About me

Hello, I’m Tracey.

And I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t enthusiastic about plants. Not just growing them, but talking about them too. As a matter of course, my family will turn me out into the garden with the words, ‘go and get some therapy’,  whenever I start getting grumpy.

I studied Botany, (oh, and a bit of Zoology) at King’s College, London back in the days when Botany degrees still existed. And, yes, hard as it may seem, they really do have plants in the capital city. Just think of all those green spaces, especially Kew Gardens. This was followed by a year at Cranfield Institute of Technology studying BioAeronautics, where I learnt far more physics than I was anticipating. I’d like to say I remember some of it…

Working at the Natural History Museum (London) gave me an insight into arboreal insect species, particularly wood boring beetles, while at the Institute of Parasitology, I found myself as the largest grower (not physically) of rice in the UK, researching the effects of some interesting plant parasitic nematodes. If I recall, there were also far too many cockroaches for my liking.

But it was working for the National Trust where I honed my horticultural skills, learnt how to recreate a kitchen garden on a grand scale and developed a passion for plant and garden history, as well as having the opportunity to produce interesting, mostly heritage, vegetables. The culmination of all this excitement was in providing produce for the launch of the NT ‘Plot to Plate’ at the Chelsea Flower Show. Obviously this gave me an instant celebrity status, with several television and radio appearances cooking unusual veg with the likes of Hugh Fernley-Whittingstall. And yes, before you ask, he’s exactly like that in real life.

Anyway I digress.

My own garden is small, and crammed with plants (300 and counting; there’s not a lot of grass). Occasionally I open it to the public and small groups who, so far, have always been very polite and say nice things (at least to my face).

For many years now, I have given talks based around the fascinating relationships between plants and people, focusing on how plants are used, managed and perceived. I also try and throw in a little ‘sex, drugs and rock and roll’ for good measure. After all I wouldn’t want you to think plants were boring. Take a look at my ‘Talks’ page. You might find something interesting…

Periodically I run ‘hands on’ gardening and craft workshops, along with various quizzes.

When not researching my talks I write, amongst other things, about the trials and tribulations of my own gardening experiences combined with the complications of family life. My husband, lovingly referred to as Him Indoors, is ever hopeful that this will one day turn into a major best seller…

Oh, and just in case you were wondering. No I don’t live in the middle of a forest, although my formative years were spent in one. My surname is Akehurst. It means Oakwood.