Earliest garden memory Gardening with my grandfather, who loved his pelargoniums. I can smell them now.
First plant love Growing up in the Hampshire countryside, I was captivated early on by ancient and veteran native trees; their seasonal changes, towering habits and enduring presence drew me in and sparked a love for trees.
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Who inspired your career the most? While working at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, I was fortunate to be mentored by Barry Clarke. His passion for plants, his generosity with people, and the places he took me opened my eyes to the rich and varied world of horticulture.
Horticultural heroes The Victorian plant hunters who travelled to far-flung places. They remind me that every plant has a story.
Favourite garden I’m drawn to gardens that embrace the wild, such as Benmore Botanic Garden, with its fallen Douglas firs acting as nurse logs, and Tresco Abbey Garden, where Geranium palmatum grows freely. Both show how cultivated landscapes can work beautifully with nature.
Horticulture is about more than plants. It’s about people and place, exchanging ideas, energy and enthusiasm
Three worthwhile tips for gardeners Celebrate failures: they teach more than successes. Garden with the future in mind, and make the most of horticultural bursaries – not many industries have these.
Dream plant destination Mexico for its extraordinary oak diversity, with more than 100 endemic species. I’d love to explore the Mexican cloud forests to understand how these species have evolved across such a dynamic landscape.
Favourite planting style I’m drawn to naturalistic planting that reflects the local landscape; that feels rooted in its setting, using form, texture and palette to echo the wild, rather than compete with it.
Favourite ‘weed’ you’re happy to tolerate Verbascum. Its towering spires and soft, felted leaves bring structure and softness to a border. There’s something satisfying about a plant that thrives on neglect yet still looks striking.
Biggest challenge facing gardeners today Coping with prolonged summer droughts. Not just for borders, but more crucially for our native trees. We haven’t invested enough in our future treescapes.
Celebrate failures: they teach more than successes
One easy thing to be more sustainable in gardening Compost your green waste. It reduces landfill and returns vital nutrients to your soil, helping to build structure, retain moisture and reduce the need for artificial fertilisers.
What principles have guided your attitude to gardening Generosity and collaboration. Horticulture is about more than plants: it’s about people and place, exchanging ideas, energy and enthusiasm.
Future goals I want to help inspire, support, and connect others, just as I was supported when starting out in the industry. Passing that on feels just as rewarding as growing plants.