Next year, 2016, is a big one for me as I reach 50 years working in professional horticulture and 40 years giving advice to other gardeners on BBC Radio Nottingham.

I have worked with some really wonderful people over that time but the ones that stand out are those who guided me through the early years of my career and especially at Boots Pure Drug Company, as it was known then. George Reynolds, Albert Parks, John Frisby and especially Adrian Johnson. No you will never have heard of these people but they were true horticulturists, masters of so many skills and what an honour for me to have learned from them.

Coming up to date and the new  East Midlands Flower Show could not have come during a better year than 2016, when, at last, our area gets its own gardening show. This, to my delight, will also give me the chance to meet many more folks interested in this wonderful pursuit and also, perhaps, offer advice and skills just like those men did for me all those years ago.

The real excitement of gardening is in the fact that each year brings a totally new experience and different challenges for all involved. With all the added milestones going on over the months it is really going to be a bumper harvest for me, no matter what! Merry Christmas.

http://hookgardening.club/2016-supporters