Lesley Nichols

Passionate about plants, the outdoors and all aspects of horticulture. I achieved my RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles and Practices of Horticulture at Kingston Maurwood college and have gone on to gain experience in a range of garden settings. I'm now looking forward to progressing my career and broadening my horticultural journey.

My degree is in graphic design. I worked in design before choosing to pursue my passion in horticulture. My background brings with it creativity, design sensibility, problem solving and communication skills.

I am currently working as a Gardener at Slape Manor in Netherbury, Dorset after completing a year on the WRAGS scheme. Here I form part of a small team on a private estate maintaining and developing the grounds and planting. I also work on a self-employed basis in five private gardens where I'm responsible for the maintenance and design development.

Gardener - Slape Manor - Netherbury, Dorset

(2025-02)

Gardener (WRAGS) - Slape Manor - Netherbury, Dorset

(2024-02 - 2025-02)

Since joining the team at Slape Manor I have been fully immersed in all planning and practical aspects of gardening, design and maintenance on a large private estate.

• Maintaining and developing walled kitchen garden and herbaceous borders
• Planting and maintenance in woodland areas
• Liaising with house on harvest of produce and planting ideas
• Hedge cutting
• Lawn and meadow care
• Walled Kitchen Garden maintenance
• Use of garden machinery
• Pest and Disease identification and treatment

Gardener - Private residential - Gladelands Close - Corfe Mullen, Dorset

(2024-10)

• Development and maintenance
• Border design
• Weed and pest management
• Pruning

Gardener - Private residential - 18 Springfield Close - Parkstone, Dorset

(2024-10)

• Development and maintenance
• Border design
• Weed and pest management
• Pruning

Gardener - Private residential - Scutts Close - Lytchett Matravers, Dorset

(2024-09)

• Development and maintenance
• Border design
• Weed and pest management
• Pruning

Gardener - Private residential - Wareham Road - Organford, Dorset

(2024-07)

• Development and maintenance
• Border design
• Weed and pest management
• Pruning

Gardener - Private residential - 16 Springfield Close - Parkstone, Dorset

(2022-09)

• Development and maintenance
• Border design
• Weed and pest management
• Pruning

Gardener - Private residential - BWT Physio - Parkstone, Dorset

(2022-07 - 2024-06)

• Development and maintenance
• Border design
• Weed and pest management
• Pruning

Gardener - Private residential - The Old Barn - Lytchett Matravers, Dorset

(2023-08 - 2024-03)

• Development and maintenance
• Border design
• Weed and pest management
• Pruning

Gardener (volunteer) - Sculpture by the Lakes - Pallington, Dorset

(2023-08 - 2024-01)

• Maintaining formal and informal planting
• Propagation
• Following health & safety procedures for a public garden

Gardener (volunteer) - Careys secret garden - Wareham, Dorset

(2023-07 - 2023-09)

Nursery supervisor assistant - The Old Piggery Garden Centre - Lytchett Matravers, Dorset

(2022-08 - 2024-07)

• Presenting and maintaining stock
• Customer service and sales
• Planting of container displays
• Potting on

Graphic Designer - Design agencies in Dorset, Cardiff, Bristol, Perth and Melbourne - Multiple locations

(2002 - 2023)

Freelance design for own clients.

RHS Level 3 Certificate in The Principles of Plant Growth, Garden Planning and Applied Propagation - Horticulture - Kingston Maurwood College (2026-02)

RHS Level 2 Certificate in the Principles and Practices of Horticulture - Horticulture - Kingston Maurwood College (2023-06)

B.E.S.T in Horticulture - Horticulture - Kingston Maurwood College (2023)

BA Hons Graphic Design - Graphic Design - Falmouth School of Art (2002)

HND Graphic Communication - Graphic Communication - University of Wales, Institute Cardiff (2000)