A part-time role for Nick Bailey where he is to develop a five year plan to future-proof the University of Leicester’s botanic garden, its collections, enhance its role within the community, secure funding, and design and host engagement events.
“I love a new challenge and can’t wait to help steer the garden to an even brighter future. The spirit of the garden feels really special to me. It’s got a wonderful feeling of an oasis thanks to its huge range of mature trees and beautifully established plantings, not to mention the historic buildings and rich glasshouse collections. The space is busting with potential. I’m really excited to be working with the dynamic team running the Botanic Garden in order to broaden engagement, enrich the collections, improve access and make the site a horticultural, learning and social hub for the whole city and beyond” said Bailey.
Bailey became a regular presenter on BBC Gardeners’ World in March 2016 and has also appeared on BBC 2’s Great British Garden Revival and Big Dreams Small Spaces. Bailey has a horticulture degree from Hadlow College and first-class honours degree in landscape design from Greenwich University. He has worked across many sectors of horticulture over the last 30 years, including nursery stock production, garden management, garden design, teaching, public speaking, horticultural consultancy, writing and broadcasting. Bailey is also a garden designer, earning a Silver Gilt for his 2016 RHS Chelsea garden and works on garden projects in the UK, Spain, South Africa and Australia. He is the former Head Gardener of the Chelsea Physic Garden, where he spent seven years redesigning and developing the site and its plant collections for a contemporary audience.
Professor Tom Robinson, Chair of the Botanic Garden Board, said: “We are delighted to have secured the services of Nick, who I am sure many will know from his appearances on Gardeners’ World. While his high profile will no doubt bring more attention to our Botanic Garden, what really sold Nick to us was his three decades of experience working across the horticulture sectors. In particular, the way in which he rejuvenated Chelsea Physic Garden chimed with our ambitions for our Botanic Garden.”