Call for Public to Pay Realistic Fees

By Rosenberg, Marc

Professional horticulturists are struggling to earn a living because the public still won’t pay realistic fees for their services.

This is the view of horticulturist turned TV gardener Christine Walkden, who presents Christine’s Garden on Friday nights on BBC 2.

Walkden, a senior horticultural lecturer at Writtle College in Essex, garden centre consultant, author and broadcaster, said she is increasingly frustrated that horticulturists are expected to work for “next to nothing”.

She used her TV series to question the public’s perceptions about employing the services of trained horticulturists – asking why homeowners would happily pay a plumber’s 50 call-out charge, but they commonly expected professional horticulturists to offer garden services for free.

Walkden has worked in horticulture for 35 years and she charges around 200 to lecture on an extensive range of plant and industry- related subjects. She said she has received over 1,000 “supportive” emails about her TV series.

Many emails, received after her series was watched by 2.7 million viewers, contained requests for her lecturing services. But, although people wanted her to talk about horticulture, they didn’t want to pay a realistic fee.

She said: “It’s not meant to sound arrogant but I give a good lecture. Why should I give up my time for next to nothing?”

Walkden: says horticulturists are expected to work for “next to nothing”

Copyright Haymarket Business Publications Ltd. Feb 2, 2006