Kevin has always had a keen interest in natural history and initially trained in ecology. He spent 15 years studying one of Britains's most endangered birds, the Dartford Warbler, and was part of the team that first found evidence for co-opertive breeding in this species.
The plant bug, however, was gaining ground so he ended up swapping his intended career for his hobby, becoming head gardener on a 15-acre estate, where he stayed for seven years, acquiring much practical experience. However, ecological considerations remained important and he persuaded the owners to eradicate
Rhododendron ponticum from most of their land. They were rewarded with the regeneration of ancient heathland and the return of woodland flora and flora.
Kevin then spent more than nine years renovating, restoring and then running Spinners Garden and Nursery, where he held a national collection of trilliums. In 2004, he set up his own nursery, Kevin Hughes' Plants, now at Heale Garden near Salisbury, which specialises in rare and unusual hardy trees, shrubs (especially magnolias), herbaceous plants, climbers and, of course, trilliums.
Keen to see new and exciting plants introduced into Britain, Kevin goes on collecting trips, especially to the USA (but never indulges in commercial harvesting of wild plants.) He also lectures on a wide range of horticultural subjects, does some garden design and is currrently writing a practical book on gardening.
During his talk, Kevin will introduce us to a diverse range of plants suited to that most difficult environment, dry shade, inluding many bulbs, herbaceous plants and shrubs. He will also define dry shade types and tell us how to help plants get established in these conditions, and the sort of problems that might be encountered. The lecture will focus mainly on plants for spring interest, but there will be plants included for all seasons.