George Hudson

George is an entrepreneurial gardener, writer and educator, with an ambition to bring horticulture into the 21st century. He is the Green London Curator at the Garden Museum and is quickly becoming the leading authority on the capital’s green spaces. He writes a weekly column in the Evening Standard, advising on everything from houseplants and balcony gardens to compost heaps and the city’s best horticultural hangouts. He is the Garden Editor of RakesProgress magazine and a regular contributor to the Royal Horticultural Society’s The Garden magazine. He is a trustee of the Professional Gardeners’ Trust, a charity that awards grants to empower gardeners through courses and training.

As soon as he could walk, George has loved being in the garden. He began by digging up his parents’ plot, before straying over the garden wall to the neighbouring market garden and nursery, where he would ‘help’ them pick vegetables. On his 11th birthday he was offered a Saturday job there, where he cut his teeth caring for thousands of plants over the following 10 years, and helped diversify the farm, introducing very successful seasonal pick-your-own events for pumpkins and Christmas trees. From his own greenhouse, and whilst still at school, he started Hudson’s Herbs, producing potted herbs for retail and wholesale customers.

After a stint in the political world, George returned to gardening, working at the award-winning community garden, Walworth Garden as Head of Plants and Education. He delivered accredited courses and workshops on a broad range of horticultural topics, from propagation to houseplants and sustainable gardening techniques. He oversaw the development of the education and plant nursery, raising funds to support the charitable work of the organisation.

George is passionate about the importance of horticulture for both mental and physical health, and is on a mission to show that everyone can benefit, whether it’s via a window box, balcony, full-blown garden or simply houseplants.

Photo credit Natasha Goodfellow.