Our people

Perennial's nationwide presence is anchored by our dedicated team, with staff positioned across the UK. 

Our national office, based in Leatherhead, Surrey, coordinates efforts to support the horticulture sector, which is complemented by advisers and fundraisers stationed throughout the country. Guiding our charity is a committed board of trustees, ensuring effective support for all in the horticultural community.

Who's who

Perennial is governed by a Board of Trustees who serve on a voluntary basis. They are drawn from a variety of professions but all have a common objective of providing the very best in support services to those in need in horticulture.

Patron

HRH Princess Alexandra, KG, GCVO

President

Alan Titchmarsh MBE, VMH

Vice Presidents

Jim Buttress VMH
Lord (Hugh) Cavendish of Furness DL
Alan Down
John Gilbert
Sir David Howard Bt
Alan Kendall MBE
Dougal Philip
Sir Roger Singleton CBE
Sir Roy Strong CH
Keith Weed
Nicholas Woolf OBE KSTJ

Trustees

Paul Rochford – Chairman
Fifth generation nurseryman he runs Joseph Rochford Gardens, a wholesale business supplying plants to the landscape industry.

Steven Palmer – Honorary Treasurer
Former Finance Director, Squire’s Garden Centres. Chair of the Resources Committee.

Carole Baxter
Gardener & Broadcaster. Presenter of BBC Scotland Beechgrove TV programme.

Maureen Hart
Social worker, Vice Chair and Member of Sefton Adoption Panel, Vice Chair and Member of Sefton Fostering Panel, Justice of the Peace.

Cindy Peck
Solicitor and former longstanding partner with Dentons. Member of the Board of Governors of Birkbeck College, University of London and member of the Court of the Worshipful Company of Gardeners.

Emma Tinker
Director of Asper Investment Management with substantial commercial experience within the energy industry.

David Buchanan-Cook
He used to work for Scottish Legal Complaints Commission as a Case Investigations Manager/Head of Oversight & Deputy CEO/ Head of Strategic Insight until August 2019.

Richard Lawton
Richard Lawton’s entire career has been spent in the horticultural sector. For more than 30 years he worked for Hillier Nurseries culminating in a ten year stint as a Sales and Marketing Manager, and more recently a Business Manager for the Newey group from which post he recently retired. He is Chair of Perennial Trading and a member of the Resources Committee.

Barbara Segall
Well-known horticulturist and garden writer. Her work appears in a number of popular publications such as Gardeners World, The Garden, Kitchen Garden, Country Life, Your Garden and Country Living. Member of the RHS Herb Advisory Group. Member of Suffolk NGS Country Team.

Helen Seal
Helen works as a self-employed gardener and garden adviser and was Alpine and Woodland Supervisor at the University of Cambridge Botanic Garden for eight years.

Senior staff

Chief Executive Jamie Gault
Director of Services Julia Hayne
Director of Finance Simon Kemp
Director of Operations Amy Routley
Business Systems Manager Clive Westwood