Horticulture leaders join the industry charity to help shape future of support

Perennial, the UK’s only charity dedicated to supporting everyone facing challenges in horticulture, welcomes leading voices from the horticulture industry to the Board, as well as a new Director of Services with exciting plans for the future.

Working in horticulture isn’t always straightforward. Challenges such as seasonality of work, physical injury, isolated working or risk of financial hardship can arise when least expected. As the charity for the industry, Perennial has a unique understanding of these challenges. They provide a range of free, confidential advice and support services both online and in-person, including a network of caseworkers and debt advisers across the UK, that assist horticulturists and their families when they need it most.

Guy Moreton, Founder and Director of specialist recruitment company, MorePeople, joins Perennial to support the development of the charity, so that more people across the industry can benefit from the expert services they provide. Guy is a sales and marketing specialist who helped pioneer the marketing of cut flowers and plants to multiple retailers in the UK in the 1980s. He has held Commercial Director and Managing Director roles in some of the country’s largest produce and horticultural businesses, before setting up MorePeople in 2000. He is also a Freeman of The City of London and a Liveryman of both The Worshipful Company of Fruiterers and The Worshipful Company of Gardeners.

Guy says, “I have been in the horticulture industry for 40 years and have been very impressed by the calibre, commitment and energy of everyone at Perennial. We have a social responsibility to support people in our industry when they are facing hard times and Perennial offers that safety net. I am in awe of what the charity is trying to do.”

Perennial’s new Director of Services, Helen Waddington, has been with Perennial since 2001. Her family have been in horticulture for over 100 years and her daughter is also a soft landscaper. Helen says, “People in hort are hard-working and care deeply about their craft and each other. Perennial is as vital today as it was in 1839. While we continue to support people through homelessness and times of crisis, our role has evolved to provide advice, information, and practical help that creates lasting change. Perennial is the industry’s safety net, always there to catch people when they need it most, and ideally before they hit crisis, so we can help them build a stronger future.

I’m excited about the opportunity to strengthen our connection with the industry, actively listening, monitoring key issues, and ensuring Perennial remains responsive to real needs so our services truly make a difference to people’s lives.”

Additional Trustee appointments include Julia Collins, James Sinclair Taylor and Lilidh Matthews.

Julia is an accomplished chartered accountant with a successful career in accountancy and financial management including 16 years with PWC, seven as a partner. She has also served on a number of Boards including Cambridge Literary Festival and Birkbeck College. She also has a passion for gardening, which she inherits from her father who was a gardener for the last 15 years of his career.

James was a partner at Russell Cooke in the not-for-profit sector and has significant experience in charity law and governance. He has sat on a variety of different Boards and is now a respected consultant.

Lilidh has worked across the horticulture sector and supply chain from viticulture to fresh produce, cut flowers, and edible and ornamental plants. She also sits on industry committees including the Royal Horticultural Society and Young People in Horticulture Association.

To find out more about Perennial and how the services they provide can support everyone facing challenges in horticulture visit perennial.org.uk