Local food for local people

As outlined below, Simon and Jenny have varied experiences that have now been combined to establish and grow Hillside Market Garden.

Simon obtained a distinction in Garden Design Diploma from Oxford Brookes University before working with a number of design companies. After gaining experience Simon then left to start his own landscaping business, which he ran successfully for 10 years. He joined Sunnyside Rural Trust (Hemel Hempstead) with responsibility for their contract gardening business. He was then appointed as Horticulturalist at Thrift Farm (Buckingham) working with adults with learning difficulties. The size and scope of the activity was increased greatly, delivering veg boxes each week during the summer and supplying weekly a local restaurant with fresh produce. He was appointed as Manager of Silsoe Horticultural Centre, again working with adults with learning difficulties. The site was expanded greatly to grow a far wider range of produce for both the veg boxes and supplying the on-site the café.

Jenny obtained city and guilds floristry qualifications and ran a successful floristry business in Bedfordshire for 18 years. During this period, she had contracts with numerous local schools, and industry leaders such as Vauxhall, Whitbread, Luton airport, Luton university, and hotels. The working day was often extended by delivering demonstrations and workshops to a variety of groups both paid and for charity.

Following the sale of the business, a volunteering opportunity led to a career change and an apprenticeship at Jordan’s Mill to obtain RHS qualifications, and subsequently became assistant gardener. The gardens were part of a larger visitor attraction with on-site hospitality that utilised floristry and management skills to run wedding functions, corporate events, workshops and garden talks/tours. Part of the role was to liaise with the head chef to determine menu options for the coming year, alongside selling produce to the public and propagating plants for sale.

For two years she stepped into the role of head gardener before moving onto establish a new position as community head gardener at a heritage lottery funded site in central Bedfordshire. This role reflected her passion for working with a wider range of people from a variety of backgrounds, abilities and ages. The site incorporated indoor and outdoor growing space supplying fruit, veg, herbs and cut flowers year long. The walled kitchen garden became a central hub for the community as she promoted produce days and educational opportunities which soon attracted the attention of volunteers. Throughout her time here Jenny forged strong bonds with the community and allowed fresh produce to be shared with local groups such as WI, churches, scouts schools and church groups. Her team were proud that during this time the work in the gardens were recognised at a higher level by a variety of bodies such as green flag award, CPRE and Anglia in bloom.