Kate Burtonwood Named to Top Female Gardener List

Trinity Head Gardener Kate Burtonwood has been named as one of 12 top female gardeners on a list compiled by Gardens Illustrated magazine.

In honour of International Women’s Day, the magazine compiled a list of women who are leading and head gardeners that are forging a path in the industry. The list particularly aims to recognise women who are ‘making waves in the industry and tending to remarkable gardens’ as inspiring role models, but who readers may not already have heard about.

Kate says of being included in the list: ‘I am so thrilled to be included alongside a list of gardeners whose work I truly admire and who have worked to make themselves so visible for those of us also working in the industry. I hope to keep advocating for women’s place in horticulture, in particular in management and Head Gardener roles.

‘I often reflect back to the female role models of the 20^th Century - Head Gardeners such as Alice Hutchins, Sibylle Kreuzberger and Pamela Schwerdt, who really paved the way in the UK for women to take on Head Gardener roles. The role at Trinity continues to be equal parts challenging and enjoyable, with all the very different projects that I have had to manage in my 3 years here, and I benefit every day from the support of a strong team. We look forward to being able to share more of the gardens in tours and talks in late Spring.’

Kate Burtonwood joined Trinity in 2021; she started her gardening career at Inner Temple, London before moving on to various roles at the Oxford Botanic Garden, Thenford Arboretum and the Cotswold Wildlife Park. She has led the restoration and replanting of the College gardens following extensive building work, and has a particular focus on sustainable gardening practices.