I was born and brought up in Somerset. I worked as an under-gardener at Showerings in Shepton Mallet before going to horticultural college.
In 1987 I returned to Somerset and started my landscape design business, and at the time of my recent retirement I’d completed more than 1000 designs.
In 1999 I completed an MA in environmental policy and management at the University of the West of England. Here I wrote my dissertation on landscaping barn conversions.
After my Chelsea Flower Show experience I worked on the “Roots and Shoots” gardening series for HTV. More recently I’ve contributed to a number of TV and radio programmes on both gardening and climate change.
Since 2000 I’ve taught horticulture and garden design at the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, Stoke Lodge, Bristol, Bath College and for Somerset County Council.
