Broadcaster Martin Fish On His Commitment To Educating And Inspiring New Gardeners
Contributions From MARTIN FISH
With 30 years' experience working as a gardening expert on regional BBC radio and writing for various gardening publications, Martin Fish is one of the UK’s leading Horticulturists. He is an accredited RHS judge, previously ran the Harrogate Flower Show for 5 years and is now President of the Friends of the Valley Gardens in Harrogate. Martin is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture.
Martin Fish is a renowned Horticulturist and Broadcaster with over 45 years of experience.
Over the years he has shared his expertise through a multitude of media channels, including radio, television and magazines – but you might best recognise him from his time on BBC radio or his involvement in various flower show events across the UK.
Martin’s passion for gardening is best defined by his commitment to educating and inspiring others – whether they are seasoned gardeners or complete beginners – which was clearly evident during our discussion.
Please note that the imagery in this article is provided courtesy of Martin Fish.
Can You Tell Us About Your Earliest Memories Of Gardening And How That Influenced Your Career?
“I suppose my earliest memory of gardening, like lots of people, was with my grandparents,” starts Martin.
“Both of my Grandmas were very keen gardeners. One of them had a small garden, but she loved growing houseplants and tomatoes in the conservatory, whilst the other one had a big garden in Nottinghamshire where she kept animals.
“As a teenager, I used to cycle down to her garden and spend the day there. I did that for years. Being outside with my Uncle (who lived there) and my Grandma was amazing.
“Another of my uncles grew vegetables as a hobby and used to display his onions at shows. Between all of this is where my love of gardening started.
“My plan after leaving school was to go into engineering, and work with my Dad, but I just had a moment one day where I thought, I’d much prefer to be a gardener instead.
“My mum worked at a little nursery in the village during summer, so I got a part-time job there when I was 14. That was it really, I knew I wanted to work in horticulture, so the rest, as they say, is history!”
How Have The Different Roles You’ve Held Over The Years In Horticulture Influenced You And Your Gardening Practice?
“I started as an apprentice gardener in a Parks Department when I was 16 and I trained at college and in the Parks nursery,” he shares.
“I thought at that stage I would stay in Parks and work my way up to management, but I suppose I always liked doing different things.
“I loved growing plants and after 5 years working in Parks and as a Head Gardener, I bought a piece of land and started my own nursery. I thought that would be what I did forever.
“I then went on to do writing, radio and television. I think having that variety has put me in a good position, as I’ve had experience in the community, industry and media sides, so I’m constantly gathering knowledge and meeting people.
“As a result, it’s made me a much better gardener and I’m always growing and expanding my knowledge of horticulture.”
How Do You Manage To Balance These Different Aspects Of Your Career & Do You Have A Favourite?
“It’s hard to say because I genuinely do enjoy it all. I’m very lucky that I make my living doing something that I love.
“Having said that, I do love the radio. I’ve done that for 30 years now for the BBC. I had a short spell broadcasting on Classic FM 20 years ago, but the BBC has been constant for me and it’s been great fun.
“I get a kick out of it because it’s live, so I’m answering gardener’s questions on the spot which tests my knowledge and I get a real thrill out of it. Unfortunately, local radio is going through lots of changes at the moment, but I’m grateful for the many opportunities it has given me.
“I love that I’m helping people too, as these are real problems that gardeners are having.”
How Did You Transition Into Gardening Writing And What Has Been Your Most Rewarding Experience As A Writer?
“That started in 1993 when we had our nursery,” Martin explains.
“I thought I would enjoy writing, so I got in touch with the editor of Garden News and explained who I was and asked if there were any writing jobs. He replied saying that I could write a feature and if they liked it, they would publish it – which they did!
“After I’d been writing for 3-4 years, a new editor came along and we started a demonstration garden from scratch on a small piece of land which had a flower, fruit, vegetable and herb garden.
“We did lots of practical photoshoots in the garden and it was also used for radio broadcasts and TV work over the years. Creating the garden was a real highlight and led to me writing for several more gardening magazines over the years.
As An Accredited RHS Judge, You Have The Opportunity To Judge Many Flower Shows. What Do You Look For When Judging And What Advice Would You Give To Aspiring Gardeners Looking To Participate?
“I’ve been fortunate to judge show gardens and nursery exhibits all the RHS Show and many independent shows over the years.
“My advice to an aspiring designer would be to do your research and study the criteria in detail. When judging show gardens, we look at the design to make sure it fits the client’s brief, quality of construction and the all-important planting.
“Make sure the design works and build the garden as if it’s a permanent structure, so no wobbly fencing or uneven paving. Even though it’s only going to be at a show for a matter of days, build the garden as if you’re doing it for a client – the construction is vital!
“Planting is also important. Plants are the stars of any garden, so choose the right plants for the right locations. For example, don’t mix plants that prefer dry soil conditions with those that prefer damp soils as it sends out the wrong message to the public. Also, try to use larger plants to get that wow factor.
“With nursery exhibits in the floral marquees, we judge the quality and range of the plants, the creativity of how it’s staged and the overall finish or polish of the display. We also take into account the amount of work in growing and preparing the plants.
“All exhibitors get feedback including the positive elements and how we feel it could be improved. I always say to exhibitors to take that feedback, process it and then put it into practice for your next garden or display, which will hopefully improve it!”
How Do You Envision The Future Of Gardening, Especially Considering The Challenges Posed By Climate Change?
“I think we all need to be careful how we garden,” he warns.
“So many more people are now gardening as a hobby which is great for the industry, but I think we all need to be gardening as sustainably as possible.
“There are so many plants now bought from abroad, so although it’s sustainable because of the nature of the product, it might still have a big carbon footprint. I always try to buy locally grown plants if I can.
“I recycle and never throw plastic pots away – I just keep using them! With the changing climate, I also try to plant to the conditions where I live. If you have dry soil, don’t plant moisture-loving plants.”
Can You Tell Us About Any Upcoming Projects?
“Things we are doing more of at the moment include a mobile stage unit called The Potting Shed that myself and Jill my wife take around the country to Flower Shows,” Martin shares.
“The aim is to give practical gardening talks, demonstrations and answer gardening questions.
“This year, we took it to the RHS shows inside the floral marquees to help promote the nurseries, which is something I really wanted to do because of my background in nursery growing. The more we can do to give independent specialist growers a boost, the better!
“We took the Potting Shed Stage to 12 different gardening events this summer and are planning to do this again next year with the RHS and several other shows. I’m really pleased with how that has been received and we also get to work with some amazing people.
“We also produce a YouTube channel called Pots & Trowels which we started as a bit of fun a few years ago but have kept it going. We do a practical subject every week based on my experience and they are going really well and getting good feedback.
“I’m also toying with the idea of doing a podcast, something that was suggested to me by Gardener Arit Anderson. The big ongoing project is creating a new garden from scratch at our new home, too!”
Lastly, As A Person With A Wealth Of Experience In Gardening, What Advice Would You Give To Someone Just Starting Out?
“Horticulture definitely needs more people in the industry of all ages, but especially young people. It’s not really offered as a career option any more, which is quite sad, as it has lots of different career avenues.
“We need to find a way to promote it and to get more people into the industry. Anybody starting off, whether you’re 18 or 40, should just absorb as much information as you can.
“A lot of people want to specialise which is fine, but I think it’s a good idea to take in as much information as possible. I learn something new about horticulture every day – I don’t think you could ever know it all!
“For people who are just gardening for leisure, enjoy it. Plant what you like and there are lots of different ways to garden, so if it works for you, do it!
“Don’t do too much in one go. If you’re just getting into gardening, don’t think that you’ve got to conquer the world straight away. Start off small and just grow a few plants at first.
“People start off gardening as a hobby but it can turn into a career, so keep an open mind! When I started gardening with my Grandma almost 50 years ago I would never have thought I would have done half the things I’ve done.”
