We asked Horticulture tutor Steven Whitaker some questions about himself. See his answers below!

What do you like to do in your spare time?
We bought a derelict cottage a few years back so we’ve been gradually renovating it.  The priority was the interior as it needed a new roof and chimney, not to mention virtually everything replacing on the inside too.  The garden has had to be put on hold so that is my priority for the coming season, it’s basically a field with a few fruit trees at the moment, so I’ll be landscaping it from scratch.  Our neighbours thought it would be a good idea to cut down all of the trees surrounding the garden, so I’ve been planting lots of bare root native trees in order to replace them (23 trees at last count!).  I love cooking (curries are my speciality!) and playing the saxophone, and I’m currently ear-training to be able to play by ear.  I’m also studying my level 3 award in education and training and working towards grade 5 on the saxophone.  We have a dog, cat and chickens for eggs so they keep me busy too.

What's your favourite T.V. show?
My favourite guilty pleasure is The Chase but I also love cookery programmes, and of course Gardener’s World.  Carol Klein is my favourite and then Monty Don.

Where's the best garden you visited?
That has got to be Kew, especially the Palm House.  I also love our RHS gardens here in Harrogate, which is called Harlow Carr.

Do you have any exciting news to share?
I’m very excited to be going to Dubrovnik in June on holiday which will be my first time in Croatia.  We visited friends in Pesaro last year which is on the other side of the Adriatic and that was beautiful.

Thanks answering these questions for us!