A LONG-SERVING head gardener at York's Middlethorpe Hall hotel has put down his wheelbarrow and retired after 35 years working at the historic country house.
David Barker, 66, started working at the hotel in 1982 and has helped achieve recognition for its 20 acres of gardens.
The gardens have been awarded Yorkshire in Bloom gold awards for seven years in a row since 2009.
Andrew Leighton, who has worked alongside David for many years, has taken over as head gardener.
David will be helping Andrew for a few hours a week.
David said: "I did all the gardens from scratch. When I first started I thought I would be there for five years and move on but I enjoyed it so much.
"Initially it was challenging. But it has been interesting and rewarding, not so much of a challenge."
Nicola Thresh, sales and marketing manager at the hotel, said: "He has been invaluable. He has restored the gardens. They were in a terrible state when the hotel was bought by Historic House Hotels from the previous owner.
"Through research, he restored them back to how they used to use."
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