The Sissinghurst Scholarship

The Sissinghurst Scholarship Programme

The Scholarship Programme is an initiative which nurtures talented gardeners of the future, providing them with opportunities to hone their skills under the guidance of professionals. Although based at Sissinghurst, Scholars have the opportunity to visit associated garden organisations, both in the UK and internationally, to broaden their development and learn from a variety of experts. 

The Scholarship was originally and continues to be generously funded by donations and legacies. If you are thinking about leaving a gift in will to the National Trust, you can find out more here. 

The Sissinghurst Scholar

In June 2022, Sissinghurst Castle Garden opened applications for The Sissinghurst Scholarship offering gardeners the special opportunity to work alongside our Head Gardener Troy Scott-Smith and his team whilst developing practical hands-on experience. The Scholarship is designed to cultivate the Head Gardeners of the future. 

Troy commented, “Sissinghurst Castle Garden has been a foundation of horticultural learning for decades. In fact, in 1997, Nigel Nicolson, son of Vita and Harold, wrote that ‘Sissinghurst is a nursery not only for plants, but for head-gardeners'. 

“Now, as a leading international garden, we want to embed this legacy as a core principle, creating an informal but world-class training environment to keep the tradition of learning at Sissinghurst alive for decades to come.”

The Growing Scholar

Sissinghurst Castle first opened up applications for the Growing Scholar in 2023 which aimed to provide hands-on practical experience within the Nursery and Vegetable Garden here, under the supervision of expert technicians. 

Meet the Sissinghurst Scholars

Since its inauguration, the Scholarship has taken on four individuals: Claire Margetts (the inaugural Sissinghurst Scholar 2022 - 2024), Paul Mooncie-Dunmall (the current Sissinghurst Scholar 2023 - 2025), Lizzie Halley (the inaugural Growing Scholar 2023 - 2024), and Molly Rounsevell (the current Growing Scholar 2024 - 2025). 

Paul is our current Sissinghurst Scholar, and has commented that "the Scholarship is so important, not only in cultivating future Head Gardeners and acquiring the tools to inspire the next generation, but also ensuring our National Trust gardens and parks are nutured for years to come."

Paul will share his progress and updates on our weekly Friday segment a Scholar's Notebook on Instagram and Facebook. Search #scholarsnotebook to read up on Claire and Paul's journey so far. 

After the Scholarship

Upon graduating at the end of March 2024, Claire accepted a position as Head Gardener at the National Trust's Mottistone Gardens and Lizzie has been accepted onto the Kew Diploma in Horticulture at Kew Gardens. 

Claire reflected that "[T]he experience has been enriching, accelerating, on occasion incredibly challenging and the nuance of learnings invaluable and absolutely unexpected. The breadth of content, my learnings and connections are still being processed.

"I am honoured to have been able to help with building the profile of the Scholarship internally and within the industry, fundraise for its future and go forth as the first of what I am sure will be an alumni that gives back to the heritage industry as a whole.

"I want to say a huge thank you to the team at Sissinghurst, the family, the National Trust and all our partner gardens who were involved in bringing this inaugural Scholarship to life."