Myself and my husband Monty bought The Walled Nursery in Hawkhurst in 2010. This grade 2 listed Victorian walled garden became our home and business for 11 wonderful years. We focussed initially on the plant nursery, refining the range of plants grown, increasing the quantity of herbaceous perennials and creating flower borders within the walled garden. We then built a 60 seater cafe in the Victorian Vinery, serving a delicious yet simple menu and created a gifts shop with a focus on gardening items and local crafts.

Throughout our 11 years, I delivered hundreds of training courses ranging from ‘How to design a border’, to ‘Propagation for beginners’. We held events such as outdoor theatre, workshops and craft fairs. Throughout our time at the nursery, the original head gardeners daughter bequeathed money to rebuild four of the Victorian glasshouses, we project managed the rebuilds working with fabulous local craftsmen. Sir Tim Smit of the Lost Gardens of Heligan opened the glasshouses for us in 2018.

If you have a garden, retail or events business and are looking for developmental support, I have a breadth of experience ranging from the eleven years that we ran our own business to returning to Great Dixter to oversee operations and the visitor experience. I have a set of simple tools that will create traction within your business in order to realise your vision.

If you feel that you need a little oomph put back into your business, get in touch with me to discuss ways that I can help.