Raised on a farm in the Eastern Cape in South Africa where I developed a love of the natural world.Incarcerated in a boarding school at ten, I have not stopped moving since. My journey has taken me by sea to Chile and back. By air to Ireland where I studied Horticulture .Then again to New Zealand where I have discovered that the extensive conservation areas (Hoorah!) are accessible to ordinary people. 

Arriving in New Zealand I was lucky enough to land a roll as planter/gardener for a very wealthy family living near Havelock North. From 2007 until 2010 I worked diligently planting native plants on a 3,7Ha area of land that had marginal use. While the owners spent much of their time in China or on vacation, I was left to attend the planting and maintenance with virtual carte blanche. Having had a great interest in the Garden Design aspect of my courses in Ireland and having had an upbringing roaming free on the thousand hectares (which now forms part of the Kariega Park Game Reserve) this job was the perfect fit.

Having dabbled with photography at school, I finally took up the camera again to document my work on this project. This extensive catalogue of images failed to secure any further clients in the Revegetation/ Riparian planting field. However it did influence me to explore the field of photography further. So the natural progression of all this is to photograph gardens and garden developments that I am involved in.

At present I am involved in a garden restoration project in the Ruahine foothills in Southern Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. The area is about one to two acres (1 Ha.) which was extensively planted with native species about ten to fifteen years ago. It has since been left to ruin and overgrown with brambles and old man's beard. I am in the last phase of eliminating these invasive aliens and come spring hope to be able to see what I am working with. It is a delight to see what is emerging in this garden and the bird life is abundant. The chorus of birdsong completely absolves any feeling of loneliness in this rather remote little corner that I hope to turn into a garden gem.

I can be contacted to provide a garden appraisal with photographs, or any native plant related queries.

Godfrey Bobbins prize for poetry 1984

Sold one photograph for 50 cents on istock. (For which I have never been paid)