Boxwood brochure 2022

MEET OUR EXPERT TOUR HOSTS
& TOUR LEADERS
Helen Yemm
Helen Yemm is probably best-known for her
weekly Thorny Problems page that has been
a fixture for nearly 20 years in the Saturday’s
Daily Telegraph. In ‘real life’ she is a hands-on,
self-taught, keen-as-mustard gardener and
lecturer with a garden in East Sussex that she
occasionally opens for small groups. Helen
is a sometime television presenter and is the
author of several gardening books. She is also
a regular feature writer for The English Garden
magazine, however hosting garden tours is, she
says, the icing on the cake – she gets enormous
pleasure from discovering gardens in the
company of others who share her passion.
Charles Fox
Charles Fox comes from a long line of
gardeners who are responsible for the creation
of at least three remarkable Cornish gardens:
Penjerrick, Trebah and Glendurgan. In the
early 1990s Charles qualified twice as a garden
designer, at Kew Gardens with Merit. Since
that time he has led many garden tours in
the south west, and having lived in Cornwall
most of his life is well qualified to talk about
the county’s history. He has written one book
about Glendurgan, the property where he and
his family now live, and which was given to the
National Trust in 1962.
Tom Attwood
Tom Attwood started working with plants
in his parent’s garden before working in a
traditional Cumbrian nursery roused his
passion. He then went on to formally train
at Edinburgh and Kew before taking on
head gardener posts in the Lake District and
Lancaster. Tom now manages the gardens at
Halecat Estate. Tom has lectured at Newton
Rigg College and writes for Cumbria Life, Living
Magazine, Garden Design Journal and Gardens
Illustrated.
Stephen Anderton
Stephen is the long-standing garden writer for
The Times, as well as a journalist, broadcaster,
lecturer and author. Trained originally in
Drama and then Landscape Design, he
worked in historic gardens where, latterly
as National Gardens Manager for English
Heritage, he was responsible for several major
restoration projects. His book Discovering
Welsh Gardens was published in 2009 and
his official biography of Christopher Lloyd
appeared in March 2010. He now lives in the
Black Mountains where he is making a new
landscape garden of 20 acres.
Charles-Quest Ritson
Charles Quest-Ritson started out as a lawyer
but is better known as a writer, journalist and
translator. His many books include The English
Garden Abroad (1992), Olive Oil (2004) and
Ninfa (2009). He has also edited the RHS Year
Book and written two prize-winning books
on roses. He and his wife Brigid garden in
Hampshire (2½ acres of chalk) and Normandy
(12 acres of woodland and apple orchard,
where they grow 1200 roses.) He is a popular
lecturer and columnist for Country Life
magazine.
Michael Marriott
Michael Marriott is technical manager and
senior rosarian of David Austin Roses and is
one of the world’s most-respected rose experts.
He is also well-known for his rose garden
design and his common sense approach to
gardening. In his work he travels the globe,
often sharing his expertise in lively radio, TV,
newspaper and magazine interviews.
Virginia Affleck
Virginia Affleck was raised in county Victoria,
Australia. Following a Degree in Fine Art, four
year’s at Sotheby’s Australia ensued which
furthered Virginias love and understanding of
art, along with an intrigue for anthropology.
Virginia has spent time living in the Indian
Himalaya, Nepal, Tibet, Istanbul and Paris,
which eventually led her to Morocco where
she now resides in Tangier, the northern most
point of this beautiful North African country.
Keith Wiley
Keith Wiley was head gardener for 25 years
at The Garden House, a 10-acre garden in
Dartmouth, where his creations were described
as ‘one of the most exciting and innovative
gardens in Britain today.’ Keith has lectured
widely on both sides of the Atlantic and is a
regular contributor to horticultural and lifestyle
magazines. He has written three books ‘on the
wild side’, ‘shade’ and ‘designing and planting a
woodland garden.’
8 To book call 01341 241717 or visit boxwoodtours.co.uk