Meet Our Head Of Gardens - Scott McArdell

On National Gardening Week, we couldn’t think of a better excuse to shine the spotlight on our fantastic Gardening Team here at Kingswood School.

Working across 218 acres of grounds covering both the Prep and Senior School at Kingswood, our Head of Gardens, Scott McArdell, explains that their work is hugely rewarding but the gardens require a great deal of management in order to flourish…

When did you become Head of Gardens at Kingswood?

I started with the School in September 2013 as cover for absent staff and it was then a few years later that I was appointed as Head of Gardens. I am still a junior in the team regarding length of service as some of my team have been here for 45 and 31 years respectively!

What is it like gardening at Kingswood, and how is it different to other gardening jobs you’ve had?

Gardening at the School is a challenge as there is so much land to maintain and to keep it looking its best for the students, staff and visitors. My previous lines of work have been landscaping and tree surgery, so rather than going from place to place each day, it is nice to see the difference you make at the School every day.

What is your favourite part of the grounds and gardens at Kingswood?

I don’t have one particular favourite part of the School’s grounds, as each area has its own beauty. What I have liked most over the last few years is helping with small projects around both the Prep and Senior Schools. I have especially enjoyed making things for The Garden Nursery, such as boot racks, mud kitchens, sand pits, and more recently, helping construct the base for the new yurt and then making several things to go alongside it so the pupils can be more at one with nature. It has also been lovely to have the Garden Team involved with the gardening clubs at the School, be it building a new polytunnel, helping them sow seeds, teaching them about sustainability and getting them to think about where food comes from and just how much work goes into it.

How do the different seasons impact on your team’s work?

During the warmer months we get the nicer jobs of mowing, planting, watering etc and often get comments from all the community saying “I would love your job today”. Then comes the winter time and we have the enormous job of clearing leaves on the site, salt spreading and finishing work we haven’t completed during the summer - this is when we then get the comments of “I wouldn’t like your job today” when it is raining and freezing cold!

Are there any exciting plans coming up?

As a team, we are trying to increase the volume of wildflower around the School to help the bees and insects. As a School activity, there is woodland planting with the pupils being strategically planned. The Garden Team is also in the process of getting an apprentice - this will be exciting as it will be the first apprenticeship in the School (I think!) so it is lovely to be trusted with that and help someone along their way to a career in Horticulture.

What advice would you give for a pupil considering a career in gardening? 

It is a very rewarding job and there are many paths you can take in Horticulture, so keep an open mind. On the job, be willing to work hard, listen to plans but also be confident to put across your own ideas, be open to learning new skills, and be prepared for four seasons of weather in one day!