Robert studied Horticulture at Auchincruive, gaining an HND with Distinction. Keen to practice his skills, he worked as a gardener at Aberdeen’s Duthie Park during a multi-million pound regeneration project. In 2013, he joined the Commonwealth War Graves Commission where he is now Regional Operations Co-ordinator covering Scotland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Robert is also a judge for Legion Scotland’s Best Kept War Memorial competition, and enjoys spending time at home tending his own garden when family life allows.

Jim trained at Oaklands College of Agriculture and Horticulture at St Albans.  During his time at St Albans he spent a year at Ingwerson’s alpine plant nursery in East Grinstead and was hooked!  After his studies he spent time in Munich Botanic Garden and its associated alpine gardens in Schahen Alpengarten.  He set up an alpine garden near Lake Garda before taking over Edrom Nurseries in Coldingham where he cultivated rare alpine plants for 20 years and exhibited alpine plants across the UK.  In 2000 he took on the role of Show Manager for Gardening Scotland, and Ayr Flower Show until December 2016 when he became Property Manager/Head Gardener at NTS Branklyn Gardens, Perth.  Jim’s passion for alpines has persisted throughout his career

Colin childhood ambition was to be a gardener and I think we can say that he fulfilled that ambition. Since completing his formal horticultural education, he has worked in a variety of environments, both in the UK and abroad.

He currently works for NTS as one of four Gardens Managers, based at Newhailes Estate. He oversees the management of gardens throughout East and Central Scotland.

Besides horticulture, Colin has an interest in photography and hillwalking as well as, the somewhat more unusual, buses and public transport.

Sarah has had a lifelong love of gardening inspired by her Grandad and Dad. She was given her own patch at a young age to grow what else – radishes! Since then, she has always found somewhere to grow things – be it a windowsill, pots, an allotment or her own garden.

She studied botany at university, graduating from Imperial College London in 1984 and has completed the Certificate of Practical Horticulture and RHS level 2 award, both at RBGE. Despite this horti background, her professional career took her to the world of brewing where, amongst other things, she had the enviable job of tasting beers and ciders for Heineken.

Her plant passions include spring bulbs, fruit, auriculas and cut flowers.

She leads the FoSP community orchard group at Saughton where they have established a trained fruit orchard and a wild orchard to increase the biodiversity.

She particularly enjoy gardening with others as you can learn so much and make good friends.

Anne is an avid amateur gardener, gaining great satisfaction and peace from her garden. She grows organic fruit , vegetables and herbs for the kitchen and loves perfume in the garden.
As a founder member of the SSBA (Scottish Society of Botanical Artists), she grows a variety of plants and bulbs to paint in watercolour.

Kathryn’s interest in horticulture began as a small child, pottering in the garden at home. She loved to pick flowers to bring into the house

She worked for many years in a variety of health-related areas before specialising in Microbiology. Professional development was expected but was surprised when she managed to convince her supervisor that RHS qualifications were appropriate!

Following retirement, she became President of Penicuik Horticultural Society in 2013 and became a council member of Scottish Gardeners’ Forum in 2017, first as Registers secretary, progressing to Chair in 2019.

MT is currently editor of the Scotland Grows Magazine & is also a member of UK Garden Media Guild for gardening writers. She is also an RHS Schools Mentor and steers a weekly community gardening blog and runs gardening workshops. MT has a particular interest in gardening for health & well-being and has undertaken several Thrive & Trellis courses. She has written for various national publications and has been on national radio promoting the benefits of gardening.

Colin has a very strong educational and advisory background in the Horticultural industry from being senior Lecturer at Bishop Burton College to being employed as a senior horticultural advisor with SRUC. After this he had his own advisory practice specialising in soft fruit.

Colin has been closely involved with Grow & Learn as a verifier. Current Chair of the Pitcaple Environmental Project and a Director of Trellis are examples of his charitable involvement. His background in education and with various charities will be very useful and hopefully help extend the reach of the Caley.

Colin has worked in the horticultural industry from being a student at Auchincruive then at the Savill & Valley Gardens before being appointed head gardener to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother at Royal Lodge Windsor, then the RHS Wisley as a superintendent and finally as Curator. He returned to Dumfries to set up his own garden at Dalswinton Mill. Colin has considerable experience with TV and radio and lectures on a range of gardening & horticultural subjects. Colin is involved in various charities including Bethany Christian Trust and Independence from Drugs and Alcohol Scotland where he is interim CEO. Colin is also a trustee for the Galloway National Park Association and opens his garden under the Scotland’s National Garden Scheme.

Caroline studied horticulture and garden design at Norwood Hall and Capel Manor in London. She went on to work as a garden designer and gardener in private practice, later as a lecturer in further and higher education loving passing on her knowledge of horticulture and design. She particularly enjoyed working with her students on gardens at RHS Chelsea and Hampton Court flower shows.  In the last few years Caroline has volunteered with the Malleny Gardens, the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop and the RHS Green Plan It schools project. She continues to enjoy garden design, sustainable gardening, her allotment and squeezing in just one more plant in her garden!

Susan grew up loving photography, adventure and the outdoors.  After studying psychology at University then 8 years of mountaineering expeditions, she took a PGCE in computing science and maths.  She taught at Dingwall Academy for 11 years where she transferred her specialism in 2009 to autism and horticulture.  She completed a Practical Certificate in Horticulture at the RBGE and became a tutor for the course.  In 2015 she moved to Aberdeenshire to join the Additional Support for Learning dept at Ellon Academy.  She now enjoys teaching The Caley’s Grow and Learn Awards to all year groups, and an SQA National 4 unit in gardening skills.  She develops resources and games to help deepen pupils’ understanding of the awards and enjoys sharing good practice with others.  She encourages pupils to become composting experts using different methods around the school site.  Pupils sell their edible produce to staff and donate to the local food bank.  They maintain a large garden, wildlife area and Memorial Garden

Margaret first developed a love of gardening as a young child helping out in her Grandfather’s home -based nursery. Her career has spanned financial services, health and social care and the public sector where she specialises in issues of governance. A keen allotment grower, she is a committee member of the Federation of Edinburgh Allotment Garden Associations (FEDAGA) and is FEDAGA’s representative on Edible Edinburgh, the city-wide partnership that aims to inspire residents to work together to build new, more sustainable, approaches to food.

Recently she completed the RHS Level 2 Certificate in Horticulture at RBGE and is currently studying for the RBGE’s Certificate in Practical Horticulture.  She is keen to inspire everyone to grow some of their own food at home even if it is only a pot of herbs on their window ledge.

Philippa has been volunteering with The Caley at Saughton since early
2022 and has enjoyed getting to know the staff, council members and
other volunteers, whilst helping maintain the gardens. Over the winter
she became involved with cataloguing The Caley library of 700+ books.

At home, she is a keen gardener with a particular interest in growing
fruit and veg. Keen to expand her knowledge and understanding of
horticulture, she has recently completed the RBGE Getting Started with
Planting Design online course, having completed the Getting Started with
Botany course in 2022.

Stan grew up in North Berwick where he learned practical horticulture from his father, a professional gardener, before a career in education. A former secretary of the Scottish Begonia Society he now concentrates on alpines. He edits the journal Scottish Birds, while his spare time studies of local song birds led to a doctorate from Edinburgh University. He chairs the Aberlady Bay Nature Reserve committee. He is active in several local gardening clubs as well as North Berwick in Bloom, is a judge for Beautiful Scotland and a recipient of an RHS community champion award.

Pam is a very keen amateur gardener who is passionate about the benefits of gardening, in particular to health and well-being. She currently co-ordinates the Caley Spring Show and represents the Caley on the Saughton Management Board.

Julie has a keen interest in anything horticultural and has an honours degree in Horticulture with Plantsmanship which she studied for at SRUC and RBGE. She is also a qualified florist.

Working part-time, she is the initial point of contact for the Caley. She is always happy to receive material such as event news, plant sales, interesting photographs etc for inclusion on the website and in the monthly e- newsletter.

Emma started gardening as a tot with her grampa growing potatoes and sunflowers. This led Emma to a career in Horticulture and she studied at SRUC gaining a Horticultural BSc. While studying she worked in a local family run garden centre learning the trade and quickly became plant area assistant manager. In 2015 she moved on to the RHS Garden Wisley working in the Campaign for School Gardening team. During this role she developed resources & CPD’s, travelled the UK training teachers and volunteers, worked on Rocket Science with UKSA, ESA & Astronaut Tim Peake and helped create show gardens at Chelsea and Hampton Court Flower Shows. In 2021 she moved back to Scotland and worked with The Conservation Volunteers in the local community working specifically with 13-24 year olds.

Emma is our new full-time Horticultural Educator for the Caley. The first full-time member of Caley staff since 1835, according to Pam. She will be working on our GLiN Awards and our Grow & Learn Awards. Emma will specifically be working with our partners CRT across the Central Belt to help groups gain their GLiN Awards.

Jean has been The Caley’s Grow and Learn Development Officer since 2014. She was previously Head Gardener and Gardens Manager at The Hidden Gardens, Glasgow, Trellis and FCFCG fieldworker. Before the horticulture ‘light bulb’ moment, Jean was a senior graphic designer for Renfrewshire Council.  She is passionate about the benefits of gardening for all and inclusion for all.