So what can I do for you?
There are many aspects to gardening, whether it's in private or public spaces, orchard, school gardens, community gardens or Tidy Town areas. I can help with advice, ideas, planting lists and plans....
Garden planning and planting advice
I help private clients looking to create a garden or to improve what they already have. I can give practical, sensible advice as what to put where, with planting lists suitable for the Irish wind and rain and the specific soil in your area. I always encourage features for wildlife, fruiting plants, and natural planting including native plants as well as ornamentals.
Tidy Towns
Tidy Towns now have points for Wildlife, Habitats and Natural Amenties, and they're not being earned! I can give talks to Tidy Towns groups on improving the management of their villages and towns in terms of biodiversity. I can also come out to your village/town and help with specific areas compiling plans and planting lists. Your County Council may have funding to help your Tidy Towns group with this service. I worked with Geashill in Offally who went on to win the pollinator award in 2019, and Ireland's Tidiest village in 2023 .
Orchard design, management and
skilled fruit pruning
Whether a community orchard, a private orchard, an orchard planting scheme for agroforestry, or a few trees for your back garden I can help with varietal and rootstock choice. I can also help with layout, formative pruning of young trees and restorative pruning of old trees.
Tutor to ETB, GIY, ICA or other groups
I have been a tutor of QQI level 4 horticulture class of adults with the Galway Roscommon Educate and Training Board. But I can also tutor groups in all aspects of 'Grow Your Own' from seed sourcing and sowing, through to composting, rotations, harvesting, to storage and usage of home grown crops. Whether your group is a GIY group, ICA group or a group of friends, I can tailor a course for your needs, hosting it at at your venue/garden.
Community Gardening
Community gardens are not just allotment schemes, they are public green spaces created and maintained by the community. Getting out into the fresh air, getting exercise, meeting new people and learning new skills are all good for you! I can help your group set up, help with layout and planning, as well as tutoring in gardening skills.
I managed Doorus Orchard Community Garden for ten years.
Tutor to TY students
I can come to your school to give talks on Horticulture as a career option, what the range of careers are, and the study paths to them. I can also come for a set number of sessions and cultivate an area of garden at the school, with the students, crops can be grown for students to take home in May, inspiring a life long love of gardening.