One of Aberglasney Gardens’ longest serving Trustees, Helen Scutt, has recently started an exciting new role as the Gardens’ Director – combining the positions of Head Gardener and Director of Operations.
Helen has been involved with Aberglasney since its restoration began 27 years ago. As a Trustee, with her own successful landscape gardening business, she has helped guide numerous head gardeners and directors over the years.
When Jim Stribling left his position as Director of Operations to return to the sunshine state of Florida last month, Helen stood down as a Trustee so she could take on this new challenge of managing Aberglasney Gardens. She now reports to the Board of Trustees rather than being one herself!
On her appointment, Helen said, “Aberglasney means so much to me. This is a very exciting time as I work with the gardening team on some big changes. I want to restore elements of the gardens so they better reflect the original designs. This includes replanting the Upper Walled Garden to reflect the original layout created 25 years ago by eminent garden designer and historian, Penelope Hobhouse. I want to re-plant the Kitchen Garden so it is a visual and edible feast this summer and I want to re-design the indoor sub tropical garden, the Ninfarium, with a different palette of plants which incorporate Aberglasney’s unique collection of orchids.”
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Helen added, “We are currently working on a five-year planting plan which focuses on sourcing British plants from local suppliers. We must also use a greener way of gardening with sustainable planting in our philosophy moving forward. Everything we lift from the gardens will be sold to plough funds back into the Aberglasney charitable trust. Bare roots are available to buy in our shop so visitors can plant a little bit of Aberglasney magic in their own gardens. Fruit and vegetables from the kitchen garden, which are surplus to the requirements of our own Tearooms, will also be sold.”
Helen was born and raised in Llanarthne, Carmarthenshire - her mother grew up in Golden Grove and her father was from Llangathen – both within a short distance of Aberglasney. Helen, a fluent Welsh speaker, started her career in horticulture as a landscape designer in London, before setting up her own landscape gardening consultancy in the affluent areas of Ascot and Belgravia where she had some very high profile clients. Helen decided to move back to Carmarthenshire to bring up her two sons.
Since moving to Llandeilo, almost 30 years ago, Helen has developed her landscape gardening business in Carmarthenshire, as well as continuing to work with some clients in London. She will be familiar to those that watch S4C’s gardening programme, Garddio a Mwy, as she is a regular guest presenter.
Aberglasney’s ten-acres of gardens, with a tearooms and gift shop, attract an average of 50,000 visitors every year. Helen now manages the team of office staff, gardeners and gardening students, as well as a large army of volunteers.
Eleanor Keatley, acting Chairman of Aberglasney Gardens’ Board of Trustees, said, “We are delighted that Helen is heading up the team here at Aberglasney, she has certainly hit the ground running with her abundance of energy and enthusiasm. Helen’s tremendous amount of experience, combined with her passion, mean she will be a huge asset to the future development of Aberglasney, whilst appreciating the heritage of this unique site.”
Aberglasney was made famous by the BBC television series “A Garden Lost in Time” which followed its restoration 27 years ago. The Gardens, Mansion house, Shop and Tearooms are open every day except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Visitors can explore over 20 different garden styles from formal to woodland, right through to sub-tropical and modern, along with the fully restored ground floor of Aberglasney’s grade II* listed mansion.
Further information on the Gardens are available online: www.aberglasney.org