Head Gardener

• Mar 2019 - Present

Managing and leading 6 horticultural staff and over 50 volunteers. Excellent plant knowledge including nomenclature and design use, designing and planning, plant records, ordering supplies, financial management budgeting (budget holder for the Horticultural Tools, Sundries, Growing Media and Foods, Lawn Care, Tree Work, Refuse Collection, Butterfly House, Nursery Fuel, Plants and Seeds, Pest Control and Protective Clothing budgets). prioritising emails, carrying out risk assessments, liaising with contractors, training, delegating practical tasks to staff and volunteers, recruitment of staff and volunteers and PDR's, giving guided tours and PowerPoint talks and appearing on the television, radio, magazines and YouTube and other social media. Attending The Hillier / Lancaster Group, Chartered Institute of Horticulture, PlantNetwork, Plant Heritage and BGCI conferences in person and online, including giving talks. Member of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Horticultural Advisory Committee. Involvement in setting up new National Plant Collections and key in providing horticultural information to help succeed in securing a National Heritage Lottery Funding bid. Show less

Senior Horticulturist- Acting Head Gardener

• Jun 2018 - Mar 2019

Senior Horticulturist- Internal Areas

• Jul 2010 - Jun 2018

I was responsible for all horticultural operations in four public display glasshouses (Tropical, Subtropical, Mediterranean and Arid Houses) and also a seasonal Butterfly House. Also responsible for the Birmingham Botanical Gardens Plant Nursery, producing a large variety of top-quality plants for the gardens, display glasshouses and bedding areas from seeds, cuttings and other propagules. Planning, ordering and growing seasonal bedding plants up to 18 months in advance. Member of the Horticultural Advisory Committee. Managing Area Supervisor of staff, students and volunteers. Keeping records of plant acquisitions on BG Base computer database. Budget holder for the Plants and Seeds, Horticultural Sundries, Pest Control and Protective Clothing budgets. Guided tours around the gardens. Show less

Propagator

• Feb 1998 - Jul 2010

I was in charge of propagating a wide range of plants used throughout the indoor and outdoor areas of Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses.

Gardener and Plant Records Officer

• Jul 1997 - Feb 1998

I looked after various outdoor areas of the gardens and updated the plant records database to catalogue the plant collection and produce labels for them.

Head Plantsman (Student)

• May 1997 - May 1997

Head Plantsman during the construction of Pershore College of Horticulture's Bronze Medal winning "Riverside Retreat Garden". Head Plantsman during the construction of Pershore College of Horticulture's Bronze Medal winning "Riverside Retreat Garden".

Horticultural Student

• Sep 1995 - Aug 1996

I studied all of aspects of horticulture, including plant nomenclature, entomology, propagation, planting, weeding and watering, etc. I studied all of aspects of horticulture, including plant nomenclature, entomology, propagation, planting, weeding and watering, etc.