Matthew Pottage - Master of Horticulture
As a member of the RHS staff - he's Team Leader for Woody Ornamentals at Wisley - and having gained the Wisley Diploma in Practical Horticulture, Matthew already knew the benefit of RHS qualifications. And now he has the highest the Society offers.
His passion for plants came from his Gran, who always had a house full of African Violets and pelargoniums.
And perhaps it's his time at Bishop Burton College near Hull with its wonderful old trees, where early on he studied for his National Diploma in Horticulture, which inspired his choice of topic for his master's dissertation - the future of big trees in the urban landscape.
He's a fan of conifers and the Pinetum is his favourite part of the garden at Wisley.