About Us

Mediterranean Plants and Gardens is a not-for-profit association of people who share an interest in the flora and gardens of Mediterranean climates embracing concepts of sustainable gardening such as matching plant species intelligently to their environment and giving attention to economical use of water.

Our Management Committee

David Mason (Treasurer)

After a 30-year career in Information Technology with ICI, I retired in 2008. We love to travel and until recently had a house in the south of France where we spent part of the year. I have various voluntary occupations, including being treasurer of MPG and treasurer of Berwick Parish Church Trust and now churchwarden and PCC lay chair. We moved to the Scottish Borders in 2019 from Kensington, where I was the director responsible for finance for our housing development.

Gill Robinson (Secretary)

I am an architect, and ran an architectural practice in Manchester until I retired. As well as setting up Women in Property in the north, I was on the boards of Keele University and a housing association. We live and garden in Cheshire, and have restored an old olive mill in Provence, where we have been creating a garden. Visits to Mediterranean gardens with MPG, MGF and MGS have provided inspiration and ideas for this project.

John Fielding

I’m a professional horticulturist who trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. In the scope of my work I’m a photographer, author, lecturer, garden designer and plant breeder, and grow a wide range of plants including many bulbous from the Mediterranean and particularly Crete. With Nick Turland and Brian Mathew I produced the book Flowers of Crete published by RBG Kew. I’m also a committee member of the Royal Horticultural Society involved in judging shows and plant trials.

Heather Martin

After a career as a journalist in Venezuela, Canada and the Middle East I ran a company providing administrative, legal and accounting services for not-for-profit associations. I love the Mediterranean and enjoy going off the beaten track to look for indigenous plants. I was the first chairman of the management committee and enjoy helping MPG flourish as a friendly open association, bringing together those keen on Mediterranean plants and gardens on trips in the Mediterranean basin, UK visits and meetings, and through its website.

Mike Stearns

I am a retired ear nose and throat surgeon. Nearly 30 years ago my wife, Liz, and I, in a fit of madness, bought a farm in Hertfordshire. I have now swapped theatre scrubs for John Deere overalls, and we manage a mixed farm with some cattle, arable crops, livery yard and other diversifications. Liz is actually the gardener in the family and we are currently developing a garden designed by Anne Keenan.  Liz and I have a house. with a smallish garden and a number of olive trees, in Provence.

Sharon Horder

After an initial career working for international charities, I moved into horticulture in 2015, training through the RHS and the Professional Gardeners’ Guild. I worked in gardens in Kent and Windsor before moving to Oxford where I worked as a gardener at Merton College and then as deputy head gardener at Wadham College. I now live in Dorset and work both in gardening and international development. I became a member of MPG in 2018 after volunteering in southern Europe and developing a keen interest in Mediterranean gardens and dry gardening.

Anne Keenan

I am a landscape architect and garden designer, and have worked on a wide variety of projects in the UK and further afield. A commission in Provence resulted in a long-term interest in water-wise gardening. I also spent many years teaching and lecturing, and I have retained an interest and involvement in education. I sat on the Hampshire Gardens Trust Education Committee for 25 years, advising schools about improving their grounds. I live in Hampshire, and have over 10 years enjoyed many trips with fellow members to places abroad and in the UK. I recently led the MPG trip to Corfu.