RETIRED HEAD GARDENER AT THE ROYAL ESTATE, SANDRINGHAM I have always had a passionate interest in the landscape of gardens, plants, and trees which inevitably led me towards a career in Horticulture.

Following school, I applied for a position as a trainee Gardener in the Royal Gardens at Sandringham. Here, I served a three-year apprenticeship working in the extensive glasshouse complex assisting with the propagation and cultivation of plants and flowers for Sandringham House and for sale at the visitor centre. As part of my training, I joined the team of twelve gardeners maintaining and developing the prestigious sixty-acre Edwardian Pleasure Gardens, privately owned by Her Majesty, the Queen and subsequently His Majesty, the King. These gardens have been enjoyed by generations of the British Royal Family along with thousands of visitors from around the world each year.

Following my traditional traineeship which enabled me to build a wide range of skills and good knowledge of horticulture, I built on this by studying with the RHS, gaining the Royal Horticultural Society Advanced Horticultural Certificate.

In 1997 I was offered and accepted the position of Head Gardener, a position I proudly held until April 2022, when I became Gardens Project Manager. During my time as Sandringham Head Gardener, I was responsible for the maintenance and development of almost one hundred acres of garden and parkland including a seventeen-acre Walled Garden, large glasshouse complex, three royal residences and a whole host of associated tasks unique to a large private estate.

I received numerous awards related to this role, the most notable being personally presented with The Royal Victoria Medal by Her Majesty the Queen who later made me a Member of the Victorian Order, an honour reserved exclusively for those who have personally served the Royal Family.

After taking a six-month sabbatical travelling Europe, covering around ten thousand miles exploring the Gardens and Parks of eight different countries, I returned to Sandringham where, until recently, I worked part-time as a Gardens Project Manager.

After over 40 years working in the horticultural industry, I have gained extensive knowledge of the practical requirements for a garden to be successful and more importantly, sustainable. The identification and selection of suitable plants for the situation along with long-term maintenance and management have been a key part of my role and something I am passionate about.

During my time as Head Gardener, I managed a substantial number of trees, many with historical significance having been planted by past and present members of the Royal Family. I have a wealth of experience and keen interest in the management of veteran trees and have recently been involved with managing the creation of a new arboretum at Sandringham, initiated by King Charles III as an amenity/educational facility for visitors to the Estate.

Inspired by King Charles III and his passion for protecting our planet, I have constantly strived to introduce sustainable methods of maintenance to the garden, based on organic principles wherever practical.

I have more recently focused on my freelance work as a Horticultural Consultant, offering a peripatetic Head Gardener service to clients across the country as well as taking on speaking engagements and workshops. Please see www.martindwoods.co.uk for more information.