Meet Scott H. Smith

As a 20-year-old, lost soul that dropped out of a university course I hated; I could not have been more fortunate than to accidently stumble into a seasonal gardening job with the National Trust for Scotland. I posted the other day about how the Royal Horticultural Society had been crucial to my development as a young, professional horticulturalist and this is very much true. I continue to develop through them but the National Trust for Scotland however, invested in ME.

They me gave a start and an opportunity when nobody else would. Through hard work and dedication to the organisation I've always tried to repay my gratitude but I'm never sure I can.

They sent me on professional training courses through Lantra, City and Guilds and of course their own apprenticeship programme. Through them I learned the ropes of horticulture and many of the disciplines that it entails.

Fast forward to 2018 and once again they entrust me, this time two of their fantastic and breath-taking heritage formal gardens: Pitmedden Garden and Haddo House.

Through the National Trust for Scotland, I have achieved so much that I would never have believed possible.

Without them I wouldn't be where I am. I gained a trade from them, I gained practical qualifications through them, I met my wife where we both worked at Pitmedden Garden, I met HRH Prince Charles, I worked on a 100k project with Chris Beardshaw a Chelsea gold medal winning designer, I've been filmed for Beechgrove garden for the BBC. So many things I couldn't have dreamt of.