Dr. Timothy Walker is a Botanist, Gardener and Lecturer.  He read Botany at University College Oxford and upon graduation worked as a trainee at University Oxford Botanic Garden.  He subsequently studied at Askham Bryan College York, did a traineeship at Savill Garden Windsor and completed a diploma at Royal Botanic Gardens Kew.  In 1995 he [...]

Helen Picton is a specialist grower of autumn flowering asters.   The Picton family operates Old Court Nurseries and The Picton Garden in Herefordshire, England.   The nursery was established by Ernest Ballard, the first nurseryman to popularise autumn-flowering asters.   The Pictons hold the Plant Heritage National Plant Collection of autumn-flowering asters, with more than four hundred [...]

Sara Whelan is a garden designer living in Dunmain, New Ross, Co. Wexford. She first learnt about plants from her grandmother who lived near the National Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin, Dublin. She studied science at UCD and worked in education for almost 40 years. After taking early retirement, she studied for a Diploma in Garden [...]

Gary Carroll has gardened for over 15 years. Studied at Rodbasson Horticultural College during which time he created his own garden. He then progressed to a local arboretum, a very large and busy garden centre, as well as having his own garden renovation business. Subsequent to that he worked as a gardener for a Five [...]

Jack Willgoss of Wildegoose Nursery, Shropshire. ‘Higher and Higher - Using tall perennials to create an immersive atmosphere in the garden.’ Jack Willgoss started his horticultural training at 16 years old at Reaseheath College, whilst working at the Dorothy Clive Garden. He then went onto study a two year Diploma Course at the flagship RHS [...]

Klaus Laitenberger is the autor of three vegetable gardening books. He was the Head Gardener at the Organic Centre in Co. Leitrim and restored the gardens of Lissadell House in Co. Sligo. He is a regular contributor to the Irish Garden magazine. Klaus also works as a gardening consultant and gives lectures and talks nationwide [...]

Dr John Grimshaw has been interested in plants all his life, as both a gardener and a botanist, and holds a First Class Degree in Botany and a Doctorate in African Forest Ecology from Oxford University. He has travelled widely to see plants growing in habitat and his first book was ‘The Gardener’s Atlas’ (1998), [...]