Laura Ashton-Phillips
aka
The Botanic Blonde

Growing up with my mother as a keen gardener, I was lucky enough to be exposed to the joys of gardening and growing your own fruit and vegetables from an early age. Establishing beautiful cottage gardens to late night slug hunts in the dark, we were always immersed in nature through my mother's skills. However as a typical contrary offspring I went off in a different direction running a successful music education company in Oxfordshire!

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The years passed and although I always grew my own vegetables and loved gardening, life got in the way of my horticultural passions.

In 2020 we were forced to close our business through the impact if Covid-19 but this opened the opportunity for me to retrain and focus my attentions on doing the things I loved.

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In 2021 I was approached by my dear friend, Lizzie Brookes, to come and help her flourishing wildflower business near the Forest of Dean, Ecohab Wildflowers.

Whilst studying wildflower propagation, plug plant care, and nursery maintenance at the nursery I also studied remotely with the RHS and established my own horticulture business, The Botanic Blonde.

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In 2022 I had my first show garden at the RHS Malvern Spring Festival and won my first RHS medal. I left Ecohab Wildlfowers later that year and began working as Grounds Manager and Garden Designer for Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust where I still work now. And in 2023 I did my second garden dedicated to the NHS for which I also won an RHS Silver medal. I have gone on to win another RHS silver medal and be featured on programmes such as BBC Gardeners World, BBC Points West, ITV news to name but a few.

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I do still undertake projects outside the NHS so please do get in touch. I also now do public speaking, talks and presentations at gardening clubs and other horticultural events.