Alex Cairns

There is no finer pleasure in my eyes than planting up a border of young plants to then watch them develop and ultimately flower.

I have worked at Wisley on the Herbaceous Ornamental team since November 2014. I spend most of my time looking after the Glasshouse Landscape and Borders, which are designed in a naturalistic style using predominantly North American prairie species. As part of my team I also work on Seven Acres and the Wild Garden. This is my first permanent job in gardening, having undertaken trainee and temporary placements at Ness Botanic Gardens, Audley End, the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.

Gardening has been a passion of mine from a young age, I love the freedom to experiment with plants and different combinations to see what overall effect can be produced. You have successes and failures, but to me that’s the joy of gardening – being constantly challenged – and I am loving every second of it.

Alex Cairns

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The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.