Ken - Managing Director
As a teenager I started working in my local nursery to earn some pocket money and found that I had an affinity with plants. Aged 16 my father dropped me off at RHS Wisley Gardens as a student and I graduated in 1986. My father worked in the city and wasn’t too impressed with my ‘mucky hands’ career choice - Later admitting it wasn’t a bad choice!
For the following 23 years I worked for one of the largest brands in horticulture supplying compost, chemicals and seeds. I travelled extensively working with leading garden centres, scientists and horticultural fanatics to bring the best products to market.
In 2014, Louise and I, set up Plants2Gardens to supply QVC with high quality garden plants. Our remit was that everyone can have a beautiful garden and with our experience we can bring amazing new varieties, provide show-stopping forgotten plants from the past along with garden decoration, containers and sundries.
I remain a keen home-gardener testing many new varieties for their garden worthiness where they may achieve the coveted ‘Kens Award of Garden Merit’ title.
When I’m not at the nursery or QVC I’m often out in the garden in rural Northamptonshire which hosts shrubs, climbers, perennials, vegetables, herbs and indoor houseplants which I share with Louise, 2 children, 2 dogs, 4 chickens, 2 rabbits and a guinea pig.
Louise - Commercial Director
I found my passion for gardening as a young child helping out my Grandparents on their allotments during the weekends and school holidays. In my early 20’s I got my first garden of my own and then decided a life in horticulture was for me. I went back to college and studied for my RHS qualifications at evening class whilst spending my days working in the local Garden Centre!
These days I have 2 children who tend to keep me very busy so my ‘gardening for pleasure’ time is limited but there’s nothing I love more than to wander round the garden admiring progress and looking out for new things. I’m pleased to say my girls have also developed a love of the outdoors and can often be found sowing seeds or potting up plants. The chickens, dogs, rabbits and guinea pig that we share our garden with aren’t blessed with green-fingers but they do bring a lot of laughter to the garden.
Ken and I set up Plants2Gardens in 2014 with the aim of sharing our love of plants with others. Our plan was to provide the best quality plants, the most wonderful varieties, to ensure everyone, regardless of experience, time to spend or knowledge, could enjoy their own beautiful garden or outdoor space too!
James - Head of Horticulture
Growing up in a rural area I spent my childhood out on the vegetable patch and local farm nurturing the veg plants which were sold at a local market. Whilst on the farm I spent a lot of time in the greenhouse where ornamental cuttings and flower seedlings were raised too. As a teenager when I needed more cash to fund my go kart racing, I found an after school job at the local plant nursery where not only did I learn lots more about plants but how much information I knew and how I enjoyed sharing my knowledge. From these humble beginnings my career and also my passion took off, gaining R.H.S qualifications to boot.
My working life has seen me manage nurseries, be responsible for selecting and marketing new varieties to big well known stores and mail order catalogues, travel Europe, talk on live radio and television AND design and build RHS Gold award winning displays at Chelsea, Hampton Court and Malvern!
My two children are not as passionate about gardening as myself - my sons hobby is football where thankfully his kick is now far too strong for our garden - my beloved plants are in safety - but he will happily cut the lawn. My daughter helps me in the garden, particularly in the vegetable patch where she follows their journey from seed to plate.
For me raising plants is joy and also a great way to share tips and ideas on what to grow where to make gardening ornamentals, or edibles, easy for all.
Kirsty - Order Administrator
I started working at Plants2Gardens having spent many hours sitting with Louise watching our daughters train together in their local elite gymnastics squad.
I originally worked as a hairdresser which I decided I know longer enjoyed anymore so, I concentrated more on my evening job teaching dance. One day Louise happened to mention that she needed some help at the Nursery with administration and as I was free in the daytime it worked out great for me. It also meant that I could fit it in around my children’s school times and teaching dance.
My day to day job involves collating all the customer orders and printing picking notes and delivery labels ready for the nursery and despatch teams. With several printers humming away in the background at the same time it’s essential that I’m organised and calm in times of crisis (jammed printer beeping is the most annoying noise!)
I love the variation of my role and sometimes I go out and help pack your orders, where I get a real sense of satisfaction from handling the plants and working with the team through the trolleys of plants and boxes and watch as the mountains of despatch labels printed earlier diminish.
Lindsey - Customer Service
Hiya, Lindsey (Lins) here and I’m in my 5th year at P2G dealing mainly with anything customer service related which is right up my street as I do love interaction – ok - I like talking!
Over the years at P2G I have learnt some much about plants and how to care for them and for that, I am very grateful.
We have many customers who call or email to thank us for their plants and I also receive updates from various regulars regarding their gardens which is really lovely!
I work part-time and enjoy spending most of my spare time with my son, daughter, husband and of course our pooch. I’m also quite keen on running and socialising with family and friends if I can fit it in between taxi-ing the kids to football, athletics, brownies, dancing etc!
So please do get in touch if you have any questions or enquiries once you’ve had a browse and if I’m not sure of the answer, I’ll know someone who is!
Gilly
Burt
I love coming to work at Plants2Gardens each day. My ideal day is to come into the office at 8am and sleep the day away! I’m Ken’s dog and love to ride shotgun on our way into work each morning. At the weekends I can often be found lying in the garden in the sunshine or taking a slow walk and sniff about.Cooper
Being only a puppy still I’m definitely the crazy member of the team at Plants2Gardens and like to cause as much chaos and mayhem as possible in the office and the warehouse! One of my favourite ways to pass the day is to steal things from the warehouse on my way through! When I’m not at work I love a big long walk and will often cover twice as much ground as everyone else.