As the Course Director I have designed and am delivering an extra mural Beginners Gardening Course in conjunction with the Botany Department. The course runs each Wednesday, from October to May. I cover a wide range of topics such as how to identify a range of plants leading to choosing the right plant for your soil to growing vegetables from seed to plate and pruning and training for beginners. As part of the course we will also visit horticultural gems such as the National Botanic Garden and the War Memorial Garden.I also run Beginners Gardening Workshops, the details of which are regularly posted on my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beginners-Gardening-Course-TCD

I provide a professional consultancy service specialising in horticulture and environmental science. With over 10 years' experience in specialist garden design services to the private and public sector. I also design environmental education programs, promoting citizen science and heritage awareness in the community. This consultancy is dedicated to providing a consistently professional service throughout the country.

In 2015, I was commissioned to re-design the garden of the Provosts House in TCD. This project was multi-faceted as the garden is located on the main campus but also serves as the private residence of the Provost. Reaching an acre in size, the site was divided into phases complete with an area designated for private use to a large, rockery, the view of which is predominantly from the house. Other areas added to the space included a large fern collection, mixed shrub borders and specimen trees which will enhance the garden at large during official ceremonies and gatherings.

At Lodge Park I was responsible for maintaining a two acre walled garden filled with herbaceous borders, an apple orchard and formal rosary along with a soft fruit collection and vegetable beds. The garden was home to a collection of unique and unusual plants admired by seasoned gardeners and professionals alike.

With over 10 years experience working in the horticulture industry including positions such as head gardener in a private estate, as a garden designer for Trinity College Dublin and as a lecturer of RHS Certificates in Horticulture I provided a professional, bespoke design service which catered for all budgets and spaces.

My role was to engage with all members of the local community, young and old, by teaching them how to grow their own food using purpose built raised beds at the local allotments. We planned to engage with the local groups within the community such as schools, active retirement, tidy towns committee and the Order of Malta creating an inter-generational project that encourages self sustainability through environmentally friendly practices which in turn will improve biodiversity. With the help of local volunteers we created a space which will hopefully be enjoyed by many for years to come.

This position involved lecturing and demonstrating the theoretical and practical elements of the RHS level 2 and 3 Certificates in Horticulture. The theoretical modules delivered included plant science, principles of garden design, garden history, elements of hard landscaping and principles of growing edible crops. The practical modules included delivery of plant identification demonstrations, pruning, training and propagation techniques and the principles of soil science.

Responsible for day to day management of large ornamental plant collection and formal rose garden. Duties include herbicide and fertiliser application, design of seasonal bedding schemes and glasshouse management.

Responsible for expansion of the International Phenological Gardens (IPG) network across Ireland which is part of Ireland's National Phenology Network (IE-NPN). Regularly co-authored EPA reports including - Phenological Gardens in Ireland 2009 a review of the national network, which detailed the condition of all the existing IPG gardens some of which had been active since the 1960's.Conducted on-site assessments of all other participating gardens and coordinated distribution of plant collections for observation nationwide.Organised an observations workshop held at the National Botanic Gardens, 2010, for all network participants which provided training and support to all those involved.Secured €15,000 funding from the Heritage Council, to provide the network with promotional material such as leaflets, posters, outdoor signs and observation manuals.Frequently presented at national and international conferences resulting in successful collaborations with peers in Ireland and the UK.Completed two year Research Masters (2012) on the phenology of birch (Betula pubescens) pollen release in Ireland 2010-2011.

Designed the Trinity College Dublin Physic Garden a Medicinal Plant Garden established to commemorate the tercentenary of the Botany Department in 2011 and contains a collection of over 70 medicinal plant species.I also authored a booklet entitled 'Plants of the Trinity College Dublin Physic Garden', published by Trinity College Press (2011) detailing the medicinal properties of the plant collection. This booklet is available free to the public from the Botany Department in TCD.

Involved in restoration of walled garden containing wide variety of mature shrubs and trees.Maintenance of herbaceous border and division of herbaceous perennials.Designed bedding scheme at the clubhouse and maintained indoor plants.Identified and mapped collection of trees and shrubs in walled garden.Regenerative treatment of espaliered pear trees, apple trees and roses.

During this period I completed my horticultural training in a variety of parks and gardens across Dubiln city and Ireland. These included:The National Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, War Memorial Gardens, Islandbridge, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, The Phoenix Park, Dublin,Muckross House, Killarney National Park. During this time I developed a strong knowledge of ornamental plants and was trained in:Estate management, Pruning and propagation techniques, Pesticide/fertiliser application methods,Formal lawn care and perennial bedding design. This experience also enabled me to further my knowledge of trees commonly used in estates across Ireland and the bird species which favour these habitats.