Horticulture

Helen has a BSc. (Hons) Applied Plant Sciences from the University of Manchester, a Master of Research (MRes) in Biological Sciences from the University of Manchester and a Master of Arts in Landscape Design at the University of Sheffield.

Helen has taught within FE colleges since January 2017; prior to this she worked as a landscape architect in the northwest of England. She has been self employed as a garden designer/manager working on projects and gardens within Somerset. Helen has additionally been a self-employed gardens writer, producing articles for the University of Bristol Botanic Gardens and is a probationary member of the Garden Media Guild, and continues to pursue writing and attending horticultural seminars with the University of Bath Gardening Club and at Hillier Headquarters, Hampshire.

Helen has a keen interest in garden history and visits many gardens within the UK as well as overseas. She also enjoys open water swimming and skiing in her own time.

A qualified horticulturalist with over 30 years’ experience, Chris initially trained within the local authority parks department apprenticeship in amenity horticulture. He has worked within the industry at various levels, from working on the tools to contract supervision and management. He has worked for local authority and private national commercial grounds maintenance contractors, within parks, leisure services and highways departments in the past.

As a self-employed proprietor and business man, Chris has been providing professional gardening services including landscaping, garden design and building for over 25 years, specialising in the larger garden and estate management of formal gardens.

Chris has actively been lecturing and teaching practical horticultural skills in land-based studies and best practice at Lackham for the last 6 years. In his free time, his interests include motorcycle touring with biking friends, fishing, walking, and vegetable growing.

Chris has worked in the design industry as well as running his own sustainable horticulture business. He has also previously worked as the Head Gardener and Project Manager for multiple horticulture training sites for the National Lottery, working with schools and colleges throughout the South.