PUBLIC PLACES Getting Personal
Paul Dibb - mood swing if you hide the biscuit barrel!
Who are you? Paul Dibb. Garden & Park Manager for the National Trust at Nostell.
Family status (married, single, children etc.)? Married with three grown up children.
Who's your hero and why? Roy Lancaster, Plantsman/Gardener. His knowledge is inspiring.
What would you change about yourself? More intelligent, less moody.
What’s your guilty pleasure? A good Speyside single malt.
What’s been the highlight of your career so far? Winning an award for the conservation of countryside, habitats, cultural assets and natural resources.
What are your pet peeves? Intolerance and unpleasant people.
Gunneras, a tropical favourite of Churchill, protected over winter by their own cut leaves
If you could go anywhere right now, where would it be? Thailand to see my daughter.
What’s the best part of your job? Working with people of all backgrounds and abilities, sharing passion for horticulture, conservation and hopefully inspiring people.
… and the worst? Finance and having to, very occasionally, deal with some unpleasant people.
Do you have a lifetime ambition? To canoe across Scotland on the Caledonian Canal.
Which three albums would you take to a desert island? Cult - Sonic Temple, Tears for Fears - The Hurting, U2 - Joshua Tree.
Who would you choose to spend a romantic evening with? The wife or, if she can’t make it, Shakira!
If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do? Resign
What would you consign to Room 101 and why? Intolerance; things would be very much different if people were more understanding.
122 PC February/March 2020
Which three people, living or dead, would you invite to a dinner party? My granddad Oliver and my dad, so my dad could get to meet his father who was killed in action during the war just after he was born. Sabine Winn - l would like to meet the lady who was influential to the development of the gardens where l work.
Do you have any bad habits? I eat too many biscuits.
... or any good ones? I eat too many biscuits, l really enjoy them.
Do you go to bed worrying about the next day's workload? Most nights.
What are you reading at the moment? - Hard copy or online? London by Edward Rutherfurd - hard copy.
What's the best advice you have ever been given? The standard you walk past is the standard you accept.
What's your favourite smell? Honeysuckle.
What do you do in your spare time? Walk lots, gardening, occasionally jogging, five-a- side football.
What’s the daftest work- related question you have ever been asked? “There must be nothing to do in the winter, do you get laid off?”
What’s your favourite piece of kit? Any good strimmer.
What three words would you use to describe yourself? Balding, grey, moody.
What talent would you like to have? To be able to read people’s minds.
What law/legislation would you like to see introduced? Higher state pension.
Paul demonstrates this year's planting project
worked on currently. Paul highlighted three:
The major project is working on the large lake dam. This is a capital project and for stabilisation work. Secondly, he hopes to tackle the construction of a new greenhouse in the kitchen garden; necessitated by the growing demand for produce from the café! And thirdly, a large planting project in the Menagerie Garden. This has been brought about by the removal of diseased rhododendrons mentioned earlier. Paul has researched this thoroughly and planting will begin with trees and shrubs using a plant list from the 18th century. Looking at projects that have been carried out in recent years, three again were the major ones: we have already covered the kitchen garden and play area, reporting on our walk through the grounds. The third, however, is the Parkland Restoration. This commenced in 2003 and entailed arable reversion; turning arable fields into wildflower meadows, opening up public access and much woodland management being carried out. Restoration of some major structures was included too; the Robert Adam gatehouse, the boat house and bridges. The grand plan is to restore the parkland to the original 1849 estate map. “We are nearly there!” says Paul. We next touched on training, education and Health and Safety. All are important to the Trust and Nostell. Paul ensures he and his team comply with current legislation. All have been trained and continue to receive appropriate training. Those with specialist skills have undertaken extra training
and are certificated as required, such as chainsaw operatives.
Being a visitor focused site, Health and Safety for everyone is always to the fore and an awareness of possible hazards, particularly for visitors is maintained. There are four First Aid trained people in the team and a National Trust H&S officer is available.
Machinery used by the team:
• Two tractors (larger John Deere 4720 and a compact 2510 John Deere). A new John Deere compact is due to be added shortly
• John Deere 2653A triple ride on mower
• AS Motor AS510 mulch mower
• Stihl and Husqvarna chainsaws
• Stihl brushcutters • Stihl pole saw • Timber Wolf chipper • Sit-on compaction roller
John Deere equipment is sourced in the main as part of a national deal the Trust have. More cordless kit is due to arrive and trials of Cramer items have proved good; Bluetooth reporting facilities are most handy! “We use local dealers for servicing and supply,” Paul tells me. Hiring of machinery does not happen very often, but Paul thinks they may need to hire a scarifier shortly.
“So what would be the item you’d put at the top of your wish list?” I asked. “A cherry picker would be so useful” came the reply! Pests and diseases were covered next and the American Mink is the main pest; they need to be trapped. As
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