Fieldworkers

Having been a psychotherapist for ten years and prior to that working in community development setting up and supporting community gardens, my passion for therapeutic activities in nature led me to pursue training in horticulture and currently, I am studying garden design.
I hope to work with projects who might want to talk through how to engage the local community or need support when engagement becomes challenging; and if happy to work with a newbie garden designer then I’d hope to

My interest in therapeutic horticulture began when I first started gardening, and my own sense of wellbeing was transformed. This prompted a career change into horticulture some years ago and a particular interest in the benefits of therapeutic gardening and green spaces ever since.

I am delighted to join the fieldworkers at Trellis where I have been spending time recently getting to know the thoughtful work Trellis is doing with the Scottish Prison Service. Other interests of mine

I am Editor of Scotland Grows magazine, and Host of the Scotland Grows Show, both dedicated platforms to celebrating gardening in Scotland.

 I am also a freelance gardening writer, having written for Scotland on Sunday, The Herald on Sunday, The Evening Times, BBC Countryfile, and Kitchen Gardener amongst other national and local publications. 

 I am a member of the Gardening Media Guild, sit on the Council of The Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society, and have worked with the

In 2020 I made the move to become a therapeutic horticulturist, as I wanted to share my love of nature to support others with their mental health and well-being. I currently work for the Eric Liddell Community in Edinburgh delivering social and therapeutic horticulture to people living with dementia, and an open community group. I co-organise and lead weekly wellbeing walks with a focus on nature and wellbeing. I am also creating the Eric Liddell Peace Garden, which forms part of the Eric

I was introduced to the inspirational world of therapeutic horticulture and community gardening in 1998, while I was studying for a degree in Landscape Management at the University of Reading. After graduating I worked in a variety of jobs in both community education and horticulture. I gained experience as a gardener and in plant nurseries in both the UK and Australia before finding project management roles in community education. Eventually in 2011 I found my perfect employment combining

I started a career change nine years ago and retrained as a gardener and horticultural therapist, completing the Diploma in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture.

I currently lead one allotment project for people in Twyford https://www.twyfordparishcouncil.gov.uk/twyford-growers/ and another for autistic adults with AutAngel https://www.autangel.org.uk

In the 1990s I studied horticulture and garden design at Norwood Hall and Capel Manor colleges in London. I went on to work as a garden designer and gardener in private practice, and also as a lecturer in further and higher education where as a manager I developed programmes in all elements and levels of horticulture. I taught a wide range of learners from career changers, amateur gardeners and students with learning disabilities. I loved passing on my knowledge of horticulture and design,

I have always liked being outdoors. As a child of a Swedish mother, we spent many summers near lakes and woods. While working as an Art therapist I started developing the grounds in my children's school. From there I worked in various community gardens and now work as an outdoor community development worker in Edinburgh. I worked for Grounds for Learning,studied herbalism with grass roots remedies for two years and got back to art work using natural materials during Covid. 

Through my

I am a design graduate of Edinburgh College of Art and in addition I hold the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture (Commendation) and a Diploma in Garden Design from the Inchbald School of Design.

I am a qualified and experienced college lecturer, having taught horticulture for several years at Dundee & Angus College alongside running my own garden design practice.