Garden talks

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

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 Plants

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

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

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

David is unfortunately unavailable to book talks for the time being.

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. 

Whilst Garden Manager of Perennial's The Laskett in Herefordshire, David designed a show garden for the 2024 RHS Malvern Spring Festival featuring elements from The Laskett itself. This was awarded a silver gilt medal and the People's Choice award.

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

Kerry French (née Austen) 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.

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

Harvey is currently unable to take new bookings. We apologise for any inconvenience.

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

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’.

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

Annie is only available for talks within a 1 hour drive from Midhurst, West Sussex.

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’s talks include

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

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).

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 has recently completed a PhD at Queen Mary University of London. She is also a Trustee of the Gardens Trust.

Availability: please note that Gillian is now fully booked for 2026 and 2027.

Gillian is an experienced speaker, writer and gardener. She belongs to the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, Professional Gardeners' Guild and the Garden Media Guild.

In all of her work she encourages sustainable and wildlife friendly planting schemes. She relishes the challenge of having two gardens 200 miles apart.

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?
• Perfect Plants for People and Pollinators
• 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 Walled Gardens

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.

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
• Entering the Hermit Kingdom

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 led 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.