Gardener Felix Green has been one of the team looking after the 125 acres of Hever Castle & Gardens for nearly three years but he hasn’t always been green fingered.
He said: “I was a fashion designer for 10 years in a textile studio which supplies the prints for High Street brands. When covid happened the fashion industry was really affected by all the companies stopping doing new designs.
“I knew I was going to have at least a year out of work. I was suffering with anxiety. I lived in a flat in London at the time and started to grow a few things on the balcony and it took my mind off my anxiety.”
Heartened by how the planting had helped his mental health Felix looked into horticulture courses and came across the RHS course run at Hever Castle.
After the course finished a job came up on the team and he was offered a trial day.
Felix has not left his fashion roots behind though and works three days a week as a gardener and the rest of the time works on his art.
His artistic skill has seen him design a range of five hand drawn scarves which are now on sale in the Hever Shop, inspired by nature and wildlife.
After Felix has drawn the design it takes about a month for the finished product to arrive as they are screen printed and a sample produced to check the colours.
The scarves are made from 100% organic cotton and the packaging is recycled.
Felix was instrumental in designing and planting a dye garden at Hever Castle and eventually hopes to use the natural dyes from the garden in his scarves.
The root of rhubarb and the dried seeds of the coreopsis are among the highlights of the garden in terms of colours.
Felix explains that you can also add alkaline or acid like vinegar to the plants to make a different colour.
“You can get a wide range of colours from one plant,” he explains.
Felix will be running tours of the dye garden during Autumn Colour with visitors given the chance to find out more about the natural dyes and try them out themselves.
To read more about Hever Castle’s sustainable initiatives click here
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Within the grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, there are two opportunities for you to stay the night with us.
Hever Castle has played host to many important events and celebrations for over 600 years. In 1903 when William Waldorf Astor set about restoring Hever Castle to its former glory, he added the Astor Wing, to accommodate his family and guests, before creating a lake and the spectacular Italian Garden to house his impressive collection of ancient Greek and Roman statuary.
There are multiple places to eat & drink across the Hever Castle Estate. Select between the Castle & Gardens and Golf Club below to discover more.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, Hever Castle Golf Club is a 27 hole Kent golf course that will encourage and inspire all golf enthusiasts.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, the Wellbeing Centre consists of five smart treatment rooms.
