Our people

Keith plays an active role in the governance of the RHS and is the Chair of the Council of Trustees and the Horticulture Board. From leading businesses in the public and charitable sectors he has experience in developing and implementing strategies, fundraising and delivery of funds for charitable initiatives. Keith has a particular interest in communities, education and the positive impact gardening has on the environment and people’s health.

Celebrating 53 years in horticulture. Andrew studied at Somerset College of Agriculture and Horticulture, Cannington, for two years and then studied for three years at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh.
Andrew started as an apprentice gardener at Inverewe Gardens on the Northwest coast of Scotland and went on to work at The Royal Horticultural Society Garden, Wisley, Kew Gardens, and Hampton Court Palace Garden. In addition, Andrew also spent a year working on nurseries in Holland and worked for a time with the Parks Department of the London Borough of Croydon as their Horticultural Officer and then moved to the London Borough of Redbridge as Assistant Parks Manager, subsequently becoming their Chief Recreation Manager.

• Great Gardens of Great Britain
• The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh
• Wisley Garden
• Seasonal Container Gardening
• Composting
• The Garden Year
• Bulbs for indoor flowering
• The London Garden Society

• Andrew Babicz on LinkedIn

A picture containing outdoor, tree, grass, person Description automatically generated Alan is one of Europe's top garden designers. A founder member of the Professional Gardeners' Guild, he became Britain's youngest head gardener when he took charge of the French-style gardens at Bramham Park in Yorkshire. He has created and restored many gardens throughout Europe including Manoir du Hilguy, near Quimper, for Holiday Property Bond and Harlaxton Manor in Lincolnshire.

He presented TV gardening programmes for 15 years, starting with Yorkshire Television as well as series on Central and Anglia TV. He presented on BBC Gardeners' World and on Channel 4 Le Manoir the making of his garden in France and then a long-running series on Channel 4, Gardens without Borders, comparing the gardens of our European neighbours in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal and Holland.

With this unique background of qualifications and experience, Alan has turned much of his attention to providing expert knowledge and help as a garden designer/improver. Alan's own garden in Lincolnshire is used to show clients what can be achieved and is frequently visited by groups and societies.

Alan is happy to travel within a 100-mile radius and charges 50p per mile. Anything over 100 miles overnight accommodation would be appreciated.



Titles include

• It’s a Gardener’s Life
• Gardens of the Italian Lakes
• European Garden Design
• Designing a garden for you

A person smiling for the camera Description automatically generated Annie Guilfoyle is an award-winning designer and an RHS Chelsea Flower Show Silver Medal winner. After studying horticulture at Capel Manor College in Enfield, Middlesex, she gained a BA Honours Degree in Garden Design from Middlesex University. Annie combines running a successful garden design consultancy with lecturing and writing on the subject.

For 18 years Annie was the director of Garden Design at KLC School of Design at Hampton Court Palace, Surrey, where she was instrumental in establishing the highly acclaimed garden design courses. Many of Annie’s students have gone onto to become successful, award-winning designers. As Garden Course Consultant at West Dean College near Chichester, West Sussex, Annie is responsible for the development of the educational programme and has developed an educational allotment where students can learn about growing food. Annie teaches a monthly course called The Art and Craft of Garden Design at Great Dixter House & Gardens in Northiam, Rye, East Sussex.

Annie lectures internationally and each summer runs a garden design course at Chanticleer Garden in Pennsylvania, every autumn she teams up with Vivaio Valfredda in Northern Italy to run design workshops and courses in Italian. Her international lecturing work includes Moscow, Kiev, Copenhagen and Milan. She is a regular judge for The Society of Garden Designers annual awards, Moscow Garden Show, Copenhagen Garden Show and Orticolario on Lake Como, Italy. Annie is also an RHS Show Garden judge at Chelsea Flower Show.

Together with Noel Kingsbury, Annie has established Garden Masterclass, this is a programme of learning days and events in association with Gardens Illustrated. The aim is to bring together gardeners and designers with the very best and most innovative people in the gardening world through one-day workshops all over the United Kingdom. Each workshop is organised around a specific topic, and designed to help participants learn, create and apply new knowledge and skills.

Her television work includes being a featured designer on the BBC-tv series Small Town Gardens, Gardeners’ World and The Garden Makers on Meridian TV. These programmes demonstrate Annie's expertise in transforming tiny spaces into contemporary urban sanctuaries with modern art and architecture being key influences. A fine example is the sculpture garden for the Zimmer Stewart Gallery in Arundel, West Sussex.


Annie is happy to travel within an hour radius of Midhurst but has limited availability in winter. Her travel expenses are 50p per mile.


Annie’s talks include

• What makes a great garden
• Designing Small Gardens
• Scent in the garden

Barry is Head Gardener at Cholmondeley Castle and has a wealth of horticultural experience having worked in private, public, and zoological gardens, as well as specialist plant nurseries. A plantsman at heart he has worked with a great range of collections in his career and has particular interests in Magnolias, Cornus, and Camellias. He is a medal winner at RHS Tatton Park and RHS Chelsea Flower Shows and an industry mentor for horticulture students at Reaseheath College, Cheshire.

Barry is happy to travel within an hour from Malpas and charges 50p per mile. He is also always happy to offer virtual talks so that distance isn’t a problem.

Barry presents talks on:

• Cholmondeley Castle, a Garden of Distinction
• Getting the best from your Roses
• The Undercover Gardener (Success with House Plants)
• Majestic Magnolias
• Going for Gold - Designing and Exhibiting at RHS shows.

Ben is currently a Head Gardener for a private garden in West Sussex. He has worked and studied in various aspects of horticulture for the last 21 years and his qualifications include the Wisley Practical Diploma, RHS Diploma and the RHS Master of Horticulture. He regularly writes for Gardens Illustrated and teaches at the Chelsea Physic Garden for The English Gardening School and at West Dean College of Art and Conservation. Ben is also a member of the RHS Herbaceous Plant Committee.

Ben presents talks on

• Making the Most of What You Have (how to get the most out of your garden, whatever the size or space)
• Gardening to Save Time (focussing on the subject of time in the garden)
• Creating Movement Whilst Frozen Still (a seasonal talk looking at the winter garden and how to achieve movement and interest during the cold months)
• Cutting out the Middleman – A Guide to Growing Your Own Cut Flowers
• Treading Gently Through the Borders (a detailed look at the softer side of border management).

David came to public notice while Head Gardener at the Roof Gardens in Kensington for Virgin. He is that rare combination of an award-winning gardener and also garden designer. He has designed gardens small and large across the UK, Europe and Africa. He now lives in Lincolnshire where he is creating a new one-acre 21st century country garden for himself.

David has been a supporter of Perennial for many years, and now works for the charity.


David presents talks on:

Big Ideas for Small Gardens - how to take the inspiration you get when visiting gardens and translate it into your own garden

The History of the Derry & Toms Roof Garden

A New Garden - where to start to make it less daunting

Ring the Changes - how to develop my existing garden as my tastes change

The History of Perennial

Francesca is a garden historian whose particular interest is forgotten Victorian gardeners, nurserymen and florists. She is currently researching the nineteenth century history of the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Institution (the forerunner of Perennial) and the gardeners who subscribed to its charitable funds. She would love to share the compelling stories of these forgotten heroes and heroines of horticulture. 

Her book The Eighth Wonder of the World: Exbury Gardens and the Rothschilds (2020) details the history of this famous 200-acre woodland garden in Hampshire. Her other interests include the Rothschild orchid collections. Francesca trained in Garden Design at Berkshire College of Agriculture and is currently a PhD candidate at Queen Mary University of London. She has also recently become a Perennial Trustee of the Gardens Trust.

Gareth is a professional horticulturist with over 35 years in the industry. His experiences range from commercial nursery production through landscaping to professional gardening. Gareth serves on the regional committee of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and was a Vice President (Branches) for six years. He is Southern Chairman of the Professional Gardeners' Guild and a Fellow of the Professional Garden Consultants Association. He is also a Judge for the Heart of England in Bloom. Gareth’s involvement with the Perennial Speaker Panel started in 2009, although he has been an active supporter of the charity for much longer.

Gareth currently presents three talks:

• A Brief History of Japanese Garden Design
• Flowering Cherries; A Japanese Obsession
• A Tour of West Green House Gardens in Hampshire

Gillian is an enthusiastic plantswoman and gardener. Mainly learning from personal experience, she has also attended courses at RHS Wisley, Great Dixter and West Dean Gardens. She has developed a garden in France from a field and in Hampshire has a wooded garden, both of which are managed sympathetically for wildlife. Gillian enjoys both speaking and attending talks. She is a member of The Rose Society, Plant Heritage, Hardy Plant Society, Auricula Society, Historic Roses Group, Grow Organic and several local garden clubs. As well as volunteering for Perennial she is also involved with a school garden project and organising garden visits.

Gillian is available to give talks in Hampshire, Berkshire, West Sussex, Wiltshire Surrey and Dorset. Her travel is charged at 50p per mile.

Her talks include:

• More Colour, Less Work – Fact or Fiction?
• My Greenhouse Year
• For the Love of Roses
• A garden adventure in France
• Let’s talk about Shrubs!
• Great British Gardens – the Quest for Paradise
• The Wonder of the Walled Gardens

Harvey Stephens is an enthusiastic plantsman and experienced award-winning garden manager who has spent spells living and working in Israel and Russia. He is a long standing RHS Woody Trials panel member and passionately enjoys talking about first rate garden plants. He has been volunteering for Perennial for almost 20 years and now works on a private estate in Cheshire. Harvey was Deputy Keeper of the Gardens at The Savill Garden, one of Britain's greatest ornamental gardens. Whilst training at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, he was chairman of the Kew Mutual Lecture Society and won the inaugural award from the Worshipful Company of Gardeners for his contributions whilst a student.

Harvey presents talks on:

• 
  Managing the Gardens of Windsor Great Park
• Plants Worthy of Garden Merit
• Are You Barking up the Wrong Tree
• Hydrangea Revolution
• Great Gardens of Russia
• The Wonders of Chile’s National Parks

Howard Drury was born in Lincolnshire, started selling lettuces at 6 years old and worked on local nurseries before going home after school. He trained at local Agricultural colleges before going on to Edinburgh Botanic Garden as a Student, leaving with honours and all but one of the top awards. Howard then moved to Birmingham, working for 20 years as a Horticultural Training Officer, and working as researcher and presenter on Central TV’s Gardening Time for 611 episodes.
Today he still writes, runs gardening clubs, and gives appearances throughout Britain in addition to giving horticultural advice and running gardening holidays around the world. Howard was closely involved with ExtraCare Charitable Trust where for more than 20 years they have been using gardening as a therapy in the form of a gardening competition.

Howard Presents talks on a wide variety of subjects reflecting his long horticultural experience. They
include:
- Bulbs for all the year-round colour in the home and garden
- Colour in your garden from Autumn until Spring
- Garden Design or a tour of British Gardens
- Growing Vegetables in the 21st Century
- Hellebores from the Wild to Your Garden
- Making the most of Herbaceous

Howard uses the latest computer, projection, and audio technology to make his talks a horticultural
experience to be remembered.

Iain has worked in horticulture since the age of 16, working with salad crops and fruit trees, growing pot plants and flowers for her Majesty the Queen at Windsor Castle and working as a Planteria Manager for various garden centres. Iain now runs Classifora Imports and is responsible for the purchasing and selling of Mediterranean specimen plants such as palms, cypresses and photinias.

Iain presents talks on

• ‘Container Gardening’ 
• ‘Mediterranean Plants - Why Buy from Abroad?’

A person sitting in a field Description automatically generated Kenny trained in Garden Design and Commercial Horticulture at Hadlow College whilst working in the grounds of Leeds Castle. From there he moved on to become Head Gardener of Regent’s Place, NEO Bankside and the most lavish Covent Garden, in which he delivered floral decadence partnered with numerous brands. Kenny helped to deliver shows such as Fleurs de Villes, as well as delivering iconic pop-up displays such as the floral piano and the pumpkin carriage, and was the ‘30 under 30’ winner in 2019. He has now relocated to the South West to join St Mellion. Kenny’s talks will open up a world of showmanship and the hybridisation between floristry, gardening and the new arts and crafts.


Kenny Presents talks on:

• 
  Food, Flowers and Medicine in the Landscape
• Designing a Better Garden in a Changing World
• The World of Fast Fashion Horticulture
• Floristry Workshops
• The New Arts and Crafts
• Make My Courtyard Bloom

Kerry studied Horticulture at Brooksby Melton College, Leicestershire. After college she joined the Ornamental team at RHS Wisley, with a responsibility for the Bowes Lyon Rose Garden. After 4 years Kerry moved to be head gardener at The Royal National Rose Society. Kerry now coordinates the Rochfords International Rose Trial and has an expertise in all things roses.
Kerry is unavailable on Fridays.

A person smiling for the camera Description automatically generated Following a degree in Fine Art, Louisa started her working life in retail and project management; designing gardens is a second career. Louisa studied garden design at the KLC School of Design and Capel Manor College, and Landscape Architecture at the Writtle School of Design.

As the founding member of Cambridgeshire based Supernature Garden & Landscape, Louisa brings more than a decade of experience designing residential gardens to the team. She is a regular contributor to Garden Answers magazine and teaches garden design at two local colleges.

Louisa presents a talk on ‘Garden Design: from Concept to Completion’, taking you through all the stages of the garden design process.

Martin is Head of Nursery at the Historic Royal Palace of Hampton Court. The on-site nursery provides many of the plants for the Palace’s gardens. Join Martin for a behind the scenes tour of the nursery and gain some insight into producing plants for the Palace’s formal and public gardens.

Martin is pleased to conduct private tours for groups of up to 20 people from March until the end of June. A donation of £15 per head goes to Perennial.

Mary's degree in Horticulture (Wye College) was followed by employment within commercial landscaping and plant retail. Since then her company, Mary Stevenson Garden Design, has provided design services for clients in East Sussex and Herefordshire for over 18 years. As GoLandscape Ambassador for careers events and Speaker her talks cover a wide range of horticultural subjects.

Mary is unavailable on Tuesdays and only presents in-person talks. Mary presents talks on:

• What’s in a Name? Plant Names De-mystified
• Small Trees for Small Gardens
• Wild Cousins – A Fascinating Look at the Relationship Between Wild Plants and Their Cultivated Forms
• Edges and Hedges
• Year-Round Colour in the Garden
• A Gardener’s Guide to Bulbs, Corms, Tubers and Rhizomes.
• Making a “no dig” Vegetable plot from scratch

A person sitting in a forest Description automatically generated A former Lloyd’s broker in the City of London, Neil decided to follow his passion in horticulture following redundancy and has been Head Gardener at the award-winning gardens at Hever Castle in Kent for the past 17 years. Neil is responsible for the upkeep of topiaries, a Tudor garden, Italian Gardens, a rose garden home to more than 4,000 specimens, and much more! Neil gives regular interviews on local radio and is a very keen traveller.


Neil presents three talks:

• The Secrets of Hever Castle Gardens
• The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens - one of the only botanical gardens in the Middle East
• Gardens in North Korea - where he has been fortunate to visit gardens and take in the amazing culture.

Nigel is a practising garden designer with over 40 years-experience. In that time, he has lectured in garden design and garden history running his own course at Plumpton College in Sussex. He has also lead garden tours in France, Italy and Spain. He now specialises in designing smaller gardens with his clients in his One-to-One garden design service. This allows for an assured and speedy solution.
Retirement is not on the horizon! Nigel is also a Fellow of the Society of Garden Designers.
Nigel is available within a 30 mile radius from Lewes, East Sussex and charges £1.50 a mile for the outward journey only. He is not available in August.

Nigel presents a talk on:

• Garden Design for the Smaller Garden
• Water Gardens, A Talk on Water

Ray trained at RHS Wisley and has been teaching a wide range of horticultural subjects for over two decades. Awarded a fellowship by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture for his service to horticulture, Ray was a Senior Lecturer at Sparsholt College, sharing his passion for his work.

Sally has been in horticulture as a professional gardener for over 40 years, working in numerous private gardens as well as Skelmersdale
Development Corporation, Leicester University Botanic Garden, various Wildlife Trusts, Leicester Museums and for over 20 years Garden Organic (formerly HDRA), where she held several roles including deputy head gardener and working with the Heritage Seed Library for the Sowing New Seeds project.
Sally’s specialist subjects are unusual edibles from the hardy and historic to the exotic and unknown; vegetables and utilitarian plants from different cultural backgrounds which can be grown in the UK with little or no protection; wildlife in the garden, particularly insects; and of course, organic gardening.

Having worked in horticulture since leaving school, Stuart studied for a Diploma at Askham Bryan College in Yorkshire before taking a gardener position with the Cadogan Estate in Chelsea. From there he progressed to various Head Gardener positions in the South East, including at a five-acre intensive garden in Berkshire for six years and responsibility for a 100-acre garden in Oxfordshire, which included the initial design work on the new garden and a one-acre, elliptical walled garden. 

Before becoming self-employed in 2000 he was the Head Gardener and Designer for a small London based gardening company, responsible for the maintenance of various private gardens in South West London.

Stuart presents a talk on ‘Adventurous Container Gardening’.