Our Team
OBSESSED WITH INCREDIBLE PLANTS AND GARDENS
GUY WATTS
OWNER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR
Guy’s connection with Architectural Plants began as a boy. It spans Saturdays, school holidays and post university before the lure of the sea saw him rowing the Indian Ocean in 2009. He co-founded the charity Streetscape, before returning to AP in 2015. Find out more about Guy on our Garden Designers page.
ANGUS WHITE
FOUNDER
Angus founded Architectural Plants in 1989 and launched the company onto an unsuspecting and bemused British public the following spring. Previously a furniture maker, his fascination for plants that have their own spectacular ‘architecture’ has borne a flourishing culture of enthusiasts who share his obsession. Everything he does is led by design, a meticulous pursuit for perfection and an interminable search for the world’s most exciting and rare specimens.
DEBBIE BOXALL
GARDEN DESIGN MANAGER
Debbie joined Architectural Plants in 2013 and is our lead garden designer. She wants to give her customers a garden they can’t get anywhere else. She loves using topiary and creating blobberies and she gives each garden the iconic AP look. Find out more about Debbie on our Garden Designers page.
AMY ROBERTSON
GARDEN DESIGNER
Amy is an award-winning garden designer with over 12 years in the industry. She has designed gardens for RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. Find out more about Amy on our Garden Designers page.
SARAH HUGHES
CREATIVE DESIGN CONSULTANT
Working with our Sales Team, Sarah specialises in remote design and advising our customers from the nursery. She has a keen interest in plants for coastal, hot arid and shady gardens. Sarah has considerable experience in maintaining gardens and worked for a number of years managing the gardens of a large estate.
SARAH CHANDLER
SALES SUPPORT
After a nine year break, Sarah’s return to AP has raised the numbers of Sarah’s to three. An extremely knowledgeable horticulturalist, she is now supporting the sales team with her sidekick Ben.
DARREN READ
TRANSPORT MANAGER
Darren’s attitude is that it is better to burn than fade away. Efficient and determined, he is our well-loved delivery driver.
MATT WELLS
HEAD OF PLANTING AND SPECIAL PROJECTS
Matt joined in 2013. Whilst helping out on the nursery and irrigation he discovered his enthusiasm for the planting side of the business. Organised and with a keen eye for detail, Matt now not only overseas all our planting work but also manages our site development projects.
FREDDIE PARKS
PLANTING TEAM MANAGER
Freddie joined us in the Summer of 2016 and has made a huge impact on our Planting and Creative Maintenance team. He has endless energy and enthusiasm.
ANDY KIRKWOOD
CREATIVE MAINTENANCE TEAM LEADER
Also known as Captain Leg-up, due to his love of raising and shaping plants. Andy works on our Planting and Creative Maintenance team.
SAM RANCE
PLANTING TEAM
Sam joined us in early 2019 from the Parham House Gardens where he had been for 7 years. He relishes working as part of both the Planting and Creative Maintenance teams.
ZAC SMITH-BUBBINS
PLANTING TEAM
Zac joined in 2020 quickly proving to be an industrious and tenacious addition to the Planting Team.
RICHARD SHLOVOGT
PLANT HEALTH SPECIALIST
Richard is our Plant Health expert. There isn’t a leaf, bud or granite chip he doesn’t inspect. You might well see him on the nursery attending to our plants (he’s the chap in the green suit) or you might well require his services in your garden. Either way we are all safe under his watch.
JASON GILFORD
MARKETING MANAGER
Jason joined the nursery in 2016 after an established career in the media and teaching. He learned all he knows about horticulture from Guy and Angus and managed the production team until 2020. He’s a homegrown hybrid and his favourite plant is Podocarpus salignus ‘Niwaki’.
DOUG HAY
DISPATCH CO-ORDINATOR
Doug manages the collection and organisation of plants for delivery and planting. He is also the man to call on should you need help loading your car. On Saturdays however, his vocal skills will be employed elsewhere – either in the studio or at a gig with his band Icarus Falls.
ABI
PRODUCTION TEAM MANAGER
Abi manages our nursery team and is AP’s resident action woman – she’s always on the go, keeping our nursery looking its best and driving production forward. In her spare time, Abi is a regular distance runner and keeps a burgeoning allotment.
TOM HOLMES SMITH
PROPAGATOR
As our propagator, Tom is focused on developing our home grown plants for the nursery. However, you might find him supporting the Planting Team on your Garden Design or supporting the production team.
LINDA ADAMES
PRODUCTION TEAM
Linda is highly skilled in clipping and shaping and trains all of our Niwaki. She has a keen creative eye for developing new shapes and re-imagining traditional forms. If she is not in her production zone working on her latest innovation she is quite likely out with Andy on a Creative Maintenance visit.
JAMES HAGAN
PRODUCTION TEAM
James started at AP. in 2015, whilst completing his Level 3 Extended Diploma in Horticulture at Brinsbury College. He became a full-time member of the team in 2018. He’s also worked on two show gardens at the Ideal Home Show in London.
DAN HILLEN
PRODUCTION TEAM
After working on a large private garden for a year, Daniel started his apprenticeship at AP in the spring of 2019 qualifying as a full time member of the team in the autumn of 2020. He has a particular interest in propagation and has been thriving ever since.
OLLIE ROBERTSON
PRODUCTION TEAM
When Ollie is not at college studying to be an engineer, he is a valued member of the team and helps keep the nursery ticking over on Saturdays.
TINA WATTS
PRODUCTION TEAM
On the nursery, Tina’s speciality is trimming and tidying the plants but she can also be found around the sales desk and office maintaining the displays, plants and floral decorations.
PAUL JESZKE
GROUNDS MAINTENANCE
Paul maintains our grounds and all of our machinery. Calm and experienced his practical skills ensure that no challenge is insurmountable.
COLIN JUPP
GROUNDS MAINTENANCE
Quiet and efficient, Colin is highly skilled in clipping and shaping. He has for many years divided his time between the garden at Nuthurst and our nursery here. He looks after the lake garden and surrounding grounds and you are more than likely to spot him up a ladder tending to the Cupressus sempervirens or Pinus pinea.
PHIL HARRIS
MASTER CRAFTSMAN
Phil has built everything from the office, to the cafe. A master craftsman, he’s a highly valued member of AP, you may even spot his plaque on the wall outside the office.
SARAH HARBOUR
ACCOUNTS
Harbs is our in-house accountant. Away from the figures, she is a keen country and western fan but the majority of her spare time is occupied playing golf professionally. She is also her club’s first female champion.