Hamish MacLeod is an RHS Master of Horticulture (MHort) with over 25 years of hands-on experience managing historic estates across the UK. He is a renowned expert in practical gardening techniques, from pruning complex fruit trees to managing large-scale herbaceous borders. Hamish currently serves as a Head Gardener and consults on the restoration of heritage gardens.
Hamish MacLeod is the epitome of a traditional Head Gardener, combining decades of dirt-under-the-fingernails experience with the highest level of horticultural qualification, the RHS Master of Horticulture. His career began in the botanical gardens of Scotland and has taken him to some of the most prestigious estates in England, where he managed extensive kitchen gardens and ornamental borders. Hamish specializes in the cyclical maintenance of plants, offering definitive advice on when and how to prune, propagate, and harvest for maximum yield. He has a particular passion for heritage fruit varieties and the correct management of greenhouse environments. His approach is deeply practical; he understands the difference between textbook theory and the reality of British weather. Hamish teaches gardeners how to use tools correctly, how to create effective compost, and how to manage pests without resorting to harsh chemicals. He writes to preserve traditional skills, ensuring that the art of grafting, coppicing, and succession planting is passed down to the next generation. His advice is indispensable for anyone looking to run a productive and disciplined garden.