About

Illustration of a field of different grasses and flowers with a polytunnel in the background and the sun low in the sky

Nature inspires us to create and tell stories about its lessons. It connects us to each other, takes us on personal journeys and gives us insight into others’ lives. This is what I write about.

Some history

I spent most of my childhood amongst the sunflowers, marigolds and tomato plants of my parents’ beautiful, ever-blooming and productive garden. As is told over and again, this set in a life-long curiosity for nature and gardening, progressing over several years to formal horticultural studies with the RHS and later in social and therapeutic horticulture.

I have worked voluntarily and professionally amongst plants and flowers for much of my adult life. Happy volunteering took place in a plant nursery, a community garden and in creating wellbeing growing kits for vulnerable people. In work I founded a business growing and selling edible flowers to chefs, bakers and mixologists. More recently I co-managed a therapeutic gardening Community Interest Company and am still involved in its activities today.

I created a successful environmental blog with a team of global editors, which was named in The Times top 50 eco blogs. As well as this I have contributed to an independent magazine about botanical crafts, worked in libraries and written and organised content for websites. Words and nature co-habit so harmoniously.

The Grow Create Joy logo on a gark green background with illustrated flowers and leaves