Ventnor Botanic Garden has announced the arrival of their new Head Gardener, Wayne Williams. Wayne is relocating to the Island from Birmingham with his family after 26 years at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, the last 5 as Head Gardener, managing a large team of gardeners and volunteers. With over 31 years of horticultural experience under his belt, Wayne is perfectly suited to working in the innovative and progressive environment of Ventnor Botanic Garden (VBG). Previously Wayne held a variety of roles at Birmingham Botanical Gardens and Glasshouses rising from Horticultural Trainee to Gardener, Propagator, Plant Records Officer and Senior Horticulturalist for Internal Areas. Having worked in all horticultural operations, training and administration he fully understands the challenges and potential of a botanic garden in the 21st Century. Trained at Longbridge College, Pershore College of Horticulture and the Royal Horticultural Society’s Garden at Wisley, Wayne’s training will complement that of Kew trained Curator Chris Kidd. Wayne starts with real enthusiasm to deploy his skills in another botanic garden, and has said:
“I am so excited to be joining the team at VBG and to be the latest “overner” on the beautiful Isle of Wight! “This is an exciting time at VBG and I cannot wait to better highlight it to the world. Ventnor has long been popular with locals and Island visitors and I sense the Garden has even more to offer. “A unique subtropical plant collection and the immersive style of planting makes VBG one of most innovative botanic gardens I know. I am excited to learn and experience the Ventnor Method as part of my personal development.”
A speaker at the PoliNations Garden in Birmingham and a YouTuber with his channel @The Plantaholic, Wayne will also help expand on Chris and John’s work on raising awareness of VBG and its work, both locally and internationally. Chris Kidd, Curator added:
“I am very much looking forward to Wayne’s arrival. A great addition to our team, Wayne brings with him real experience of botanical horticulture and in-depth plant knowledge. He will really help me extend the Living Collection.’
John Curtis, Director, commented:
“It is a great time for Wayne to be joining the team at Ventnor Botanic Garden as we refine the Ventnor Method and develop and share new techniques for gardening in the face of climate change.”
Good luck. You’ll need it.
The Ventnor Method! Ha ha. It simply involves letting the weeds grow and not clearing up. Seems to be more about saving money on adequate staffing than anything else.
Progressive!!!
Can’t see it lasting long. Last time I visited the place looked shambolic. I won’t be returning.
Awful since privately run. Even the ghosts have moved on.
bit like you then we all wished you would move on
The last new head gardener was lovely but she was given no funds and led a merry dance by Curtis’s.. He calls it rewilding it isn’t it’s brambles and weeds being allowed to thrive, not the fault of the hard worki g vunterrs who get no thanks for their hard work VBG shod be a “belle of the ball” but sadly is now more of a pantomime dame”and when leading groups withdraw their support from a gardens you know its in trouble!
I know Wayne and he is extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of botany and he will be a great asset to the team and the gardens. I’ll look forward to visiting the lovely IOW and especially VBG.
Odd you know someone from Brummy, or are you his Mum?
Why on earth is it odd? No, I’m not his Mum, just a friend and I’ve got lots of them from all over the country and, in fact, from different countries too. Maybe you don’t have many friends, you come over as such an angry, bitter person, perhaps you could find something positive to write on here, rather than spiteful, stupid, unnecessary comments.
Let’s hope he’s allowed to do things Wayne’s way rather than the pioneering “Ventnor way” that has seen the gardens slowly but surely deteriorate from their previous splendour.
Yay for the comment so refreshing after the usual troĺs who post on here ! Best of luck to the new gardener let’s face it he isn’t going to get bored but hopefully he will enjoy all the plants and the climate and keep the place looking good
AHH thanks Jo! Please do visit Best wishes, Wayne x
Why can’t we ‘home grow’ our own botanical specialist? Or have ours been too lazy to keep it as lovely as it should and used to be 🙁
Because native born islanders are morons.
Welcome to Ventnor Wayne & family. We are from Birmingham/
Warwickshire & moved over 2 years ago
I’m sure you will love it as we do
Yes so many of you come here to escape enrichment, afraid for your children’s lives and upbringing, but are too afraid to say so.
I don’t think anyone escapes enrichment, they will do what they think they need to to enrich their lives and their families. People who chose to move and make a new life somewhere else are certainly not afraid to say so, they integrate, make friends and become part of the community. So, while I respect you have a view, I don’t think you know what you’re talking about. I suspect that you grew up on the IOW and resent anyone moving there. You probably hate the tourists who come to improve your economy. You should look around you and appreciate how lucky you are to live in such a lovely place.
Why are some people so negative about VBG. If you don’t like it you don’t have to go. It’s the same with other things on the island that people are negative about. Again if you don’t like it you can always leave.
instead of moaning, if you have any talent why don’t you try and do something about it. VBG are doing something about it, they have appointed Wayne. As a VBG member I look forward to a blooming good 2024
Well said !!
I suspect it’s partly due to the fact that you now have to pay to get in. Many people are not aware that the Botanical Gardens were “gifted” to the people of Ventnor, many years ago, so that they may enjoy the Gardens for free. Not any more.