ON THE SPOT: GRAHAM DILLAMORE

HEAD GARDENER, HAMPTON COURT PALACE AND KENSINGTON PALACE

In each issue of Inside Story we put your questions to a member of Historic Royal Palaces’ staff.

Graham joined Historic Royal Palaces, then an Agency of the Department of the Environment, as Foreman Gardener in 1990, after ten years with The Royal Parks. Today, his responsibilities include coordinating, forward planning and managing (‘although I’m still very hands-on’) a team of around 15 gardeners who work across Kensington Palace and Hampton Court Palace.

How have the gardens changed since you first arrived?

Things were very different then! A large team of 70-plus gardeners mowed every single blade of grass, cleared rubbish and planted thousands of bedding plants for the rather conventional ‘tight’ planting style popular at the time.

I joined just as exciting developments were taking place within the organisation. Restoration work after the 1986 fire was ongoing and there was a mood for change.

A programme of research led to many exciting discoveries in the gardens, making us review how we presented them and resulting in the restoration of the Privy Garden in 1995. The Historic Royal Palaces Agency (as we were then called) was also trying to be more commercial. In my first month, my boss waved vaguely towards the Long Water, where the grass was about a metre high. ‘By the way Graham, there’s a new summer event being held here in about three months ...’. Somehow, we managed to get it ready in time for over 300,000 visitors attending what became the world-famous Hampton Court Flower Show! I shall be forever grateful to Terry Gough (Head of Gardens 1990-2022) who gave encouragement, empowerment and friendship every day we worked together.

What changes will we see in the gardens over the next ten years?

While I think the ‘bones’ of the gardens will stay the same, we will be planting resilient, hardy perennials that can withstand extremes of weather far better than more fragile annuals. We are putting in place more sustainable practices behind the scenes too, trying to reduce the amount of heat lost from the greenhouses, for example, and the thousands of litres of water we use currently. We are also working to protect the diversity of species around the palace by protecting habitats, which may change the look of some areas.

Do you have a favourite part of the Hampton Court Gardens?

It changes depending on the season. Right now, I love all the tulips in April; in summer I’m drawn to the riot of colour in the Pond Gardens; in autumn I love the changing leaves of the Wilderness; while on a winter’s morning the long shadows and frost-tinged trees of the Privy Garden takes your breath away.

What’s your favourite period in the gardens’ history?

I’d love to have been here when the palace gates were first opened to the public in 1838, to join the people strolling around in their Sunday best and enjoying themselves after a hard-working week. This was also when the gardeners began to produce the fabulous formal and patriotic bedding displays to delight the crowds. It must have been so strange for the gardeners, who had never had visitors before.

Is your own garden exquisite?

No comment! I do enjoy my allotment, as I find growing vegetables relaxing. But I don’t tell people there what I do for a living, as I’d never get a moment’s peace...