Kelvin Claricoates. B.Sc(Hons); M.Sc.Kelvin has always had a keen interest in natural history. From his childhood, he spent much of his spare time observing and studying the wildlife in the countryside around his home in the East Midlands. Early in his working career he worked in a small landscape gardening company. He later spent some 13 years in the construction industry. During that time he worked on many civil engineering projects in South Devon as well as on domestic housing stock, progressing from working 'on-the-tools' to project supervision and project management. It was also during that time that Kelv became increasingly aware that considerable areas of the countryside were being given over to building development and changes in land use, with the consequent loss of valuable natural wildlife habitats. It was for this reason that he embarked on a Bachelor Degree course in Ecology, in order to better understand what affects those changes were having on the prospects of survival of our native wildlife. Having completed his first Degree, Kelv then further developed his interest, understanding and knowledge by undertaking a Master's Degree in Biological Diversity. He now helps people to get the maximum enjoyment out of their small part of that countryside that is their garden, and wherever possible, providing or replacing valuable habitats suitable for our native wildlife. Lin Allen.
Lin has had a love of gardening ever since, as a child, she was given her own small plot of her parent's garden. She began by growing marigolds and pansies in her plot in addition to helping her father growing his vegetables and flowers. When she grew up and bought her first house, her interest and knowledge expanded considerably as she grew new types of both garden and house plants (especially cacti), and tried out new design and display ideas in her own and her neighbours gardens. With some forty years experience behind her, she can now be regarded as a true plants-man (plants-woman?) because of her extensive knowledge of what particular plant species or range of species will grow well in any given situation or location. She is an ideal companion on a visit to the nursery or garden centre because she can identify good healthy plants which will grow and thrive, and identify particular plants which can be divided when potting out in order to get more plants for your money. Her passion for gardening continues and her current garden has two productive greenhouses and she currently grows a range of soft fruit, top fruit and vegetables as well as flowers and shrubs.
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