My gardening journey started during the various lockdowns, where I helped maintain and prune my family’s one-acre orchard and mixed garden (herbaceous borders, allotment, and lawns).

Since then, I have started to retrain as a horticulturist with Northumberland College (August 2023). My college work experience has brought me to volunteer in the gorgeous grounds of Belsay Castle (English Heritage) and Sunderland Home Grown CIC (Thompson Park). Alongside this I have been working within three private gardens since August 2023, each quite different and offering opportunities and challenges along the way..

I am now in my second year of college and am looking to increase my weekly workload, as well as hoping to connect with other gardeners in the Tyne & Wear area to gain further experience.

Along with general gardening, in the winter months I lay hedges and help maintain a local coppice (perfect for all your beanpoles and planting supports!).