Trelissick in Cornwall. Photo: National Trust
The Damaris Horan Fellowship
Study and Report on the opportunities to create a 21st century productive walled garden that champions fruit growing and traditional skills
Established by The Mudge Foundation and named for Royal Oak’s Executive Director from 1987 to 2003, the Horan Fellowship provides training and educational opportunities for individuals with a professional interest in the history, management and conservation of historic landscapes and gardens. The Fellowship provides unique opportunities to learn from the National Trust’s extensive resources and expertise.
The National Trust has over 170 walled and kitchen gardens in its care. Many are in production providing fruit and vegetables for National Trust cafes and for visitors to take home. Others have been out of cultivation for some time, and some have limited public access. Walled gardens were often one of the more innovative parts of a self-sufficient estate, where new technologies in water collection, heating and protected growing created growing conditions for unusual plants for display and the table.
Trelissick is situated near Truro in West Cornwall, on the Southwest peninsula of the United Kingdom. It is a county full of a rich history across many aspects of heritage and its people have a rich and long maritime history. This landscape experiences a mild and often wet climate, which brings many benefits to the growing environment.
Growing is and has been a fundamental industry in Cornwall for many generations. The origins of this starts with the development of the wealth from the mines. From this the Cornish gentry, with large houses and estates developed a center of excellence for growing daffodils as cut flowers, food crops such as cauliflowers and domestic gardens full of exotic plants and flowers.
“Help Trelissick Grow,” aims to revitalize the property’s long-dormant two-acre walled garden which was once the thriving heart of the estate and known nationally in the 19th century as a center of excellence for growing fruit. The walled garden is a visually stunning, central component of the estate lying dormant for over 70 years. Once revitalized it will again be a beautiful and eminently practical centerpiece for the property, attracting thousands of new visitors to Trelissick each year. Throughout the Victorian era the role of the kitchen garden had been a simple, yet ambitious one: to grow high quality produce to feed the estate. Today, we want Trelissick’s walled garden to become a hub of horticultural excellence once again, growing an impressive array of traditional and exotic fruits.
Ideal Candidate
Cornwall provides a wealth of horticultural opportunities for research and discovery. We welcome an individual with a passion for learning and research. We are seeking an individual with research experience and a landscape and horticultural background.
Supervision
It is important the Fellow is self-motivated and can work independently. Various members of National Trust staff will input and support the Fellow with their work. Shelia Das has been appointed as the new Head of Gardens at the National Trust in January and will input into the Fellowship activities.
Outputs
- A greater understanding of these significant assets, allowing for prioritization of resources.
- Long term increased public benefit through engagement.
- Collated online archive of fruit growing.
- Update the NT gazetteer of walled and kitchen gardens using desk-based research.
- Conduct site visits and team interviews to develop sample case studies of varying uses of National Trust walled gardens E.g. Stackpole, Berrington, Shugborough, Knightshayes.
- Visit other Community Garden projects.
- Experience in gardening practices at Trelissick alongside the gardening team.
Benefits to Recipient
- Experience working with specialist National Trust landscape and garden staff.
- Opportunity to liaise with National Trust Gardens and Parks staff on regional and national levels.
- Visits to NT gardens in England.
- There will be the opportunity at weekends for the student to visit heritage and other sites and partake in their own leisure and travel activities.
- A laptop computer will be provided together with access to reasonable business support.
Who Should Apply
Applications are welcome from graduates with Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees in one of the following areas: landscape design, horticulture, fruit propagation, environmental studies. Applications are encouraged from individuals with professional experience. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States. Applicants will need a valid U.S. driver’s license.
- Should have a keen interest in plant propagation and supply.
- Be able to work independently within the plant conservation team to a brief.
- Be able to organize and clearly present information.
- Be keen to travel widely and meet independent growers and gardens staff across the Trust’s properties.
- A level of education and qualifications that would be associated with a (junior) professional in horticultural garden management.
- An awareness of both the conservation and commercial aspects of heritage gardens.
- Able to deal with a wide range of individuals, including industry professionals and the public.
Deadline and Work Schedule
The application deadline is June 13, 2025. The recipient will be announced by early July, and the Fellowship will take place from September 15 through November 21, 2025. A final report will be required within 90 days after the completion of the fellowship.
Fellowship Support
The Fellow will receive a stipend of $10,000 (paid in three installments), travel subsidy of $1,500 for international travel, local housing, and local transport provided by the National Trust. The Fellow will be responsible for food and other personal expenses.
Download Damaris Horan Fellowship Application
