Joining the gardening team at Westminster Abbey in 1999, I quickly became immersed in the world that the monks had inhabited. Not only was I working in the same garden they did 450 years ago, but carrying out the same tasks with almost the same tools.
I found the world of gardening in the middle of a city with such rich history around me life-changing. My journey began when I studied horticulture at Capel Manor College at a turning point in my life. My parents had passed away, and I needed a fresh start. Working outside proved to be the answer. The history of the place was also inspiring.
On this website I refer to monastic times in the garden, with their respect for the seasons and nature, while also drawing on my experience to show how their ideas can be used in our lives today.