I am a Shropshire-based botanist, ecologist and wildlife enthusiast. I have a PhD in seed science and have been an Open University Ecology Tutor, teacher of natural history classes and courses, Education Officer for the North York Moors National Park and a Primary School Teacher. I am a member of the Garden Media Guild - the professional organisation for communicating on gardening and horticultural topics. My wife and I are joint authors of the Aidgap guides - Orchids, Woodland Flowers and Grassland Flowers 1. We spent 27 years in the Hebrides engaged in wildlife surveys and teaching. I have spent over 30 years studying the Irish Lady’s-tresses orchid. Other interests include woodland history, elms in the UK, monitoring landscape change in central Leicestershire, and the sequence of flowering in hay meadows.