Managing the Gardens

The Gardens department is managed by Graham A. Gammin, click here to email him

An important source of income for the gardens are charitable donations both large and small, through the donations box situated at the main archway entrance.

Click here to find out more about fundraising.

Contract gardening

Graham also manages the Gardens Contracts department which is responsible for the ongoing grounds maintenance of other amenity areas both on and off the Dartington Hall Estate.

The machinery resources necessary to maintain the hall gardens tend to be expensive; such resources cannot remain idle when not in use and are therefore put to good use elsewhere. Any income generated helps to offset the considerable costs associated with maintaining a garden such as Dartington.

For more information about contract gardening work, click here to email us.

The team

Back in the 1950s the gardens team comprised some 25 gardeners. Today a small but dedicated team of four, plus a trainee, have to cope. Back in the 50s everything tended to be labour intensive; today we have the benefit of modern machinery giving the team the power whenever and wherever it may be needed. The Gardens Contracts team of 3 is another resource that can be called upon at a moment’s notice, should the need occur. But no machine has yet been invented that can give that personal touch when attending the borders, dead-heading, weeding and tying in.

How are decisions made?

The garden at Dartington is not a collection of rarities, it is not a place where plants are labelled, rather it is how plants are used within the historic landscape that makes Dartington special, creating an artistic, tranquil atmosphere that brings visitors back time and again.

The gardens have a long tradition of colour and style that is best described as simply `Dartington’. To help steer the garden, we have a Gardens Advisory Committee who meet at regular intervals.