A labour of love
Iwork at the National Memorial Arboretum, Lichfield, as a Grounds Volunteer Supervisor. My family and I have been living in our house now for five years. My daughters, aged 11 and 3, love reading GN. When we moved into our house the garden looked like an overgrown field. Over the years and with the help of all the tips and seeds we’ve used from GN, we’ve developed our garden into an educational hub. We have an area for growing veg, a cottage garden, wildflowers for bees, butterflies and other pollinators. We have a lavender hedge, which has proved popular with bumblebees. We also have a hedgehog house with the odd passing visitor. It’s all been a labour of love. My daughters would love to get the garden into GN. As a father to two daughters, one who has non-verbal autism, I’d love to have the opportunity to teach parents how to get their children involved in nature; it’s been marvellous to see what a difference it’s made to my own children’s development. My autistic daughter loves the smell and sensory feel of the plants.
I have a background in horticulture; a diploma and 20 years of experience working in the field at gardens and estates. I won the Chelsea Cup at Pershore College, awarded by Stefan Buczacki!
I also reached the semi-finals of the Young Horticulturist competition in 2004 and helped build two show gardens. We won gold and Best in Show at Malvern in 2010.
Thomas Price, by email
Simon says: Inspiring work, Thomas, a wonderful labour of love!