King Charles and his gardening staff

I would have thought Charles as an environmentalist would have encouraged Ragwort even though it is poisonous

David49

I would have thought Charles as an environmentalist would have encouraged Ragwort even though it is poisonous

Ragwort poisons water sources David49, I’m not sure being an environmentalist would entail allowing wildlife to die from drinking polluted water?

Ragwort is toxic to some animals and can cause liver damage in humans.

Ragwort is horrible stuff - deadly to horses and if you are removing it, you need to wear gloves as it can also affect humans too.

merlotgran

Ragwort is toxic to some animals and can cause liver damage in humans.

Yes, it's on my NO list for the dogs. Highly toxic. Charles has dogs.

The crux of this seems to be people are unhappy with the salary they’re paid. Were they unaware when they took the job? His garden his rules regarding plants and weeds surely.

I am sad to read this.

I spent a day at Highbury this week and it was absolutely beautiful. It was exactly how I would have my garden if I had the wherewithal.

However, I understand that Charles does not own it. It was purchased by the Duchy of Cornwall, which I assume is run by a trust with William as CEO?

Wages for all staff both indoor and outdoor will I guess be employed by the Duchy, and I understand that salaries are similar to equivalent rank in the civil service.

As for Charles irritation. Yes, I suspect that to be correct, as we have witnessed it for ourselves. It is a flaw in his character, and is not comfortable for those who deal with him - including his wife! But those without fault etc.

Also what needs to be looked at is how many staff he has for the amount of land - are staff being spread too thinly?

That probably have volunteers as well as the twelve staff.

Volunteers are great but not "accountable."

There appeared to be staff all over the place, including charming meeters and greeters

Highbury is in Islington Whitewavemark2 . It used to be a stop on my tube line. It has Highbury Fields, but no beautiful gardens like Highgrove. 🌹 🌻

Yes, Charles doesn't own Highgrove.

escaped

Are you not allowed to tell people off for not doing their job properly?
Charles shouldn't be the one noticing the ragwort round the pool!

Quite!
It's highly poisonous to humans and animals.

The King's Foundation is the employer.
Former senior gardener Jack Stooks, said:
Stooks, who worked at Highgrove for more than 20 years, exclusively told The Post that while Charles does oversee the King’s Foundation and its employees, the claims against him are “unfair”.

“I think the stance toward the king is unfair,” Stooks told The Post, saying he’s never had an issue with Charles.

“I don’t think this should be aimed quite at him. He’s employed the Foundation, and, yes, he’s part of the Foundation, but they are running the garden.”

“The king is putting his trust in them to run it — if they’re running it incorrectly or unsuitably, that’s not actually on the king, it’s on them,”

David49

I would have thought Charles as an environmentalist would have encouraged Ragwort even though it is poisonous

Really?
😯

escaped

Highbury is in Islington Whitewavemark2 . It used to be a stop on my tube line. It has Highbury Fields, but no beautiful gardens like Highgrove. 🌹 🌻

Yes, Charles doesn't own Highgrove.

😄

Desdemona

Volunteers are great but not "accountable."

They don’t need to be accountable. They are often qualified and experienced but somebody else is responsible for organising them.

Parts of Islington are very green, Whitewave 😀

And there's a pub in Islington called The Crown. Perhaps Charles is the landlord. 👑

Despite whose garden it is, once garden staff began regularly leaving, wouldn’t you/somebody start looking at the cause?

I’ve read it’s low pay and high expectations. Long term those two ingredients don’t bode particularly well.

merlotgran

Desdemona

Volunteers are great but not "accountable."

They don’t need to be accountable. They are often qualified and experienced but somebody else is responsible for organising them.

I completely see your point but volunteers can't be used to prop up a workplace that is lacking in paid staff that SHOULD be organising things and getting the place to run smoothly.

So either there are not enough staff or the ones they have are poorly trained or poorly paid, or potentially both.

If the responsibility for employing the gardeners is in the hands of the Duchy organisers, then it is to them that these 11 gardeners have tendered their resignation, not to Charles. As others have said, as long as the garden looks fantastic, he has no say in the admin details - except when he sees something like poisonous plants near water and complains, of course!

I imagine the gardeners who left would be able to name their price in the next place they applied to - they have Highgrove on their CV. That is a good incentive to move on.

I don't think there would be a shortage of applicants to fill the vacancies.

merlotgran

Apparently he reprimanded one of the gardeners for allowing ragwort to grow near the outdoor swimming pool.
Any employer would have done exactly the same, wealthy or otherwise.
I suspect much of this has been blown out of proportion.

Yes, it’s a not to be missed “let’s get at the RF” opportunity.

Perhaps it seeded from the wildflower meadow? But he was right, if you have ever dealt with ragwort, you will know blistering can occur.

I would habe thought that any wildflower meadows at Highgrove would have been very carefully managed.

If none of the gardeners recognised ragwort, perhaps it's just as well they left.