Team Talks – Meet Fiona

Fiona is the Horticulture Retail and Stock Manager at the Plant Market. She’s been part of the team for 21 years. We chatted to Fiona about all things gardening;

What attracted you to a career in horticulture?

“To be honest I kind of fell into it. I was looking for a career change so was taking some time out to work out what I wanted to do. I had been growing veg seeds and flowers in my garden and realised how much I enjoyed it and the benefits of gardening on mental health. So I decided to try and make a career of it. I sent my CV into Stan (owner of The Plant Market) and he took me on as a seasonal worker. And the rest is history!

What is your ideal garden?

Definitely a kitchen and flower garden!

What do you plant in your outdoor space?

My garden is a real mix. i have an ornamental gravel garden to the front which looks great and is pretty low maintenance. My back garden is full of fruit, veg and edible flowers. I love trying to grow new things each year but have learned to only grow what I like and veg that I know I’ll eat !

What’s the one thing we should all be doing to be more sustainable in our gardens/outdoor spaces?

There are lots of different ways to garden sustainably and it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Simply working with nature and taking a sensible approach will work wonders. If you are using plastic, just make sure you use it for a long time rather than throwing it out at the end of a season. You can choose to garden without chemicals as this makes a big difference to the wildlife that you’ll attract.

So now you know a bit more about Fiona. Say hi the next time you’re in!