Meet the Bloggers

Alastair oversees a team of fantastic Gardeners, managing Castle Howard's Gardens and immediate Landscape.

Working in all weathers, from the height of summer to the depths of winter, Alastair and his team work tirelessly to ensure Castle Howard remains 'a place like no other' for all to enjoy. 

I joined the Castle Howard Curatorial team as Assistant Curator in March 2017.

With an undergraduate degree in Classical Civilisation and a Masters in Art Gallery and Museum Studies, I am passionate about the history of country houses, their collections, and the people who have lived here. I love to discover new things about the past, and to find interesting ways to tell these stories to our visitors today.

From time to time we'll invite a guest to contribute to our blog; this might be a travel writer, outdoor enthusiast or a heritage specialist.

I first came to Castle Howard in September 1975 on a year’s placement from University. I worked mainly in Ray Wood, clearing areas and planting many of the first trees to go into the collection. I came back in 1977 after I had qualified and worked in the Tree Nursery where I stayed until 2003 when I became Forestry Manager. My main roles are managing the commercial woodlands and all trees across the estate, organising and carrying out planting contracts, overseeing local log delivery business and managing the Tree Nursery.

I relocated from Wiltshire to Yorkshire in 2013 to take up my role as Garden Centre Manager here at Castle Howard. I previously worked for Country Homes & Gardens in Salisbury as well as other family owned nurseries with great reputations. I studied horticulture at the Lancashire College of Agriculture and Horticulture and am pleased to be back to my roots and focussing on horticulture again.