Queen advertises for gardener
The Queen's Scottish summer residence is seeking a new gardener with excellent general experience and knowledge of fruit and vegetables
The Queen is advertising for a new gardener, who will have the chance to live next door to the monarch.
The successful applicant could land themselves a home just a stone's throw from the Royal Family, with the option of accommodation available with the job.
The Balmoral gardens on Royal Deeside in Scotland were started under the supervision of Prince Albert and have been expanded and improved by successive members of the Royal Family.
The estate now boasts vegetable and flower gardens, rose gardens, herbaceous borders and summer beds.
A large kitchen garden added by the Duke of Edinburgh is harvested between August and October, when the royals are in residence.
During royal visits the successful applicant's skills will no doubt also come under close scrutiny from the Prince of Wales, himself a keen gardener who has penned books on the subject.
For the rest of the year, between April and July, the gardens and grounds are open to the public and each year attract some 60,000 visitors from all over the world.
Two years ago The Queen appointed an award winning Scot as the man in charge to keep her flowers and shrubs in peak condition at her beloved Balmoral retreat. Andrew Inglis beat off stiff competition - even from Eastern Europe - to be the new head gardener at Balmoral Castle.
Mr Inglis also cares for the plants in Birkhall, the highland retreat of the Royals' most celebrated gardener, Prince Charles.
The Duke of Edinburgh has taken a particular interest in the development of Balmoral's gardens in Scotland, which attracts 60,000 visitors a year
He is also responsible for Balmoral's private nine-hole golf course, plus two other properties all used by the Queen and other members of the Royal Family.
The Duke of Edinburgh has taken a particular interest in the development of Balmoral's gardens.
The Duke's personal projects have included a large vegetable garden, a flowered, paved walk along the terrace on the north side of the Castle, and a water garden to the south-west of the Castle.
Queen Mary also took a great interest in the gardens, creating a flower garden below the south lawn. It was around this time that a golf course and cricket pitch were also laid out.
The castle gardens were first opened to the public in 1931 for one day a year under the Scotland 's Gardens Scheme. In 1968 the gardens and grounds were opened during weekdays from May to July in response to public demand and now they are open to the public on a daily basis during the season.
The gardens, which are virtually organic - or use eco-friendly practices - even include a special type of late flowering raspberry which is grown to be perfectly ripe when the Royals come for their annual summer break.
A team of eight, including gardeners, groundsmen and greenkeeper all look after the gardens.
Source:- Mail online