Where did you learn your craft?
As a kid I was always cutting lawns for pensioners to earn a few bob, and I then studied at five colleges, three courses in horticulture, one in business management and one in teaching because I planned to lecturer on horticulture.
Are you a hands-on DIY-er or do you ‘get a man in’?
I’m always doing mad projects – I have the vision of what I want and I do what I can but if expertise is needed I call in a local tradesman. I’ve just renovated a property in Italy – and I wish there was a big DIY store there I can tell you!
What’s been your worst DIY disaster?
The first time I worked on Better Homes with Carol Vorderman I got a fencing company in and they put a post through a gas main. There was no explosion but we had to abandon filming for a day; and I never used that company again.
What’s your most recent DIY purchase?
I’m always in my local store at Banbury. I’ve just bought a Response Shed Alarm, everybody should have one, because we keep so much valuable gardening tools and equipment stuff in our sheds, they really need to be secure.
Which four people would be your ideal dinner guests?
A good dinner party is all about relaxed conversation, so they have to be people I have met before. Having spent 3 years on ITV’s This Morning I’d choose some of my favourite guests I have worked with. I would invite Chef Phil Vickery as the only cook who has persuadedme to eat vegetables! Pamela Anderson as believe it or not she likes gardening, plus Phillip Schofield and Fern Britton of course, as we’ve had so many laughs together on an off camera.
What was the last book you read?
I read Angels & Demons by Dan Brown before the film came out, and enjoyed it although it wasn’t as good as The Da Vinci Code. I built a garden inspired by that book for the Chelsea Flower Show a couple of years ago – it had loads of codes built into the planting and every plant had either been painted by Leonardo Da Vinci or had been used to create his paints colour palette.
If you could give one design tip for cost conscious garden landscapers, what would it be?
Renovate what you’ve got rather than ripping everything out. In many cases there’s a good basic structure there and you can create a great garden with a bit of elbow grease. Pruning your plants can make it larger and lighter, and then make sure you stain your fence panels and jet-wash your patio. It will look better after just one weekend.
Where was your last holiday?
I was in Egypt scuba diving with an oceanic white tip shark. I love diving and I’m finally training to become a Dive Master.
What CD are you currently listening to?
I listen to everything from Vivaldi to Lady Gaga but my current favourite is Rob Dougan who mixes orchestral music with trip hop and bluesy vocals.
What would you like to see more of in the High Street?
I lecture and write on gardening; it’s a passion for me as well as my roots in horticulture too. I started working in Garden Centres and moved on to supplying all the outdoor plants during the 80’s. I would like to see my high street peppered with a return to specialist food shops, like old style butchers, cheese makers, bakers for home produce.
Can you cook – if so, what’s your speciality?
I love to cook all the time and I like to experiment, so my dishes are rarely the same twice! My favourite is to cook game, especially venison or smoked kangaroo!
What’s your tipple?
I like a cool, crisp bottle of Becks after a hard day at work and sometimes I drink red wine or, real ale.
What’s your own garden like?
It’s very eclectic. Every plant has a story or memory attached – for instance, I have a peony that came from my gran’s garden. I collect plants the way other people collect ornaments as souvenirs.
