Helmingham Hall Gardens

The Grade I listed Helmingham Hall, built in 1510, is surrounded by 8.5-acres of traditionally and classically styled gardens and a deer park. The Tollemache family have been resident at the hall since its construction, with the current generation of an unbroken succession now living in the hall.

The grounds are composed of many garden areas, with the heart being the Walled Garden. The wall itself dates to 1745 and the garden comprises of many different styles; productive (vegetables, fruit and cut flower), herbaceous borders, colour themed bays, potager, grass borders, hot border, topiary walk, pictorial meadows amongst others.

Helmingham Hall Gardens has such a diversity of gardens and associated activities that they are able to offer a wide range of skills and tasks to a trainee. Tasks include seasonal pot and bed displays, developing borders and planting, growing vegetables, propagation, pest control management, topiary, orchard, meadow management and general garden maintenance.

Training will be given on various machinery including ride-on mower, pedestrian mowers, strimmer, hedge cutters, leaf blowers and motorised edgers. A trainee will also have the opportunity to use hired equipment such as reciprocating mowers, turf cutters, scarifiers and aerators.

Placements available: One

Staff numbers: 3 full-time and 1 part-time horticulturalists, 1 HBGTP trainee and 4 volunteers

Ease of access: The nearest mainline station is Westerfield (7.5 mi).

Accommodation: The garden can offer some on-site rental accommodation for trainees.