Welcome
I am a Professional Horticulturist based in the beautiful county of Northumberland. I have a passion for the outdoors and in particular, writing about the joys a garden has to offer using my many years of experience and extensive knowledge working within the horticulture industry.
I am currently employed as an Outdoor Education Leader helping to inspire the next generation of eager gardeners. Until recently, I held lectureship in Horticulture at Northumberland College, training students to become professional horticulturists of the highest standard.
I was very privileged to hone my horticulture skills whilst employing the position of First Gardener at the world renowned Alnwick Garden.
Every seed has its sower
As a boy of six or seven, I spent most weekends standing in the 'hut' belonging to my grandfather (affectionately known as 'Jacky'), peering on tiptoes at the old-fashioned tools and gardening projects spread across his well-worn work bench. Gardening wasn't just a pastime to Jacky, it was a way of life.
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Time spent in the presence of such a keen amateur, who gardened using traditional methods, was an education: everything in straight lines, neat rows, regimented borders of perfectly grown, gaudy annuals. Everything had its place, everything had its purpose, everything had its particular way of being grown and nurtured. Jacky instilled in me not just a love of gardening but also an appreciation for its underlying values, not least the patience it takes to turn ideas into reality!
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Today, stepping into the same hut, which now has pride of place in my own garden, I am transported back to those days. The heady smell of oil, paraffin heaters and earth remain, as do all of the lessons I learned from Jacky. My hope is that, through my work, others may take away even a small part of some of the knowledge and passion I gained as a boy and have nurtured ever since.
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Welcome to my website.
