James Aldridge
Garden Design Diploma
Course Leader
James Aldridge is a renowned garden designer, horticulturalist, and ardent enthusiast of plants. After many years of dedicated teaching at the college, he is the Course Leader for the Garden Design Diploma since September 2025.
Richard Wilford
Certificate in Plantsmanship
Course Leader
Richard Wilford is fascinated by plants, in cultivation and in the wild. He worked at The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew for 37 years, as a horticulturist and garden designer. He teaches on the Planting Design Diploma and from 2026 will be course leader for the Certificate in Plantsmanship.
Nina Baxter
Planting Design Diploma
Course Leader
Nina Baxter is an accomplished garden designer, plantswoman and horticulturist and has been widely recognised for her planting designs. She became Director and Course Leader for the Planting Design Diploma in July 2023.
Andrew Wilson MBE
Construction Design Certificate
Course Leader
Andrew is widely acknowledged as one of the UK’s leading garden design lecturers. He has been at the forefront of garden design teaching in the UK and overseas for 40 years. He is the Course Leader for the Construction Design Certificate.