Matthew Pottage, at 29, is the youngest person to be appointed Curator at the Royal Horticultural Society’s gardens at Wisley.
While his parents were not interested in gardening Matthew’s grandparents were and he was soon busy about the garden. He has an early childhood memory of building a den under a hypericum in his parents’ garden and of a fascination with Monkey Puzzle trees – fortunately, an RHS bursary later allowed him to visit Chile to see the Monkey Puzzles there
Matthew arrived at Wisley as a trainee gardener before being given an permanent position. Over the years he managed the team looking after the woodland areas before progressing to the position of garden manager and then deputy curator. After only 12 years at Wisley he was appointed Curator, managing the gardens with 75 gardening staff.
His arrived at Wisley was at a time of great change with the visitor facilities being remodelled, the landscape being redesigned, the old laboratory being changed to an exhibition space and new science buildings being built. it is a time of change, energy and excitement and Matthew is at the helm.
With such a background and holding such a position Matthew’s talk is bound to be an interesting one.
There will also be a plant sale on the night.
New members and non-members are very welcome.
Come along, enjoy the talk, the cuppa and chat afterwards!