Lord and Lady Powerscourt Meet Head Gardener
Powerscourt Estate was delighted this past weekend to welcome Anthony and Sarah Wingfield, The 11th Viscount and Viscountess Powerscourt, on their first visit since Anthony inherited the title of Lord Powerscourt on the death of his father earlier this year. The couple were given a tour of the Gardens by Alex Slazenger, Powerscourt’s Head Gardener, made all the more personal as Alex is Anthony’s cousin. Alex grew up on the Estate and took up the position of Head Gardener in August. He was one of the top qualifying students from the horticulture degree course at the Botanic Gardens at Glasnevin and has over 10 years’ experience in the horticulture industry. Alex Slazenger said: “Anthony (Lord Powerscourt) continues to take a great interest in Powerscourt and has a real connection with the Estate. I am so pleased to be able to show him the work we have been doing in the Gardens and the wonderful autumn colour at the moment.”
Lord Powerscourt, now living in Bristol, returns regularly to the Estate and has fond memories of staying with his grandparents, Ralph and Gwen Slazenger in the House prior to the fire. Ralph and Gwen’s daughter, Wendy, married Mervyn Wingfield, 10th Viscount Powerscourt, in 1962 but they later divorced. Lord Powerscourt said: “I am delighted that the legacy of my ancestors, particularly the wonderful trees planted over the centuries, is in such capable hands. Alex has a real passion for the Gardens and I am looking forward to seeing how he develops them over the coming years.”
Anthony Wingfield as Lord Powerscourt unites over four hundred years of the Wingfield family’s ownership of Powerscourt Estate, with the future of the Estate under the stewardship of the Slazenger family. Both families have managed the Estate with passion and commitment and the Slazenger family enthusiastically embraced the legacy of the Wingfields and has developed the Estate into one of the success stories of Irish tourism with over 350 people now employed on the Estate.
