Jim Buckland, Gardens Manager
Jim manages the historic and listed 90 acre-West Dean Gardens. An Honours graduate of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Jim has managed historic, public gardens in both Australia and the UK. He frequently lectures in the UK and is a regular contributor to magazines.
Sarah Wain, Gardens Supervisor
Sarah's horticultural career began in Australia where she trained for 3 years and obtained a Diploma in Horticultural Science at Burnley Horticultural College, Melbourne.
Sarah worked for 3 years in the Temperate Department at Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew where her responsibilities included looking after the back up collection for the Australian house.
Returning to Australia, Sarah worked as a manager for a local council nursery before taking up a post as Supervisor of the gardens at Burnley Horticultural College.
In 1987 Sarah returned to the UK with Jim Buckland, her husband and they both worked together to establish gardens at Lockerly Hall, Hampshire. Since 1991 Sarah and Jim have worked at West Dean Gardens restoring the walled kitchen garden including 16 glasshouses and frames.
In 2001, Sarah became the first woman to be invited to join the prestigious 'Vegetable Trials Sub-Committee' of the RHS, which she greatly enjoys.
Sarah was also involved in the 2003 How Does Her Garden Grow' exhibition at the Garden History Museum, Lambeth, London. Part of the Museum's Women in Gardening Season, this traced the training and opportunities for professional women gardeners since the late 19th century.