TODAY, February 6, will be my last day as head gardener at Brockhole! Although when I first arrived in 1987, I had no intention of staying for more than a few years, in fact I have worked here for nearly 17 years.

I would like to carry on for another 17 years but unfortunately my back has other ideas, so I will be taking ill-health retirement from the end of this week.

Back in 1987, my appointment caused a bit of a stir, lady head gardeners not being as common then as they are now.

Over the years, many other things have changed too; we grow fewer bedding plants and annuals in favour of more herbaceous perennials, we use fewer chemicals and take better care of wildlife than we used to, and we have machinery which is lighter and more manoeuvrable.

The small saplings we planted have become recognisable trees, the beds we redesigned have filled out and reached maturity (in some cases they have passed maturity and had to be re-planted again!).

And the amount of red tape and paperwork involved in a head gardener's job has increased enormously, to incorporate such things as health and safety risk assessments and best value'.

On the other hand, some things have stayed just the same. When I stand on the jetty on a rainy day in late winter, the view over Windermere to the Langdale Pikes has not changed, nor has the layout and structure of the gardens, which remain pretty much as Thomas Mawson designed them over a century ago.

The relaxed feel of the place remains too, it's still a good place to walk the dog, picnic on the grass or sit among the roses.

Things are looking bright for the future of Brockhole gardens.

The National Park Authority is committed to continuing with their care and restoration; there is the possibility of a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to help pay for more improvements.

With luck, there will be a new, enthusiastic and energetic head gardener who will lead the gardens forward into this bright new future.

As for me, well first of all I'm going to have a rest.

Then on day two of my retirement, I'm going to start exploring ideas for a garden advice service, which should be as interesting and challenging as gardening but without the backache.

The Westmorland Gazette has asked me to continue writing this column and I'll be making regular trips back to Brockhole to check up on them, so I'll be able to let you know how it's going

Jobs for the week

- Cut away the old foliage of Lenten lilies and epimediums so that you can see the flowers properly before the new leaves are produced.

- Lift and divide snowdrops when they have finished flowering but before the foliage dies down. Plants moved in the green' will establish better than dry bulbs moved later in the year.

- Sow broad beans in trays or small pots in the greenhouse or coldframe to give them a head start on outdoor sown crops, and deter mice from digging up and eating the beans.