A TOP National Trust gardener is returning to Ryedale to become curator for the Kew Gardens Arboretum at Castle Howard.

Jan Hoyland, who is head gardener at the trust’s Trengwainton Garden in Cornwall, is also to be curator of the Ray Wood collections at the popular arboretum.

Jan, who has experience in restoring woodland gardens, is returning to Ryedale where she previously managed the National Trust gardens of Nunnington Hall and Rievaulx Terrace.

She worked earlier at Waddesdon looking after all the tree and shrub plantings on the extensive Rothschild Estate.

She said:“I am delighted to be back in Ryedale and working at these two superb sites. I am hoping to recruit a band of volunteers to help in this wide ranging project.”

In her new role she will not only manage and develop the arboretum but she will also manage the restoration of the Woodland Garden in Ray Wood which is in danger of degenerating into a wilderness, said Professor Sir Ron Cooke, chairman of the Arboretum Trust.

Prof Cooke said: “We have been able to secure a significant grant to preserve and stabilise this spectacular collection of hardy woody plants which is unique in Britain and Europe.”

Jan will have opportunities for both week day and weekend volunteering. Anyone interested can contact Jan on curator@kewatch.co.uk or 01653 648650 Further details can be found at www.kewatch.co.uk Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales is to extend his patronage of the Castle Howard Arboretum Trust for a further five years.

Since Prince Charles first agreed to be patron of the independent charitable trust, it has grown substantially in the extent of its tree collection, membership and services provided.

The trust, which opened to the public in 1999, also has an education programme, new visitor centre and an annual woodland festival.

Castle Howard Arboretum is open daily from March 1 to November 30, 10am-6pm.