Our Tutors

I found Darren very supportive and helpful  – previous learner

Darren Rudge BSc (Hons) Hort, Cert Ed

Darren has spent his career delivering and managing horticultural and other land based qualifications as well as running a successful garden design consultancy, He was one of the first recipients of the City and Guilds medal of excellence, awarded for his teaching and training. Darren regularly has articles published in the gardening press and is the gardening expert for BBC WM 95.6 in the West Midlands. He was also nominated for a garden media guild award in 2016. Darren’s enthusiastic approaches to teaching and garden design aim to inspire and motivate, and are developed to make learning both enjoyable and progressive.

Helen Wood BSc (Hons) Hort, PGCE, MCIoH

Helen has over 18 years of experience of maintaining and designing gardens; alongside a dual career teaching horticulture and garden design. She has run a successful garden design consultancy or 9 years, working on private and commercial gardens to the highest standards. Helen also works with RHS Qualifications as an examiner and has an in depth knowledge of RHS courses and qualifications. She is an experienced and enthusiastic horticulturalist and teacher, always ready to share her interest, expertise and knowledge about plants and gardens.

Darren and Helen have worked in partnership for many years. They have designed and built domestic and commercial gardens and exhibited medal winning show gardens at BBC Gardeners World Live. They have worked together to design innovative and inspiring teaching programmes and both enjoy imparting their substantial knowledge using a range of teaching methods.