Paying it forward

We meet Ross Pearson, a gardening writer and horticultural lecturer from Northumberland, who was inspired and helped by his grandfather and now passes on his experience to the next generation of gardeners

- Ross Pearson

Like many gardeners your love of gardening came from spending time with a family member. Can you tell us more about that.

As a boy, I spent most weekends standing in the 'hut' belonging to my grandfather (affectionately known as 'Jacky'), peering on tiptoes at the old-fashioned tools and gardening projects spread across his wellworn work bench. Jacky was a character to say the least and I cherished those days spent pottering around the garden, learning his traditional gardening methods. Just after Jacky passed away, I found a battered old notebook of his tucked away in a drawer in the hut (which now takes pride of place in my garden) that contained over 20 years of hand drawings of his allotment, planting schemes and detailed dated lists of all his sowings, croppings, failures and successes. I try to follow those tried and tested tips whenever I can.

Inspired by your early love of gardening you decided to take up a career in horticulture. Can you describe your journey to becoming a lecturer and gardening writer?