5 acre walled garden and surrounding areas. There is also access to Lady Erskine’s private garden. The walled garden contains one of the largest collections of perennials in the country. The garden is at the forefront of naturalistic planting design in Scotland with prairie planting, steppe planting, early and late flowering borders, moist areas and contemporary annual displays. There is also a ground breaking ornamental potager, which is a wild fusion of vegetables, perennials and annuals. Cambo is packed with interesting plants used in creative and original ways. We also have an extensive collection of ornamental grasses in the garden and a vegetable production area with soft and top fruit. Alpine and woodland areas are presently under construction. Cambo is a garden undergoing a period of redevelopment, always changing and improving, and there are always exciting projects undertaken every year.
THE STUDENT PLACEMENT
Cambo has a small team of highly trained, committed gardeners. The placement offers the student the opportunity to work very closely with a team and gain valuable experiences and insights into what it means to develop and maintain a garden to the highest level. We care about the training students receive at Cambo and every effort is made to ensure that students are given what they need to develop and deepen their understanding of gardening. We have been very pleased with the development of students who have been through our programmes. It is however a two way street and we in turn expect students to be self disciplined, enthusiastic, flexible and keen to learn. We try to adapt the programme to meet the student’s needs, but it is a working garden so training and development has to follow the needs and flow of the garden.
THE AIM OF THE PLACEMENT is to prepare the student for a head gardener position in the future. This practically based programme lays a foundation for further study. It integrates practical experience with theory. Instruction is carried out as the jobs arise and also in the form of more formal talks. There is a strong emphasis on planting design and plantsmanship with the student encouraged to explore and develop their own planting style and sense of beauty. There will be opportunities to design part of the ornamental potager and an annual bed. They will be expected to create a design journal and plant lists. The student will be responsible for the glasshouse range and standing areas. Due to the fact that there is a small team the student will receive personalised tuition and get an excellent insight into the running and development of the garden. Cambo is a diverse garden with ornamentals, fruit, vegetables, annuals, plant sales etc. Working through the full year is great experience.
The main subjects for study will be:
· Designing with plants and plantsmanship with an emphasis on naturalistic planting
· Management of plant collections
· Propagation
· Glasshouse management
· Vegetable growing (Production and Ornamental)
· Fruit production
· Annuals
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
· To assist in weekend watering duties
· To help out during open days and other events (Time off in lieu)
WAGES, WORKING HOURS AND HOLIDAYS
Wage: £585 gross per month
Hrs: 39 per week
Holidays: 21 days plus 4 days public holiday
Sick Pay: None
ACCOMMODATION
Permanent room in the recently renovated au-pair accommodation with shared facilities. There are no bills but you must supply your own food.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Successful candidate should be highly motivated and committed to improving their gardening. They should have a well-defined work ethic and have the ability to work well in a small team. Ideally the student should have an HNC or be a sandwich year student, but we are more interested in the potential of the candidate, rather than the qualifications they possess.
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