What’s your name, how old are you and where do you live?
Daisy Wright, 36, Edinburgh.
Who do you work for and what do you do there?
I’m a gardener and I work for Bonnington House, the owners of Jupiter Artland in West Lothian. The house is situated within Jupiter Artland grounds.
I’m primarily the only full-time gardener who works in the private gardens but also work in Jupiter when needed where there is a larger team. Within the private gardens are borders, veg gardens and a large greenhouse to manage. This involves propagation, planting, grass cutting and lots of weeding! The wider grounds have much of the same but with a focus on the plants complementing artwork or being part of art pieces. Work is varied and no two days are the same.
What does the business do?
Jupiter Artland is a registered charity and is open to the public throughout the summer months. It displays art work and has various types of landscapes to wander through. The private garden is just that – private with a garden open day usually once a year to showcase it. There is a learning and education department and on-site café.
What did you do before you came here?
I worked at Dirleton Castle in East Lothian as an Apprentice Gardener.
What did you do after leaving school?
This was a little while ago now…. I left school and went straight to college to complete a BTEC National Diploma in Animal Care. I then went onto university and gained a BSc. Honours degree in Animal Behaviour with Ecology and Conservation.
What qualifications did you do at college?
I applied for a modern apprenticeship at Dirleton Castle with Historic Environment Scotland which was 4 years long. I was first of all put through my SVQ2 in Horticulture which lasted 2 years and I then asked if I was able to complete a HNC in Landscape Management and Horticulture which they agreed to. This course was completed over my final two years. I did one day at college and the rest of the time at work.
How much did you enjoy the course?
I loved both courses and had an exceptional time at SRUC Oatridge. The tutors were incredible and extremely supportive and it ran alongside the practical experience I was gaining at work really well. I would recommend doing a modern apprenticeship to anyone. I wish I had done it straight out of school rather than going to university.
How have these qualifications helped your career?
They have helped me greatly! It is my belief that nothing beats hands-on, practical experience, but both of these courses had elements that were really practical. Most jobs require some form of qualification and to have two of them and almost 5 years work experience holds me in good stead for great and exciting roles in the future. Plus, the qualifications were taught by tutors with a wealth of knowledge and experience, I really felt I was learning from some of the best.
What did you think about getting paid while you were learning?
I was 31 when I started the apprenticeship. I was paying rent and I had to own a car to travel to Dirleton as I lived in Edinburgh. Without being paid I would never have been able to even contemplate applying for this role.
Why did you apply for this job?
At the time I applied for the apprenticeship, I was working as a self-employed cleaner. Before moving to Edinburgh, I had spent much of my twenties traveling and working low paid and meaningless jobs. I was losing my mind! I felt like a complete failure and I know I had to make a change. Applying for conservation jobs - which is the sector I wanted to break into – always ended in rejection so it was time to train in something new. I never wanted to work in an office-based job and I love nature so when I saw this job advertised, I knew I had to give everything in the interview to be successful and it paid off. I was so bored before and needed a challenge. Going back to learning at a slightly later age is easier in some regard as you take it so much more seriously and I loved it! Horticulture is massive and there are always new things to be learned. I’ve fallen in love with it and the potential for good that can be achieved by working in this sector.
Did you always want to do this kind of work? Why?
Yes. I didn’t ever think of a career in horticulture and now looking back I realise that its not a career path that’s promoted to young people which needs to change but I always wanted to work with nature and definitely outdoors. Its so good for body and mind and I’ve always wanted to know that I’m doing something positive even if it is on a small scale.
What do you do each day?
Its varied. At the moment I start my day by feeding lambs! Jupiter has a small flock of sheep with the ewes giving birth a few weeks back. Two had to be bottle fed so I do this four times a day. It is not a hardship! I then see to the greenhouse and make sure everything is watered and happy. Spring is full of growing plants, seeds and cuttings so this takes up a chunk of my time. Then the rest of the day is full of whatever needs doing. One day it's weeding, the next it's pruning, grass cutting and planting or helping with any upcoming events at Jupiter of which there are many throughout the year. I also manage a small team of volunteers and two part-time gardeners who are amazing and without them I would not get half the amount of work done that I need to. They are always on hand with laughter and a good chat so I look forward to the two days with them.
What do you do over the year?
I haven’t been here for a full year yet, so this isn’t the easiest question to answer. But horticulture in spring and summer is normally full of weeding, growing plants and maintaining planted areas as well as grass cutting and creating displays. Autumn and winter are the months in which we prepare for the growing season the next year. We prune, cut back, hedge cut, rearrange plants, mulch and try to do any larger jobs that we don’t have time to do over summer. This may include hard landscaping and even big, deep cleans. Some people think that gardeners have nothing to do in winter but this could not be further from the truth.
What difference does your job make to the rest of us?
That all depends on the type of garden you work in. If it's open to the public, then we create spaces for people to enjoy and hopefully see beauty that helps with the stresses of life. We have the power to do so much good for pollinating insects and create environments rich in biodiversity that create ecosystems for an array of wildlife. We can help volunteers gain experience and confidence and create a space for people to work closely with nature and realise the importance that our work has. As individuals we are small, but together, we are mighty and can do so much good.
What kind of skills do you need to work in your job?
All the skills that are needed for horticulture can be learned and not having them in the first place should deter no one. A love for the outdoors and the ability to work outside in all weathers is key. Without that, you’re goosed! Using machinery, learning plant names, manual labour, all these things will come with experience. Just the determination and strength of character to give things a go and to continue with it even if it goes wrong, are important skills. With the right mentor and encouragement everything else will fall into place.
What’s the best thing about your job?
Working outside and being able to enjoy the beauty of nature. Sounds corny but I love it.
Do you enjoy it?
Yes.
Is there anything you’re particularly proud of?
Being nominated for and winning the Lantra higher education learner of the year. Plus, best student for the SVQ2 and HNC. What a nerd! This would surprise a lot of people who knew me when I was younger. I’ve never considered myself particularly bright but this time around was different. I don’t take many things seriously as I think its important to laugh and have fun. It doesn’t mean I don’t take my work seriously though. I worked hard at college and will continue to do so with my career. I’ll still laugh along the way though.
Have you had to deal with any challenges in your career?
Covid was certainly a challenge and it was so for everyone. I was fortunate in that I retained my job at Dirleton and kept my wage. We weren’t allowed to garden for months at the very beginning of lockdown and during that hot spring the garden went wild! Going back and facing what we had to deal with was pretty overwhelming but luckily, I worked with an extraordinary gardener at Dirleton and together, bit by bit, we got the gardens back to their formal glory.
College was also tough as lessons went online and this was a new experience for staff and students so everyone was learning on the job and when you’re teaching practical based studies, this at times held challenges. The staff were incredible though and we were all able to get through it together.
I think a massive challenge in horticulture is mentality. Historically, I feel there has been a disconnect with the increasingly fragile environment in which we live and work with a huge dependency on chemicals and an acceptance of waste that has become the norm. This has to change. We need dedicated minds to make this a reality which I feel is my personal mission! We have to garden sympathetically if we want to continue to work in beautiful landscapes and that means changing mindsets and practices that have become far too easy over the years. There are some brilliant people out there who too want to make this a reality but the change needs to happen for the better.
Do you work with any technology?
No, thankfully! I want to throw my phone at a wall most days, I wouldn’t cope with technology on a bigger scale.
What parts of your job or industry are green or sustainable?
Peat-free compost is a big one and an issue that’s a quite a hot topic at the moment. Its easy to pick up bags now with the quality improving. Some are definitely better than others and at Jupiter, we only buy peat-free compost and mulch with horse manure. This year we will be growing produce for the café to have less miles on the food that is served there and even though we don’t have the space or staff to produce everything, we will endeavour to do as much as time and space allows.
The industry does come under fire a lot about peat and plastics and there are parts that require more help, be it financial or educational to become greener but there is still a lot of positive change happening. There’s more focus now than ever on how we treat our beautiful world and horticulture as well as every other sector has to make change. We can no longer just pay lip service to it but make real decisions that will benefit everyone and everything. Things like plastic pots aren’t going to suddenly disappear but go to any garden and you will find stacks of plastic pots being reused over and over until they literally fall apart. Gardeners are a savvy lot and have been reusing and repurposing for years. Have a look at allotments and community gardens and you will find a plethora of items destined for landfill that have been turned into something fabulous.
What’s it like to live and work in this part of Scotland?
Scotland is beautiful. Admittedly, I’d like to live in a far more rural area than the outskirts of Edinburgh but I’m confident that will happen with time. In and around Edinburgh may not be the easiest for certain types of horticultural jobs but the fact that you’re always so close to beauty and the great outdoors wherever you are in Scotland is incredible.
If one of your friends was thinking about doing a job like yours, what would you say to them?
Do it! If you are able to volunteer then do so but not everyone has the time or capacity and unfortunately some people take advantage of this. I’m always so grateful for the volunteers at Jupiter. They are an army of hard-working ladies! All gardens are different and finding one that suits you may take time, but it is out there and the rewards you get from working in this sector are invaluable. We should be pushing this at school age as a serious career because its so important to have beautiful minds working in beautiful gardens.
What would you like to do in the future?
Continue learning and work in gardens that reflect my ethos about sustainability and environmental impact. I would like to help people and communities even if it is in a small way to grow plants and veggies and the excitement and reward that comes from that. I want to continue to create beautiful places for people to enjoy and to know that I’m doing good.