Ashley Salt | Walled Gardener | Expert Voice Interview

Earlier this year, we had the pleasure of welcoming Ashley to the Agriframes stand at the RHS Badminton Flower Show, celebrating the craftsmanship and beauty that both gardens and garden structures can bring. We're also proud to have one of our large Agriframes gazebos within the Badminton Estate Walled Garden, helping to enhance this remarkable space.

Let's get to know Ashley, his journey into horticulture, and hear more about the garden he cares for.

For those who haven’t met you before, could you tell us a little about yourself and your journey into horticulture?

Gardening has always been a huge part of my life. Some of my earliest memories are of being outside helping my Grandad in his vegetable patch, and I’ve always grown my own plants and vegetables in some form. For many years gardening was a passion and a hobby, but it was something I was always learning about and developing.

Around five years ago, I decided to turn that passion into a career and move into horticulture professionally. Although my route into gardening has been a little different to some, I’ve always believed that curiosity, enthusiasm and a willingness to learn are some of the most important qualities a gardener can have.

One of the things I love most about horticulture is that you never stop learning. Every season brings new challenges, new plants to discover and new opportunities to improve.

What inspired you to become a professional gardener, and what eventually brought you to Badminton Estate?

Interestingly, my working life actually began at Badminton Estate, although in a completely different role. Years later, while working in another career, I found myself carrying out a job in the Walled Garden. I remember saying to my wife, “I’d love to do this.” At the time it was just a passing thought.

Not long after that, I took the opportunity to move to Scotland for a gardening role, which was a big step in my journey into horticulture. It gave me the chance to develop my skills further and confirmed that this was the direction I wanted to take professionally.

Eventually, we decided we wanted to move back down south. When we made that decision, I rang a friend to let him know we were thinking of moving back. He told me that the position looking after the Walled Garden at Badminton had become available that very day. I applied straight away and was fortunate enough to be given the opportunity.

Coming back to Badminton meant a lot to me. My working life started here, several members of my family have worked on the estate over the years, and some still do today. Returning to look after such a special place felt like everything had come full circle, and it’s a role I’m incredibly proud to have.

The Walled Garden is a truly special place. What makes it unique, and what do you enjoy most about caring for it?

What makes the Walled Garden so special is that it’s much more than a beautiful place to visit — it’s a working garden with a real purpose. We grow fruit, vegetables and cut flowers for the estate, while also creating a space that reflects the garden’s long history.

For me, the best part is the variety. Every season brings new challenges and rewards, whether it’s sowing seeds, harvesting produce, restoring historic features or planning for the months ahead. No two days are ever the same.

I also love that the garden is constantly evolving. We’re always looking at ways to improve it while respecting its heritage, so it feels like you’re helping write the next chapter in a story that’s been unfolding for generations.

Garden structures play such an important role in a walled garden. How do features like arches, gazebos and plant supports enhance both the beauty and practicality of the space?

Garden structures are incredibly important because they add another dimension to the garden. They bring height and structure, but they also help guide you through the space, creating different garden rooms and making the journey through the garden feel more interesting.

They also allow you to make better use of the space. Arches, obelisks and gazebos create more opportunities to grow climbers such as roses, clematis and wisteria, adding colour, scent and seasonal interest throughout the garden.

One of the things I enjoy most is seeing how these structures change over time. Once plants become established, they create sheltered, shaded areas underneath, opening up opportunities for different planting combinations that simply wouldn’t work in full sun. A well-placed structure doesn’t just support plants — it creates an entirely new growing environment.

We have one of our large Agriframes gazebos in the garden — how has it complemented the space, and what role does it play throughout the seasons?

The gazebo sits right in the middle of the tunnel and has become a real focal point within the Walled Garden. It creates a natural crossroads, helping to connect different areas of the garden and giving visitors a moment to pause as they pass through.

It is now completely covered with rambling roses, which has helped it become part of the garden rather than simply a structure placed within it. Throughout the seasons it changes character, from the fresh growth in spring to the incredible display of flowers and scent during the summer months.

I think that’s the beauty of good garden structures — they provide the framework, but it’s the plants that bring them to life. Over time, the structure and planting become one, creating something that feels as though it has always belonged there.

Do you have a favourite area, border or planting combination within the Walled Garden, and why?

My favourite area of the Walled Garden has to be the productive areas where we grow our fruit, vegetables and cut flowers. There is something incredibly rewarding about a garden that not only looks beautiful but also gives something back.

One of the things I love about the productive areas is that there is a real sense of purpose behind everything. When I first started at Badminton, one of my early jobs was sourcing and fitting fruit cages to protect the currants and other soft fruits from the birds, as previously the crop was often enjoyed more by the birds than by us. Seeing those cages now, neatly aligned within the garden with the soft fruit plants growing naturally inside them, is incredibly satisfying.

I also love the structure of the productive garden. The formal lines of the beds and the carefully placed structures create a really strong framework, but within that you have all the changing colours, textures and seasonal interest from the plants. For me, it’s the perfect combination of beauty and purpose.

If you could give one piece of advice to gardeners looking to introduce structures such as arches or obelisks into their own gardens, what would it be?

My biggest piece of advice would be to think about what you want the structure to achieve within your garden, rather than buying a structure and then trying to find somewhere to put it. It should fit the space and enhance the garden, not the other way around.

Think about how you want to use it — whether it’s creating height, adding a focal point, dividing areas of the garden or giving plants somewhere to climb. The right structure can completely change how a space feels.

It’s also important to think about the plants that will grow with it. A structure is only the beginning; it’s the combination of the framework and the planting that really brings it to life. Over time, the two become one and create something that feels natural and established.

Outside of Badminton, where do you find inspiration for your planting and garden design?

I find inspiration from lots of different places. I love visiting other gardens, whether that’s private gardens, historic gardens or shows, as seeing how other people use plants, structure and space can often spark new ideas.

I also enjoy looking through gardening magazines, following other gardeners on social media and seeing the creativity and knowledge that people are sharing. There is so much inspiration available now, and it’s great to see different approaches from around the world.

Being at Badminton, I also have a real appreciation for the history of gardening. I love looking through old gardening books and historic photographs, seeing how gardens were designed and cared for in the past. There is so much knowledge and inspiration to take from previous generations, and I enjoy finding ways to combine those traditional ideas with modern gardening.

Ultimately, I think the best gardens come from observing, learning and adapting ideas to suit the space you have.

The Badminton Estate opens some of its usually private gardens to visitors on three days each year, giving people the opportunity to explore and enjoy these special spaces. The dates and details can vary from year to year, so visitors can find the latest information here:
https://www.badmintonestate.com/badminton-estate/badminton-estate-events/open-garden-days/

You can find out more about Ashley on his Instagram page @walledgardener_ashley.