Hi, I’m Ness Newman and I’m a professional gardener. I was a research scientist but changed career because I missed being outside and wanted to work with plants. I volunteered at the University of Oxford Botanic Garden (OBG) before beginning an amazing apprenticeship there where I got to work and learn about the hardy plant collection, the glasshouse collection and to a lesser extent the arboretum. I moved on to Waterperry Gardens for a year to become their trainee nursery manager. Then returned to OBG as a Botanical Horticulturalist. Whilst working I completed my RHS Level 3 Diploma. The majority of the last 9 years I have been looking after the Herbaceous Border and fruit/Veg collection at OBG although the job was incredibly varied so I was fortunate to work in all areas of the garden.
A recent restructure at OBG has allowed myself and the rest of the horticultural team to go self employed and take our experience to private gardens that we like the look of. I usually work alongside Clare who was at OBG for 37 years in a number of different roles including Senior Horticulturalist; overseeing the entire scientific collection in the walled garden which represents plants from all the taxonomic groups. Clare has also overseen and carried out many garden redevelopments. She has her National Certificate of Nursery Practice and an incredible memory for plant names and facts.
Professional garden care and advice. 