November 22nd 2024.
Melissa Simpson, the head of horticulture for The King's Foundation, recently sat down with Scottish Field to discuss her love for gardening since she was a child, her current role overseeing the gardens at Dumfries House and Highgrove, and what makes King Charles such a special boss.
Growing up in various countries due to her father's service in the forces, Melissa developed a deep appreciation for nature and gardening. Her great-great-grandfather's work as a market gardener also played a significant role in her love for horticulture. Her mother and nanny were also avid gardeners who influenced her passion.
From a young age, Melissa knew she wanted to work in a garden. She began her journey by joining a youth training scheme with Leeds City Council's parks department, where she honed her gardening skills. She then pursued further education at Askham Bryan College and Pershore College, earning a Master of Horticulture. Her first full-time job as a Head Gardener was for a private family in Norfolk.
After that, Melissa worked at Kew Gardens and spent five years at The National Trust before moving to Scotland to work with The National Trust for Scotland as a gardens and designed landscape advisor. But when she heard about the opportunity at Dumfries House, she knew she wanted to be more hands-on with gardening, which was something she had missed.
Working for The King's Foundation is a great honor for Melissa. She manages a team of around a dozen staff who are responsible for the 600 acres of gardens and designed landscapes at Dumfries House, as well as the 15 acres at Highgrove Gardens. Despite her managerial role, Melissa remains very hands-on and spends about 50% of her time working in the garden. She believes in trying out different approaches herself before implementing them and emphasizes biodiversity, sustainability, and organic practices at both sites.
Melissa speaks highly of King Charles, saying that he has a strong interest and clear vision for the development of the gardens. She admires his designer's eye, passion for horticulture, and attention to aesthetics and the visitor experience. His enthusiasm and encouragement inspire her team to do their best.
Education and training are essential aspects of The King's Foundation, and Melissa takes pride in the different programs and projects they have implemented. They have a walled garden where they grow dye plants for their textile center programs and provide natural materials for their craft builders. They also have a physic garden linked to their health and wellbeing center and work with their chefs to provide organic produce and heritage vegetables from their gardens.
Melissa's day starts by making sure her team has tasks to complete and are comfortable with what they are doing. She then checks on them throughout the day, using her "stealth vehicle" - her bicycle - to get around the gardens. She believes in understanding each task and tries to do it herself before delegating or discussing the best approach with her team. She encourages them to think critically and practices "intelligence horticulture."
Each season brings a different beauty to the gardens, and Melissa loves spending time in them, even when they are closed to visitors. In the Queen Elizabeth II Walled Garden, she finds peace and tranquility. In the Arboretum and Rothesay Garden, she enjoys the smell of the burnt-sugar trees and the vibrant colors of the Wildflower Meadow. At Highgrove, she is awestruck by the sight of the colored Acers in the Wildflower Meadow, with the Moorish Gates and Banana Plants in the background.
Despite the challenges of managing the gardens organically with a small team and a vast area to cover, Melissa remains dedicated to being considerate of the environment and the planet. She tries not to work too late but admits that during winter, she often finds herself gardening during the day and doing paperwork at night to make the most of the daylight. Being onsite, it can be difficult for her to stop working.
It's hard for Melissa to switch off from her passion for gardening, but when she does have spare time, she enjoys playing her ukulele and taking a dip in the sea. She believes in making the most of every moment, especially when surrounded by the beauty of nature.
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