From being in charge of the Royal Parks, to judging crops for BBC Two’s Big Allotment Challenge, Jim Buttress has had a colourful career in horticulture. We caught up with Jim as he publishes his life story, The People’s Gardener.
The People’s Garden by Jim Buttress is out now and tells the story of his journey from garden apprentice to being awarded the prestigious RHS Victoria Medal of Honour.
Was taking up the challenge of Superintendent for the Royal Parks daunting in any way?
I had had quite a sheltered upbringing and when I got the job I had never been to any of the Royal Parks in my life. So I just had to get on with it and do my best. I worked with a lot of interesting characters but I would treat everyone the same way, whether they were my bosses or they were litter pickers. It was a challenge. I would have to be in charge of decorating Buckingham Palace one day or No.10 Downing Street the next.
You’ve won eight gold medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. What was the first time like?
For my first Chelsea gold in 1991 I worked with Bob Wadey, apprentice master of the Royal Parks, and our team of apprentices. He was the boss and I was his gopher. For a show display you do need to have one person in charge. I remember us being awarded a gold medal for that display as if it were yesterday. The stand was a mix of annual and herbaceous plants and there was a touch of Great Dixter about it. The good thing was that we had grown everything on the exhibit ourselves. In the 1980s many of the parks departments would stage exhibits of their own plants at Chelsea. It was like their FA Cup Final.
What is the biggest way flower shows have changed over the course of your career?
Nurseries used to exhibit only what they grew. Today, floral exhibits require a great deal of theatre because, to the paying public, the exhibits work like a shop window. If the display is boring the public will walk straight past it; if it isn’t, they will stop and that is when you can engage visitors in conversation.
Which achievement are you most proud of in your horticultural career?
Receiving the RHS Victoria Medal of Honour. It has only been awarded 63 times in horticulture and of all people the RHS decided to award it to me. I was told by letter and when I opened it I burst into tears. My other half said ‘oh no, not another speeding ticket.’
What is the most memorable place that have judged for Britain in Bloom?
There are two communities that stand out. One is Saltburn-by-the-Sea on the North Yorkshire coast. It is the coldest, wettest spot I think I have ever been to but the community effort was unbelievable. And the second is Starbeck on the outskirts of Harrogate, because the whole community gets involved. There wasn’t a single person in Starbeck who didn’t know they were entered in the Britain in Bloom competition. Other memorable places are The Dingle in Shrewsbury, which is still planted as Percy Thrower did when he was parks officer there. Being an old parks man, I think it is incredible.
How was the experience of being a judge on BBC Two’s The Big Allotment Challenge?
It was a challenge in itself. They approached me so I thought ‘let’s have a go’. I had done bits and pieces of television but it had always been a case of ‘stand there, say this’. Suddenly, being surrounded by overhead cameras in a walled garden setting that was a bit like Downton Abbey was completely different. The producers had set their heart on making me into a judge like Simon Cowell but I explained to them that it was not in my character. In horticulture, if someone doesn’t do well the last thing you do as a judge is rub their noses in it.
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