RESPECTED, award-winning horticulturist John Lanyon is set to retire after 27 years as head gardener with the National Trust and 42 years in professional horticulture.

Since 2009, John has cared for Cornish gardens Trelissick, Glendurgan, Trerice and Bosloe which he describes as “incredible places, gardens of substance and just the sort of places that inspire me”. Among his many achievements at these gardens has been a major four-year project to restore the Grade II-listed maze at Glendurgan.

John has also been instrumental in developing plans to restore Trelissick’s 2-acre walled garden, once the ‘fruit garden of Cornwall’. Long dormant and inaccessible, the garden will be returned to a hub of horticultural excellence, growing an array of traditional and exotic fruits, championing sustainable gardening and safeguarding horticultural skills.

A gardener from a young age, John completed a two-year certificate course with the Royal Horticultural Society and a placement at Tresco before taking the Kew Diploma. He was later senior supervisor at RHS Garden Rosemoor when the garden was in its infancy, overseeing development of new areas including the Winter Garden.

In 1997 he became head gardener at the Trust’s ‘magical’ Cotehele in Cornwall, where he developed his interest in fruit growing and the historic Tamar daffodils for which the property is well known.

Magnolias & Rhododendrons Bloom into life early in at National Trust's Trelllisick House, Cornwall - John Lanyon Head Gardener pictured
John Lanyon admires magnolia blooms at Trelissick (Picture: Steve Haywood / National Trust)

In his first summer managing the garden at Knightshayes in Devon, two major storms in quick succession presented John and his teams with a massive clean-up operation. “But the team were brilliant and that taught me so much about the management of people and a garden,” said John.

This year, the RHS awarded John the prestigious Loder Rhododendron Cup and Associate of Honour, to recognise his outstanding contribution to the practice and promotion of horticulture and gardening.

Gardens and parks consultant for the National Trust in South-West England, Mike Beeston, said: “John has had an incredible career in horticulture. His knowledge and passion for plants and gardens is second to none.

“I have had the privilege of working with John and benefited first-hand from the way he generously shares his knowledge and skills with those he works with and trains. He is an exceptional man and one who will leave an enormous hole in horticulture when he hangs up his trowel.”

Visitor walking in the cherry laurel hedge maze at Glendurgan Garden, Cornwall. Planted on one side of the valley, in the heart of the garden. Cherry laurel is vigorous and tough enough to withstand regular trimming and footsteps around its roots. Palm trees mark the four corners of the puzzle and a thatched summerhouse sits in the middle.
(Picture: John Miller / National Trust)

Ahead of his retirement, John has reflected on changes during his time in horticulture, and challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

“As predicted, we are getting more extremes, and I also think that weather events last longer than in the past. At times it has been very dry and would not rain, even into late autumn which was not good for the plants. This spring brought us cold and wet, week after week... people don’t want this, but the garden loved it and many of the rhododendrons that had struggled recovered and enjoyed the wet, cool spring. Afterall, many of them come from the tops of cool, damp mountains.”

John worries about the effect of intense heat on gardens, and the lack of groundwater in his part of Cornwall, which can cause even large mature trees to struggle.

John said: “What does a changing climate mean for my profession? We are going to have to be better than ever – open-minded while keeping the show on the road. We have the knowledge and skills to adapt our gardens, keep them presented to very high levels and also create displays that people want to see.

Cotehele is well known for its daffodils. National Trust_John Parker
Cotehele is well known for its daffodils (Picture: John Parker / National Trust)

“Gardens can still be all the things that people need: sophisticated places that inspire, an educational resource, beautiful places to relax and a safe haven. None of these things needs to stop, which is great.”

Looking ahead, John hopes the National Trust can help people better understand their relationship with the natural world, and feel more motivated to look after it.

He continued: “It has been a privilege to look after these places. But just as important for me are the people – caring for them and helping them to develop themselves and their careers. To see some of my team members move onto great things is gratifying and so important for the future of these places.”

John retires on December 12 to look after his own garden in Cornwall.