The Cake - Spring 2022
A slice of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst life A slice of Cranbrook and Sissinghurst life
THE CAKE CHATS WITH… Troy Scott-Smith Trisha Fermor talks to returning head gardener at Sissinghurst Castle It is clear for all to see that he loves Sissinghurst Castle and its stunning garden set around the tranquillity of a 500-year-old property. So much so, that he came back for a third time to take up the role of head gardener. He told The Cake: “It is nice to be back. I always feel so comfortable here, it is so much more than just a garden.” Asked why he returned, Troy said: “My successor had left and Juliet Nicolson, [granddaughter of Harold Nicolson and Vita Sackville-West who made the garden], asked if I would come back and I couldn’t say no.” His devotion to gardening and plants was fired by a childhood love of nature. Born and bred in Yorkshire, he studied horticulture at Askham Bryan College in York, joining the team at Sissinghurst eight years later in 1992. As well as Sissinghurst, he has gained experience at the much-loved Bodnant Garden in Wales and at Courts Garden in Wiltshire. Before moving back to Kent “There is a bond you get with a garden when you give so much time and energy, you become very entwined with it.” last autumn, Troy was head gardener at Iford Manor Gardens in Wiltshire. Mainly created by Harold Peto who lived at Iford from 1899 to 1933, he designed gardens for royalty and aristocracy around the world. Troy and his partner, Anne, and children Rowan, 14, and Maiwen 12, both born at Bodnant, now have a new home in part of the castle. Before, they lived in one of the cottages on the estate. Their current home is just a stone’s throw away from the Delos garden, originally created by Harold and Vita, which lost its identity over the years. A few years ago, Troy’s friend and world-renowned garden designer, Dan Pearson, offered to re-design the Greek-inspired garden. The huge scheme, involving the removal of trees, shrubs and plants and the installation of tons of Kentish rag stone, is greatly admired by Troy. While his heart is definitely in the garden - “I get a feeling of real closeness to Vita and Harold” - the family has bought a small farm in Cumbria and is converting an old barn into a house, “for the long term”. So what is next? He said: “I am planning to tackle the conflict between conservation and access together with historical integrity, garden management with a recipe for each area and organic status for the vegetable garden. “There is a bond you get with a garden when you give so much time and energy, you become very entwined with it.” His favourite plant? “It would have to be a rose. The Gallica rose ‘Sissinghurst Castle’ is the best.” Delighted to be back he added: “It is probably the best job in gardening.” 42 The Cake • Spring 2022
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THE CAKE CHATS WITH…<br />
Troy Scott-Smith<br />
Trisha Fermor talks to returning head gardener at Sissinghurst Castle<br />
It is clear for all to see that<br />
he loves Sissinghurst Castle<br />
and its stunning garden set<br />
around the tranquillity of a<br />
500-year-old property.<br />
So much so, that he came back<br />
for a third time to take up the<br />
role of head gardener.<br />
He told <strong>The</strong> <strong>Cake</strong>: “It is nice<br />
to be back. I always feel so<br />
comfortable here, it is so much<br />
more than just a garden.”<br />
Asked why he returned, Troy<br />
said: “My successor had left and<br />
Juliet Nicolson, [granddaughter<br />
of Harold Nicolson and Vita<br />
Sackville-West who made the<br />
garden], asked if I would come<br />
back and I couldn’t say no.”<br />
His devotion to gardening and<br />
plants was fired by a childhood<br />
love of nature. Born and bred in<br />
Yorkshire, he studied horticulture<br />
at Askham Bryan College in York,<br />
joining the team at Sissinghurst<br />
eight years later in 1992.<br />
As well as Sissinghurst, he<br />
has gained experience at the<br />
much-loved Bodnant<br />
Garden in Wales and<br />
at Courts Garden<br />
in Wiltshire.<br />
Before moving<br />
back to Kent<br />
“<strong>The</strong>re is a bond you get<br />
with a garden when you<br />
give so much time and<br />
energy, you become very<br />
entwined with it.”<br />
last autumn, Troy was head<br />
gardener at Iford Manor Gardens<br />
in Wiltshire. Mainly created<br />
by Harold Peto who lived at<br />
Iford from 1899 to 1933, he<br />
designed gardens for royalty and<br />
aristocracy around the world.<br />
Troy and his partner, Anne, and<br />
children Rowan, 14, and Maiwen<br />
12, both born at Bodnant, now<br />
have a new home in part of the<br />
castle. Before, they lived in one of<br />
the cottages on the estate.<br />
<strong>The</strong>ir current home is just<br />
a stone’s throw away from the<br />
Delos garden, originally created<br />
by Harold and Vita, which lost<br />
its identity over the years. A<br />
few years ago, Troy’s friend and<br />
world-renowned garden designer,<br />
Dan Pearson, offered to re-design<br />
the Greek-inspired garden. <strong>The</strong><br />
huge scheme, involving the<br />
removal of trees, shrubs and<br />
plants and the installation of tons<br />
of Kentish rag stone, is greatly<br />
admired by Troy.<br />
While his heart is definitely<br />
in the garden - “I get a feeling<br />
of real closeness to Vita and<br />
Harold” - the family has bought<br />
a small farm in Cumbria and is<br />
converting an old barn into a<br />
house, “for the long term”.<br />
So what is next? He said: “I am<br />
planning to tackle the conflict<br />
between conservation and access<br />
together with historical integrity,<br />
garden management with a<br />
recipe for each area and organic<br />
status for the vegetable garden.<br />
“<strong>The</strong>re is a bond you get with<br />
a garden when you give so much<br />
time and energy, you become<br />
very entwined with it.”<br />
His favourite plant? “It would<br />
have to be a rose. <strong>The</strong> Gallica rose<br />
‘Sissinghurst Castle’ is the best.”<br />
Delighted to be back he added:<br />
“It is probably the best job in<br />
gardening.”<br />
42 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Cake</strong> • <strong>Spring</strong> <strong>2022</strong>