Qualifications:
I have 11 City & Guilds Certificates in Horticulture in the following components : The Flower Garden , Plant Propagation ; vegetable and seed , Small Glasshouse Management , Garden Design , Garden Construction , Trees & Shrubs , Organic Gardening , Garden Nature Reserves , Vegetable Growing and Garden Machinery
Additionally I have an NVQ in horticulture , and The RHS General Exam in Horticulture.

Paper certificates do not of course make great gardens. Horticulture is a very practical hands -on industry , and I know of many self taught successful gardeners who never went to college. I believe you can only learn so much from a book or at a desk . The rest comes from the college of life out there in your garden or on your allotment.

My Writing Career
I have been writing gardening articles for the last five years. During that time I have written for many different publications which include :
Smallholder magazine
Down Your Way magazine
Whitby Gazette newspaper
Choice magazine
En Passant magazine
To .... magazine
On -Line magazine
Yorks Post newspaper
Yorkshire Advertiser magazine
Inspirations from Yorkshire Book
Smith & Settle Publishers

If you are a magazine or newspaper editor and you have room for accurate , humourous articles on any aspect of horticulture , please email in the first instance. I do not demand extortionate fees , and I am happy to negotiate .

Additional Information
I have was recently invited as a guest speaker for an Organic Group ,which I found very daunting initially ! I overcame my nerves to enjoy the experience immensely.
Finally I have taught gardening classes in after school clubs, which I also found very rewarding and great fun. Children are our next generation and we need them to keep our great hobby alive.