James has been involved in professional horticulture for 32 years now, starting with an apprenticeship at the MacRobert Trust in Tarland in 1993. After that, he attended both Clinterty College, Aberdeen & Askham Bryan College in York. James spent a short time working in commercial landscaping before starting with the National Trust for Scotland in 1999 at Castle Fraser. From there, he went to work at Inverewe garden, Wester Ross, where he spent nearly 16 years before returning to the North-East to become head gardener at Crathes in 2017.

The talk will be about the about both the historical & contemporary journey of the garden, how it has been, throughout its 400 year history a place which has always embraced the changing styles & fashions of horticulture led by the owners, head gardeners & staff, and how this continues to shape & guide the garden today & into the future.