Page 16 - ALG Issue 2 2019

garden doctor
Introducing Aaron Hickman, our new Horticultural Advisor.
Aaron is a dedicated and enthusiastic lover of all plants and gardening, though he has come to describe himself as something of a traditionalist when it comes to his horticultural practices and ideals. Despite having a love of gardening from a young age, it
wasn’t until he took his first allotment on in his early teens that his love of growing vegetables, fruit and cut flowers really burgeoned. He felt that he was lucky to be taken under the wing by many of the ‘old boys’ on the allotment site, who taught him much of the grounding in the ‘proper way of doing things’ that he uses today. Aaron started his career as a horticulturalist at the age of 16 when he went to work at a family run nursery, gaining a
good grounding in plant identification as well as production. He went on to study at Askham Bryan College, where he later went to work, overseeing
the running of the glasshouses and nursery as well as lecturing part time.
More recently at the age of 27, he took on the role of Head Gardener
at a large private estate near
Ripon, North Yorkshire, where he is responsible for the renovation and running of the extensive gardens, including the restoration of the two walled gardens. In other roles, Aaron also works as a stand-in ‘gardening expert’ on BBC Radio Leeds, as well as previously running successful trial grounds for the National Sweet Pea Society, judging at local produce shows, undertaking private talks and lectures, and giving his time and
advice to members of the public at the Harrogate Flower Shows. Aaron has
a special interest and fascination with the tools, techniques and tenacity of the Victorian and Edwardian gardens and gardeners, with a deep interest
in the running of traditional walled kitchen gardens. A Yorkshireman born and bred, when he isn’t in the garden, he enjoys the North Yorkshire countryside and has a special love of orchids.
‘It is a real honour to be asked to
take on the role of Horticultural Advisor, the shoes to fill are certainly large ones! The growing of fruits, vegetables, cut flowers and herbs is a real deep-seated love of mine, and it is a privilege to be able to advise and provide guidance on the subject, as well as be able to support that great stalwart of British horticulture; the allotment.’
Aaron will be answering member queries for our Garden Doctor section in forthcoming magazines, so if you have any horticultural queries email natsoc@nsalg.org.uk and we will pass on your questions.
The growing of fruits, vegetables, cut flowers and herbs is a real deep- seated love of mine, and it is a privilege to be able to advise and provide guidance
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16 Allotment and Leisure Gardener
Do you have a problem?
If you have a garden question, then get in touch and our specialist will respond and offer you advice.