OUT AND ABOUT GET GROWING
Where did your love of horticulture come from?
I come from a family of people who worked outdoors. My father's side worked on the land, in woodlands and farming, but I suppose I fell into gardening as a career when I left school. I was sent off for various jobs by Youth Opportunities, and the one I got was with the local parks department in Peterborough.
I worked through a four-year apprenticeship on the local parks department, and then the superintendent suggested I apply to become a student at Kew. They weren't recruiting at that time but sent an application form to me anyway. I thought ‘I might as well have a go at this’, and I ended up working in the herbaceous department.
I spent eight years at Kew and was in charge of one of the sections by the time I'd finished. But then I thought I'd move away for more experience and came here to Erddig.
I thought I'd go back
