THE Garden House at Buckland Monachorum has welcomed a new head gardener to its team.

Nick Haworth, who started in January, is looking forward to his first season as head gardener, after coming from the National Trust's Greenway property where he had been head gardener for a decade.

Nick undertook most of his training in Devon, spending time at Bicton College, Killerton and Saltram before taking up a three-year appointment at the Royal Botanic Garden Kew as senior botanical horticulturist.

Nick said: 'The Garden House has always inspired me with its fantastic plant collection, creative hard landscaping and naturalistic planting style.

'I am now spending time getting to know the garden and wish to discover what it is that our visitors take from it. I then intend to continue developing the garden in the spirit of experimentation and, above all, enjoy what this unique place has to offer as one of the most stimulating gardens I know.'

Nick's appointment is not the only news for the beginning of the 2013 season. Thanks to the overwhelming and unexpected generosity of three benefactors, some much-needed renovaton of the house has been undertaken over the winter.

As well as some urgent repairs, the front elevation of the former Georgian vicarage has undergone a facelift.

The Fortescue Garden Trust, which owns and manages The Garden House, is also thrilled that the first of three phases of restoration has taken place on the section of ancient wall which collapsed in the torrential rain of last July.

The Garden House, Buckland Monachorum, opens daily from 10.30am to 5pm as from March 1.