Stuart Francis is a Shropshire gardener, garden designer and horticulturist.

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 His style is a plant ecology inspired layer approach with a mix of native and none native plants, the results are a natural, relaxed style which links to the surrounding landscape through the use of the native plants.

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 Stuart is self-taught with a wealth of experience gained from an idyllic upbringing on a small farm and market garden, worked in a traditional manner, with weekend visits to his Nan’s very productive vegetable garden.  A stint in the Royal Navy during the 2000’s, took him around the world, and introduced him to many different people and cultures.

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 He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and a member of the Professional Gardeners Guild and a member of the Hardy Plants Society (Shropshire branch).

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 Stuart gained the RHS level 2 in horticulture at Ness botanical garden, and is working towards the RHS level 3 qualification.

 

 He has worked as a lead gardener for 2 private estates and had a successful garden maintenance business. In 2014 he turned his focus to the long term development of private gardens, these projects bringing together garden history, design and horticultural knowledge, each being complex and rewarding.

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 He has designed award winning show gardens, for two local charities, Hope House and Severn hospice, both at the Shrewsbury flower show.

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 Stuart blogs regularly about his trial area, an area in North Shropshire, where he is expanding his plant knowledge, by trialling plants in mineral based substrate (recycled products from construction waste to road sweepings).