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31 July 2024

As I sit to write this blog entry, we are in the hottest spell so far this year. There is not a cloud in the sky and the weather is perfect for being outside or taking a dip in our refurbished swimming pool. Instead, I am in a hot office writing a garden blog.

We seem to have got through the height of the garden party season and navigated through the wedding season. Pressure is off a little now but that just means catching up on so many of the jobs we have been putting off. It really is hedging season now. It is usually best to wait until August to cut the hedging as many of the birds have flown the nests by this point. August is a great month for beech hedging. We have recently finished trimming the box hedging in New Court. It remains to be seen how many more times we can keep cutting this hedge as the box moth caterpillar damage seems to get a little worse each year. The next 12 months will be critical to how long we keep these hedges. It will be a massive shame to lose them, but we are one of the few college gardens who have not ripped theirs out yet. I fear it is only a matter of time.

We are entering the stage when our Garden Department apprentices have almost completed their time with us. Izzie Hare has just passed her final Level 2 Horticulture exam. This is a considerable achievement having only been with us for almost two years. Izzie will leave us at the end of August, and we are now looking to replace her with the next intern apprentice. Horticultural education is very important, and it was so pleasing to deliver what was promised and get Izzie at the point at which she can evolve in the industry as a professional gardener. We all wish her the very best of luck in the future and will miss her enormously.

Our other trainee, Emily McCullen has also nearly finished her one-year placement with us. Emily leaves in early September, having completed her ‘Work and Retrain as a Gardener’ (WRAG) Scheme placement with us in the Emmanuel College gardens. Again, we are looking to recruit for the next WRAG Scheme placement. One year really does go fast. It only seems a matter of weeks ago that Emily started with us. At the time of writing, Emily has completed her RHS Level 2 qualification but has not had the results through. We have every confidence in her that she has passed. Again, we wish Emily all the best in the future.

In other news, we have almost completed the Community Garden. The social gardens have been transformed and will give students, staff and Fellows a wonderful space to work and grow in. It really is very exciting indeed. Watch this space for more news.

Best wishes.

Brendon Sims, Head Gardener

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