This episode is a chat with Simon Thompson, Head Gardener at the National Trust Property, Wallington.
Simon has worked for the National Trust for over 25 years, and we thought we would approach this episode in the spirit of the work of a gardener – through a walk around the estate.
Simon welcomed me to Wallington back in September 2024 on a glorious sunny morning before the site was open to the public. We set off from the Mansion house on a ramble through the woodlands and the walled gardens discussing what his job looks and feels like on a day-to-day basis, the work that goes into designing and maintaining a historic house estate, and how he became a gardener.
We were accompanied by a huge variety of wildlife including insects, birds and some very tiny ducklings which you can hopefully hear as part of our recording!
The episode works as a standalone chat, but if you’d like to see images of the different spaces, sculptures, ponds and gardens we discuss, then please visit the episode page on the Cultural Peeps WordPress site.
I loved making this episode – and I hope you enjoy listening!
Links:
Wallington: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/north-east/wallington
Wallington: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallington_Hall
Gardens and Parkland Jobs in the National Trust: https://www.nationaltrustjobs.org.uk/where-you-could-work/gardens-and-parklands/
RHS: https://www.rhs.org.uk/
RHS Qualifications: https://www.rhs.org.uk/education-learning/qualifications-and-training/rhs-qualifications
Chelsea Flower Show: https://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-chelsea-flower-show
