About Simon

I was brought up in a beautiful village called West Horsley at the foot of the Surrey Hills , near Guildford, where I attended a local Catholic prep school, Cranmore.

From the age of eleven, I was sent to a boarding school, Christ’s Hospital in Horsham, Sussex where we wore a 16^th century uniform including bright yellow socks up to our knees and breeches. We’d march into lunch every day to a full military band.

I then completed a four-year philosophy degree at St David’s University College, Lampeter in the countryside in beautiful Wales.

 My gardening career stared at RHS Wisley gardens when I got my first job as a gardener in the Edible Department at the age of 22.  I’ve since gone on to work as Head Gardner or Garden Manager at some of the most beautiful gardens in the country. The gardens I’ve managed include RHS Wisley, RHS Harlow Carr, Coleton Fishacre, Painshill, Sheffield Park, Polesden Lacey, Compton Castle and Agatha Christie’s Greenway.

I have also worked as a horticultural researcher and producer for the BBC where I was trained in writing and journalism.

I’ve written over 30 gardening books including Grow Your Groceries which was a Sunday Times best seller. The first book I wrote was called Shrubs and Small Trees (published by DK in 2008). I’ve written for numerous national magazines, including GYO mag for the last 20 or so years.

In 2025 I won the Garden Media Guild’s “Social Media Influencer of the Year “award at the Savoy Hotel in London.

My latest gardening book ‘Way to Grow’ comes out on April 9th 2026, and features 100 of my favourite gardening hacks. 

I live by the sea on the gorgeous English Riviera in South Devon. When I’m not gardening, I’m usually found exploring Dartmoor or walking the coast path with my two spaniels Beanie and River.  I also love canoeing on the tidal section of the River Dart between Totnes and Dartmouth.