In this episode of the HighGround podcast, hosts Tom Constable and HighGround CEO Jamie Crisp visit the National Trust’s Killerton Estate in Devon to speak with Karl Emmeleus, head gardener and a long‑time supporter of HighGround’s Rural Weeks. Karl retrained from secondary‑school teaching into horticulture more than two decades ago and has worked his way up through the National Trust to manage one of its largest gardens.
He explains that Killerton’s estate spans 6,400 acres of farmland, woods and parkland nationaltrust.org.uk, while the formal garden he manages covers about 18 acres with everything from lawn care and propagation to woodland management. Karl describes how horticulture offers an almost endless variety of roles, from general gardening to specialist tree and plant work and why service‑leavers’ teamwork, adaptability and attention to detail make them well suited to the sector.
The discussion covers day‑to‑day tasks, seasonal variations, the growth of habitat restoration on estates, and entry routes such as volunteering, apprenticeships and RHS Level 2 qualifications. Karl shares practical tips on finding jobs and stresses the mental‑health benefits of working outdoors; studies show that gardening can improve mood, self‑esteem and concentration while reducing stress webmd.com. The episode closes with advice for veterans to visit gardens, talk to professionals and experience the work first‑hand.
00:00 Introduction: Tom & Jamie recap the aim of the HighGround podcast—creating an evergreen library of conversations about land‑based careers for veterans, service‑leavers and reservists.
02:13 Meet Karl Emmeleus: Karl introduces himself and explains his journey from teaching to horticulture. He retrained and joined the National Trust over 20 years ago, rising through the organisation to become head gardener at Killerton.
03:39 What is horticulture? Karl clarifies that horticulture is the professional practice of gardening; it goes far beyond cutting hedges or mowing lawns and includes plant propagation, tree care, design and public engagement.
05:01 Diverse career paths: Discussion about the many routes within horticulture—from generalist gardeners to specialists in trees, plant genera or conservation—and how interests can develop over time.
06:58 Soft skills & veterans: Jamie notes that veterans bring transferrable skills such as punctuality, health‑and‑safety awareness, teamwork and adaptability, which are highly valued in horticulture.
08:15 Killerton Estate overview: Karl describes Killerton’s 6,400‑acre estate with 18 tenant farms and woodlandsnationaltrust.org.uk. His team maintains an 18‑acre formal garden plus smaller plots around the estate with only four full‑time staff, one apprentice and around 20 volunteers.
09:30 Daily tasks & seasonal work: From early‑morning blowing and grass‑cutting before visitors arrive to dead‑heading, edging, propagation and tree work, Karl outlines how the job changes with the seasons and why no two days are the same.
10:13 Wider estate roles: Beyond
