The luscious gardens at Granny Mouse Country House & Spa certainly have much to smile about, with the promotion of Mark Robson, otherwise known as Smiley, to the position of Garden Manager.

Having been a part of the Granny Mouse team since 2011, initially cutting his teeth in the maintenance department, before moving over to the Gardens team, Robson’s passion for all things horticultural started from an extremely young age. He recalls being captivated when he was growing up, by the beautiful vegetable garden that was cultivated by his domestic worker, and being in awe of how so much food came from one small seed. This caused him to get his hands dirty from an early age as he assisted in the planting process and taking much pride in the finished product.

He admits that when he initially began to study, he never thought that Horticulture could be so rewarding, and hence embarked on obtaining a degree in Forestry, as well as pursuing courses in anti-poaching and rock climbing.

Having never felt at home in the forestry field, Robson always had a passion for working with plants and animals, and believes that the most spectacular part of his job is being able to transform a dull area into something truly beautiful. Adding to this, he loves that the topography at Granny Mouse varies from area to area allowing he and his team to create different zones on the property, and loves nothing more than having guests and members of staff admiring what he and his gardening team have done.

Although spending most of their time during the Autumn months raking up never-ending leaves, Robson feels blessed to be given the opportunity to lead the Granny Mouse Gardens team, and will spend his time striving to ensure that the much-revered Granny Mouse gardens remain breathtaking.