With over 30 years’ experience investigating, conserving and championing our wild flora, I’m a passionate botanist. I’m constantly curious about plants, whether they’re growing in the wild or in our gardens.
My career began with a six-year project to publish the ground-breaking New Atlas of the British and Irish Flora for the BSBI, collating nine million records from volunteers to map over 4,000 species of plants in the wild.
I then spent 20 years at Plantlife, the wild-plant conservation charity, where I championed the conservation and creation of wildflower meadows, the improved management of road verges for wildlife, and created the #NoMowMay campaign to change the way we mow our lawns.
After presenting the Channel 4 series Wild Things in 2013, I’ve appeared on shows including BBC Breakfast, Countryfile, Gardeners’ World and Springwatch to champion wild plants, tell their stories and engage audiences in this fascinating but often neglected aspect of our natural world.
I also love radio and, as well as numerous local radio shows, have appeared on Radio 4 Today, Costing The Earth and Open Country.
I write regularly for many newspapers and magazines, and have authored books including The Wild Things Guide to the Changing Plant Life of the British Isles, Wildflowers for the Queen and was botanical consultant for The Little Book of Wildflowers.
One particular career highlight was when I shared a stage with Sir David Attenborough to launch the State of Nature report in 2016.
Originally a farmers’ son from Hampshire, I’ve lived in north Wales for 35 years. Home is a smallholding in the spectacular Conwy valley, where our Highland cattle have helped create a wildflower meadow.
I’m also a very keen gardener, a beekeeper, and the proud owner of a cocker spaniel.
