I have worked in Horticulture and Business for over 40 years in, education, running my own nurseries and garden centre, cut flower growing and fruit and vegetable production. Always on the principles of being better than organic with low or zero impact on the environment.

So, if you want to propagate more plants from cuttings or seed, introduce qualifications, give your clients the benefit of horticultural therapy or simply improve your income stream by selling produce I can help. I have extensive knowledge of growing Fruit and Vegetables, maximising the use of tunnels or greenhouses to get the most out of them, and no dig techniques. Perhaps writing a business plan, production schedules or simply plant variety selection. If its horticulture or business set up or just producing plants for “free” I can help.

Why are you drawn to this area of work?

I have worked with community groups for over 30 years. My first experience was setting up two centres for training young people as part of the Youth Training Scheme one in the Rhondda the other in the Cynon Valley. Implementing qualifications, growing schedules and sales areas.

Building sensory gardens in Pencoed Junior School also at Drive in Talygarn. Advising on garden layout, plant propagation and plant growing techniques also at Drive in Talygarn.

Delivering Horticultural training to many of the frontline staff who deliver the content to community organisations throughout South Wales and advising on the best practise for their client base too numerous to mention

I have helped many other community groups such as B-leaf in Bridgend and more recently Tonyrefail Community School where I am now based to implement plant sales and box schemes to help with income.

What is you vision of your area in 2050?

I believe we will become more reliant for food, particularly fruit and vegetables, from within our community. We will have a vibrant multi-functional circular economy. With an economy that holds the value and impact on the community as much as the profits.

Businesses will be liable for the true cost of what they do, such as the impact that things like steel production has on the health of the surrounding community.

Things such as renewables, water harvesting, home energy production, home/community composting will be the norm and come as standard.

We the community will be the enablers the catalyst for its continued development and change