Walmer Castle and Gardens (English Heritage)

Walmer Castle, situated on the English Channel coast, is a well-maintained garden of 10 acres within a 28-acre estate and is registered as Grade II listed. The Tudor era castle is the home of the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and many historic figures of national importance have lived in the Castle, some of whom have had a direct influence on the design of the gardens.

The gardens have been developed between c.1790 and the present day, and include decorative shrub borders, a woodland walk, chalk wildflower meadow, formal bedding, croquet lawn, a working kitchen garden, orchard and cutting garden, decorative glasshouses and a double herbaceous border flanked by a mature cloud hedge. There is also the formal Queen Mother’s Garden, designed by Penelope Hobhouse and presented to Her Majesty to mark her Birthday in 1997.

2019 saw the completion of a project to revive the Woodland and Paddock landscape, re-open the Glen quarry garden, and introduce a woodland play trail and new café. These new features have been very popular with visitors.

Trainees based at Walmer work across all aspects of the site, gaining experience in a very varied and diverse historical garden.

Placements available: One

Staff numbers: 5 full-time horticulturalists, 1 HBGTP trainee and more than 35 volunteers.

Ease of access: The nearest train station is Walmer, 15 minutes’ walk away and served by the High-Speed rail service from London St Pancras. Local bus services from Deal alight opposite the Castle, and there is a bike route running along the sea front to Deal, Sandwich and Ramsgate.

Accommodation: No dedicated accommodation available.