A bit about me
I can’t remember a time without gardening.
Growing up, there was always some sort of garden in our lives. At our first house, everything grew in pots in the backyard. I still remember cutting down all of Mum’s flowers with the scissors from my toy doctor’s kit—I must have been two or three.
Later, we moved to a house with a proper garden where we grew vegetables and fruit. Dad built himself a Man Shed out of reclaimed wood to escape from us all (I’ve now got my very own She Shed!). I learned by watching and helping out. I grew cabbages and marrows for Brownies, watched speckled thrushes work their way through the blackcurrant patch, discovered which roses were the most intoxicatingly fragrant, and shared the pea patch with our dog.
Since having my own home, the garden has become my sanctuary—a place where I can lose myself and switch off. For me, it’s a creative outlet, a mindful retreat, a practical space, and a gentle reminder to slow down and live in the moment. You can’t rush a garden; it grows in its own time.
Professionally, I’ve spent the majority of my career as a digital marketing manager. Over the past 25 years, I’ve clocked up more hours than I’d like to admit in front of a screen, in meetings, or behind the wheel. I’ve worked with blue-chip companies, not-for-profits, start-ups, and small businesses, and freelanced around the demands of a young family.
These days, I still take on some marketing work—I'm passionate about supporting good local businesses and love helping them grow. It’s surprisingly refreshing to sit down for a few hours to write, plan, and create.
Click here if you’d like to see more of that side of what I do.
Learning
In 2021, I returned to the classroom at Ness Botanic Gardens to study for the RHS Level 2 qualifications—keen to add some formal theory to years of hands-on experience. Balancing study with work and family life was no small feat, but I completed the course in 2023. I’m proud of the achievement. It was self-funded, squeezed around a full schedule, and definitely one of the tougher things I’ve taken on.
But it planted the seeds of change.
In 2024, with my family becoming more independent, I decided to take the plunge and launch my own gardening business—Cathy’s Gardening Services.
Now, gardens aren’t just where I find headspace and peace, or where I watch things grow in their own time—they’re also my workplace. Come rain or shine, I help my customers enjoy and get the most out of their outdoor space.
My Facebook and Instagram pages follow my gardening year, showcase some of the work I do and offer a place to share ideas, learning, failures and wins. Every like, comment or follow makes a real difference to a small, local business—and I’m always grateful for the support.
And do keep an eye on my blog for updates. I hope it brings a little joy and inspiration to readers - just as the garden brings to me.
Home turf
Home is Llanfairfechan, a small coastal town in North Wales nestled between the foothills of the Carneddau Mountains and the edge of the Menai Strait. Our house sits high on a steep hill with a large garden and sweeping sea views. The sunsets here are spectacular. In spring, the sun dips behind the lighthouse at Penmon Point on Anglesey; by late August, it disappears far to the west, toward Newborough. It’s a truly beautiful place to live.
But the garden isn’t an easy one.
The plot is large and steep, with free-draining soil that dries out quickly in the coastal winds—especially the relentless westerlies. The salty air adds another challenge. It’s a very different setup from our previous garden in St Albans, where almost anything grew with minimal effort.
Here, mowing the grass is a serious workout! The borders are mature and demanding, especially in spring. Over time, we’ve carved out a productive fruit and vegetable patch across two levels. My pride and joy is the “she-shed” with its incredible sea-view window—it’s my seed-starting sanctuary. From there, seedlings move to two brick-based cold frames or into the polytunnel before heading into the garden.
I compost everything I can and am in awe of my hot bin, which reaches over 100°C on warm days and produces three loads of rich, dark compost a year. We keep chickens (the veggie patch is well barricaded!) and the garden often doubles as a football pitch for my younger, football-mad son.
I grow almost everything from seed. The process is grounding, therapeutic, and wonderfully cost-effective. While my motivation ebbs and flows through the year, I rarely go a day without spending time outdoors.
At Cathy’s Gardening Services, I offer a range of support—from garden maintenance, planting advice, and design, to veg and fruit growing, wildlife- and bee-friendly gardening, and companion-based gardening. If you’d like help with your garden, I’d love to hear from you.