Stephanie Hurman

 

Stephanie developed her gardening skills a little later than her hubby Owen.

She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Zoology from the University of Toronto in her native Canada and she put her degree to use working as an environmental issues campaigner with Greenpeace Canada.

A move to the UK in 1998 and certificate courses in Horticulture allowed  her a volunteer position at the Royal Horticultural Society flagship gardens Wisley.  Her work there progressed to full employment in 2001 as Gardener and  she was  promoted to Senior Gardener less than a year later.

Stephanie helped manage the woodland and wonderful lawned borders of the high-profile Battleston Hill area, in addition to the Arboretum (with the wonderful Piet Oudolf/Glasshouse borders) and the Pinetum, including the national collection of heathers, that the RHS have at Wisley. Speaking with the many visitors over the years and giving advice and answers to the many questions people had was always an enjoyable part of the job. The pride she had helping to maintain and care for almost 30 acres of garden to the delight of visitors was the best!

Six years later the move to West Sussex brought forth an opportunity to bring her knowledge and love of gardening to private gardens-big and small alike, each one getting that professional touch. Creating and growing gardens, researching and sourcing plants and teaching others in their own gardens or at college continues to be a rewarding non-stop job.