Mike has had an extensive career in horticulture, embracing various branches of growing during his 30 years as a professional gardener.

He began his career at Dyffryn Gardens in the Vale of Glamorgan, rising to the position of Head Gardener. Enjoying the teaching of gardening courses at Dyffryn, he left there to become a lecturer in horticulture at Pencoed College. His next position was as Director of Aberglasney Gardens in Carmarthenshire, overseeing the start of the restoration project. From there he went to Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland. He still retains strong links with Barnsdale.

As Head Gardener of the Victorian Kitchen Garden at Audley End House near Saffron Walden, Mike was responsible for the restoration of the garden from scratch, using organic methods to produce heritage varieties of fruit and vegetables from the Victorian period. (1837-1901), and built up a collection of 150 apple cultivars pertaining to East Anglia, all of which were formally trained. During his time there as Head Gardener the ten vines in the beautiful Vinery were brought back into full production.

He established the splendid centre walk of irises and paeonies and built up collections of dahlia, gladioli and sweet peas, as well as a colourful display of 60 heirloom varieties of tomatoes.

While at Audley End Mike appeared on various television programmes, including an hour-long ‘Gardeners’ World’ special about the restoration and began contributing articles to gardening magazines. He was also commissioned to write a book on gardening in the ‘Teach Yourself’ series and was the major contributor to another called’ Organic Gardening’ by Juliet Roberts.

Passionate about gardening, with a particular interest in Garden History, he now offers his services as a horticultural consultant, designing and restoring old gardens, as well as planning the creation of new. He is an adviser to the National Allotment Society, providing practical advice to their members through their magazine and website. Mike enjoys passing on his wealth of knowledge to others and has made time during his career to give talks to all kinds of gardening societies. He is a keen advocate of organic gardening and its benefits to the environment and wildlife.

Audley End Walled Kitchen Garden

Former Head Gardener of the Walled Kitchen Garden at Audley End for 13 years. During this time I was employed by Garden Organic to restore and manage the gardens organically on behalf of English Heritage.