Garden Consultant
I have been in the horticultural trade since leaving school in 1982 and hold the following horticultural qualifications. The National Certificate in Amenity Horticulture (Pershore College of Horticulture); Advanced National Certificate in Amenity Horticulture (Cannington College of Ag., Hort. and Food Tech.) and Master of Horticulture (RHS) Stage One at Pershore College of Horticulture and the RHS Garden at Wisley.

My area of expertise lies in design, soft landscaping and the management of gardens. I specialise in socio-environmental horticulture, low maintenance and low budget gardens and the use of recycled and natural resources. I work with nature and not against it as working against nature may not ultimately be cost effective. I also have experience in the creation and management of private nature reserves.

I no longer get involved in the physical aspects of the trade but I am able to consult, design and project manage, and use over 25 years experience to best effect. Consultancy can also be provided on the management of large plant collections.

I have in the past held five National Plant Collections on behalf of the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens, whilst living in Plymouth, Devon. I am best known for the National Collection of Crocosmia, which I held. I can be consulted on all aspects of the management of such collections, including labeling, genera research and the photography of large collections.

The photography of such collections can be very complex indeed and I am able to provide my skills as a photographer to catalogue collections as well as advise on the photographic process and the storage of images.

I am an expert in the culture of Southern African bulbs; in creating african gardens and gardens for wildlife. I am a referee for the Botanical Society of the British Isles for the genera Crocosmia, Eucomis, Tulbaghia, Amaryllis and Freesia; and have written many technical, historical and gardening articles on the subject of South African Bulbous Flora.

I may be contracted to write articles on various gardening / horticultural / wildlife / wildflower subject matters by newspapers, magazines and periodicals; and have an advantage over most writers as I have a large photographic resource to drawn from.

I am also available to provide horticultural consultation and advice regarding the production of garden or plant related television or radio programs.

My work has in the past regularly been featured on television; on BBC 'Gardeners World', Channel 4s 'Garden Club', BBC Spotlight's 'Secret Garden' and Westcountry's 'Yellow Book Road'. I have also helped in the editing and aided in both the production and presentation of programs.

My biggest honour was to have Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II open an Environmental Demonstration Garden that I co-designed and landscaped, when working for the Groundwork Trust in Plymouth, as Head of Horticulture. A garden created to exemplify the benefits of environmental horticulture and the provision of educational and environmental resources to schools, community groups, businesses and local authorities by the Trust, now know as Groundwork Devon and Cornwall.

Also See
Full List of Horticultural and Gardening Services
Socio-environmental Horticulture
Environmental Policy (Horticulture)