Aberglasney Head Gardener swops pulling up weeds for pulling pints!

Aberglasney Head Gardener swops pulling up weeds for pulling pints!

Aberglasney is sad to announce that Head Gardener, Joseph Atkin, will be hanging up his gardening shears for the last time next week as he is
leaving the Gardens to start a new adventure.

Joseph, who has been the Head Gardener at Aberglasney for over 11 years, is set to start a new venture with his partner next month. The
couple have bought the Plough Inn in Felingwm, Nantgaredig, Carmarthenshire and will be the new landlords of the pub.

Joseph is looking forward to starting this new career path that awaits him. He said, “It is exciting to be embarking on a new adventure with
huge potential. It’s nice to feel like I am at the beginning again. I am so grateful to everyone who has supported me and helped me during my
time at Aberglasney. I certainly won’t be leaving horticulture, just moving to a different and exciting area. Expect some very interesting
hanging baskets outside the Plough Inn in Felingwm next season!”

Joseph and his partner Rachael intend to continue the tradition of the Plough Inn and run it as a food orientated pub. Joseph will develop the
garden and grow a lot of their own produce to be used in the pub’s kitchen. Sustainability, Welsh produce and grow your own will be his
main focus with his new venture.

During his years at Aberglasney Joseph and his team have successfully achieved their long-term goal of improving Aberglasney’s colour
schemes and planting succession whilst upholding its core values as a ‘heritage garden of excellence’. To achieve this, around 20,000
plants and 30,000 bulbs are added to the Gardens’ spring and summer displays each year and the team is actively encouraged to explore and identify new planting opportunities that will add even more garden interest to already abundant spaces.

Jim Stribling, Director of Operations at Aberglasney, said, “I know regular visitors to the Gardens will be sad to see Joseph leaving for pastures new but I hope they will join us in wishing him all the luck in his new venture.”

Work has begun to find Joseph’s replacement and Aberglasney is confident it will attract the very best of talented and highly skilled gardeners. The new Head Gardener will build on the excellent work carried out by Joseph, and Graham Rankin before him, to further develop these wonderful heritage gardens for the continued enjoyment of members, visitors and future generations.

Aberglasney Gardens are open 364 days a year and have been described as one of Wales’ finest gardens. Visitors to the Carmarthenshire
attraction can explore 10 acres of over 20 different garden styles from formal to woodland, right through to exotic and modern. Exhibitions and events are held regularly in the fully restored ground floor of Aberglasney’s grade II listed mansion. There is also a gift shop and tearooms which overlook the Pool Garden.