ABOUT US

about

Rachel Goldsmith ACIHort:

My husband says when he met me I was an ‘Outdoor-a-phobe’! However, since having my daughter Ella, I have found that I love to make the most of outdoor spaces and to really enjoy spending time in them. My family and I have an allotment plot which we visit weekly together and it’s very satisfying taking home our own fruit, veg and flowers. We grow organically without using any pesticides, chemicals or fertilisers and have been practicing the no-dig method for a few years now with great success.

I love being outdoors, (if not gardening then running, cycling or walking or visiting gardens) and my aim is for others in my local community achieve the same benefits and enjoyment from their gardens too.

Training:

NEW RHS Level 3 Certificate in The Principles of Plant Growth, Garden Planning and Applied Propagation

NEW RHS Level 3 Certificate in Practical Horticulture

NEW RHS Level 2 Certificate in Practical horticulture

NEW RHS Level 2 Certificate in Principles of Horticulture

Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh Level 2 in Practical Horticulture

City and Guilds Practical Garden Design

B.E.S.T in Horticulture Practical Propagation Course

1 day Winter pruning – fruit (Hill Close Gardens Warwick)

1 day Summer pruning – fruit (Hill Close Gardens Warwick)

1 day Salvia growing and propagation (WFGA)

1 day Rose pruning (Birmingham botanic garden WFGA)

the team

Katie:

Katie joined the team full time in August 2023 having tried a 1-2 days per week and decided to take the plunge. Katie also holds RHS level 2 certificates and a wealth of knowledge.Katie is passionate about animals, nature and wildlife, having previously worked for the local Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Get in touch if you’d like to chat to her about bringing wildlife into your garden…

Chris:

Chris loves to get stuck in, his speciality is pruning, particularly apple trees, which reminds him of being with his dad in the garden as a boy.

Chris also volunteers for Hill Close Gardens in Warwick, and in his spare time enjoys theatre, the orchestra and music.

Miranda:

Miranda is a passionate home gardener and re-developed her previous urban garden by creating a cottage garden, formal garden and vegetable plot. She volunteers at a walled garden near Warwick growing fruit and vegetables for a local night shelter; she particularly enjoyed creating a Peter Rabbit themed area for children in 2023, encouraging children to develop a love of gardening, reading and being outdoors. She has attained the RHS Level 2 in Practical Horticulture and RHS Level 2 in the Principles in Horticulture. She has attended a one day workshop with Charles Dowding on the principle of ‘no dig’ gardening as well as a seed sowing workshop at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons Gardening School. She joined our team in September 2023 and particularly enjoys pruning, small ponds and topiary.

Wiebke (Kiki):

Kiki grew up in an arboretum so plants and nature are in her genes, but for most of her working life has worked in classical music. Now moving into horticulture and design, Kiki has completed RHS qualifications to level 3 and a technical course in plant propagation and also can turn her hand to dry stone walls! She also holds a Diploma with the Oxford College of Garden Design. Kiki is passionate about creating sustainable and contemporary designs using climate resilient plants to create a stylish garden with a sense of place. Kiki joined the team in October 2024 and in her spare time she Loves to draw and paint.

Sophie:

Sophie is loving starting her career in horticulture, enjoying all aspects of the work and learning, having not been sure what to do after leaving school. Sophie is at home outdoors with her hands in the dirt and has natural green fingers! She is currently completing her level 2 qualification in horticulture at Pershore college, alongside working and learning from the team. Let’s see what opportunities await!

Georgie:

Hi I’m Georgie and I love being outdoors so last September I left teaching after 18 years and decided to retrain as a horticulturist. I have completed my year as a WRAG trainee and am now working towards Level 2 principles and practical in horticulture. Over the last 13 years I have transformed my own garden, from a blank square of lawn to a versatile maturing garden which is in constant development. I take inspiration from family, in particular my fellow green fingered mother and now through gardening colleagues and the gardens we tend to.

Jess:

Jess has spent more than a decade of developing and experimenting in her own garden, allotment growing, volunteering at Hill Close Gardens and visiting several dozen gardens, alongside a varied career in agriculture. In 2025, Jess decided to turn off the computer screen to spend even more time gardening and started a Work and Retrain as a gardener traineeship, expanding her skills into box and yew shaping, summer fruit pruning, propagating perennials, practising weeding and growing some muscles.
Jess has recently attended courses on Winter Fruit Tree Pruning (Heart of England Forest), Growing and Propagating Salvias (WFGA) and a Bulb Bonanza workshop (WFGA).

"Gardens to be proud of "

ABOUT US

about

the team

Katie:

Chris:

Miranda:

Wiebke (Kiki):

Sophie:

Georgie:

Jess:

"Gardens to be proud of "

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