Staff Spotlight: The Gardeners

Steve Tyrrell, Head Gardener & Verena Downes, Senior Gardener, they spoke to us about the gardens, their time at Queens’, and what they love about their roles.

17th June 2025

What first drew you to gardening at Queens’?

Steve: I worked in agriculture research until 2002. Around this time, I felt a change of career was needed, so I looked into what else I could do as someone who liked working outside and had experience of plant husbandry. Wolfson College were looking for a person who could work in the gardens as well as help with maintenance jobs around the College, so I joined them in 2002, eventually concentrating solely on gardening. I studied and passed the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) Level 2 and Level 3 during my 10 years at Wolfson. I applied for the Head gardener job here at Queens’ in 2012 and I was fortunate to be offered the position.

Verena: I had a long career in HR, but since about 15 years ago I’ve really enjoyed gardening. I started to garden at home because we had a nice garden, then an allotment, and I thought I’d quite like to learn a bit more about gardening and how to do it well. I enrolled on an RHS Level 2 evening class and, towards the end of my studies, I wanted to get some experience and I was fortunate to be able to volunteer at Anglesey Abbey. I volunteered there one day a week, and that experience made me realise that, yes, I did want to be a professional gardener. It also made me think that I’d like to work in a historic setting, so in 2019 I applied for roles in Colleges. I first got a job at Corpus Christi, then four months later came over to Queens’. Since then, I’ve completed my Level 3 as well, supported by the College. I always think how lucky I am, it feels like a privilege to be here.

What do you enjoy most about your roles?

S: I enjoy the atmosphere of the place, the history. I like history, so working somewhere that’s been around since 1448, there’s a lot of history! I’m not an office person, so working outdoors and being practical is really important for me to enjoy my work. I’m grateful that, for the most part, we’re left to get on with our jobs. Having creative freedom, you get more out of people. I like to let the team have responsibility and use their ideas to create something wonderful. To be able to express ourselves, planting the way we want – it’s very satisfying to see the results at the end of the year, or the end of the summer, and to get reactions to it. In some jobs you don’t get that, so it’s great to have that appreciation of your efforts.

V: I think, for me, it’s being outdoors and close to nature. We are part of nature, and I like that we can help biodiversity thrive in our garden practice. I enjoy the fact that Steve gives us that freedom and ownership of our areas, and it’s so nice to get feedback. Ultimately, we’re just trying to create a welcoming environment.

S: It’s the first thing people see when they come in through the Porter’s Lodge. They see the work we’ve done and think ‘Oh, I want to come to this College’. It’s important that everything comes together, that the grounds and gardens look their best, so that’s the aim and that’s the enjoyment we get out of it, looking after the College and making it a pleasant place.

V: We have communication with the conferencing department, so we know when there are weddings, when there are graduations, open days and so on, so we make a particular effort in an area that we know is going to be used for photography or is going to have more footfall. We try our hardest to give an all-year-round display for everyone, but at certain times – for example, May Ball – there’s remedial work that we do to try and make everything look absolutely fantastic.

Are there any unique or historic plants at the College?

S: There are two elm trees in the Grove that survived the widespread Dutch elm disease which killed the majority of elm trees in Cambridgeshire and other counties. Ours are believed to be the tallest in the country, about 145ft tall. I think they were planted around the late 18^th century.

The mulberry tree in Cripps was propagated from a tree in the old walled garden that was replaced by the Cripps building. The original tree was planted in the late 17^th century. When the walled garden was replaced, they took limbs from the original tree and one of the three stubs grew, resulting in the tree we’ve got now.

Do you have a favourite spot in the gardens?

S: I’d say for me it’s in the President’s Garden, because it’s private. It’s nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of what’s going on outside the wall, to go into that private garden and just sit down and enjoy it. It’s a lovely place in the summer and early spring with all the colour in there. When I want to go and think, I go and think in the President’s Garden.

V: For me, it’s the Grove. I think it’s a very special place. Most people will go to see the Grove when there are spring bulbs or flowers; when it’s just an abundance of colour, and it’s gorgeous and glorious – but I like it equally when it’s a dust bowl in there and it’s just a shady, cool space in the middle of summer, and you’ve got bird noises. It’s got a really lovely atmosphere. It’s something that I’d encourage anyone to do – go and sit in there, be in there, and enjoy it.

We want to encourage students to get out and enjoy the gardens in general. Have they been to the sky garden? Some people don’t even know it’s there. Have they been to the Grove? Even if you spend 15 minutes in nature, you’re going to get some health benefits, you’re going to feel less stressed. We just really want to spread the message – come and enjoy the gardens. They’re there for your enjoyment.

Interview originally published in The Bridge