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Public Education
THE TUTORS
Leon Durbin has had a lifelong passion for wildlife and wild places. He is a qualified and experienced wildlife biologist with a BSc (hons) in Ecology and a PhD based on otter research in Scotland. He has over 13 years field experience, studying badgers, foxes, grouse, otters, loggerhead turtles (Greece), kodkod cats (Chile), and Asiatic wild dogs (India). This has included expeditions to remote wilderness regions such Patagonian Chile where he was a biologist for Raleigh International. In 2004, Leon formalised his bushcraft interests and achieved a nationally accredited qualification to teach the subject. This qualification covered all aspects of leading groups including bushcraft skills, understanding of the natural environment, teaching ability, knowledge of legislation, and health and safety.
Jim Durrant is nursery manager for McBeans Orchids, a specialist nursery founded in 1979 and based in Cooksbridge near Lewes in Sussex.
Christopher Mills is Head of Library, Art and Archives at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Previously he was Head of Collections and Services at the Natural History Museum. While at the Museum he curated the Paper Kingdom and Images from Nature exhibitions which did much to bring to public attention the hidden library and art treasures held there. In his current role he has lead on the development of the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Art and its associated programme of exhibitions and is one of the team working on the renovation and conservation of the Marianne North Gallery and its collection. At the same time he is involved in the planning for a major extension to the existing library, currently in construction, which will further make Kew's paper collections more accessible. Originally a geographer, he obtained his librarianship qualification at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. He is currently Chair of the London Museums Librarians and Archivists Group.
Clive Nichols is one of the world's most successful flower and garden photographers. He has won many awards for his work and in 2005 was voted "Garden Photographer of the Year" by the Garden Writers Guild. His work has appeared in countless magazines, books and calendars throughout the world and he is in constant demand as a lecturer and teacher. He has appeared on British and Japanese TV, sits on the RHS Photographic Committee and is a judge for the "Garden Photographer of the Year" competition.
Paul Reader is a horticultural manager at Wakehurst Place with experience of leading walks through the varied ornamental plantings in the Garden there. He particularly enjoys sharing his knowledge of the plants featured, their care and maintenance with visitors.
Dr Peter Roberts and Dr Brian Spooner are both senior mycologists at Kew. They both have a great deal of experience in the field and have travelled widely searching for fungi across the world. They have been leading the very popular forays at Wakehurst Place since 1997.
John Waller is an Underwoodsman. He manages and harvests coppice woodland using the wood in wattle hurdle making, basketry, pole lathe turning, chair & rustic furniture making and garden structures. He has run courses in these crafts for over 10 years both as a freelance tutor and for other organisations. He grows and harvests his own willow at Bore Place, an organic dairy farm and educational charity near Sevenoaks in Kent.
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