The Questions - Chris Collins

Chris Collins is a familiar face from television.  I think the first time I remember seeing him was on Gardeners' World when he was the Head Gardener at Westminster Abbey.  Later Chris did a very good series called The Plantsman that I watched avidly.  For many children he is known as the Blue Peter gardener, a role he had until 2013.  Chris has just designed, along with Oli Blanc and Charlotte Salt, the Bronze Medal winning Henri le Worm Community Garden for the Hampton Court Flower Show.  This garden is designed to promote an app that is aimed at linking to the National Curriculum and encouraging children into growing food, nature and gardening.
The Questions

1. In which garden do you feel happiest? Benmore Botanic Gardens -  I love  that garden .  Pretty content in my own also ,  never  feel  anything but happy  when I’m in garden

2. If you could only have five gardening tools, which would they be? Secateurs .  Spade . Knife . Border  Fork . Rake

3. If you could only have five garden-related books, which would they be? RHS Gardening  dictionary . Garden Organic encyclopedia . RHS  Dictionary of gardening . Hilliars manual of trees & shrubs . Botanica 

4. What was the most defining moment of your life so far? Planting  a   Ulmus ‘augustifolia’ in Preston Park 1984

5. What are you most proud of? My career

6. If you won the lottery, what would you do? At  odds of  16 billion to  one  , don’t  really  give it  much thought .

7. Who are your garden heroes (no more than three) Peter  Seabrook . Roy  Lancaster . Geoff Hamilton

8. What skill would you like to learn and why (does not have to be gardening related) Carpentry -  anything creative and  done  with the hands I find  incredibly satisfying by

9. If you could visit any garden right this minute, which one would it be? Benmore Botanic garden

10. What is your current plant obsession? In Spring  it  would  be  trees

11. Which garden tool is never far from your hand? Secateurs

12. What is your favorite gardening/plant related word? Symbiosis

13. What do you wish you could do better? Plenty of things

13. What is the most important lesson you have learned so far? Life is a gift  

14. What makes a perfect day for you? The 15  minutes I have  in my  garden at  the start  of  each day

15. If you had one piece of advice to offer to someone what would it be? Be kind  but  don’t take  any  nonsense

16. Gnome or no-gnome? No  Gnome

A big thanks to Chris for taking part and to Sarah Gartside.
Next time:  Anna Murphy