How did you start doing bonsai? I started showing an interest in Bonsai in around 1981 when I bought a small Juniper at my local Hillier’s Garden Centre. It was a cascade style in a little pot. I think that I remember that it cost £5.00 at that time. I am actually not sure what happened to it over the following years. At Hillier’s there was a display of various sized bonsai and this interested me. In the early nineties I joined Eastleigh Bonsai Society where I met like- minded people. Eastleigh had a licence to collect Scots Pine from the New Forest, I joined their digging trips into the Forest and collected several Scots Pine. I also joined Wessex Bonsai Society where I met lots of friends and stayed a member for many years. I used to display my trees at their annual show during May. I was then asked to become a member of the Phoenix group which had been formed by Geoff Crowe and Alan Tolley. We still meet every month at John Turner’s Nursery amongst some good friends and the occasional visitor. As I was an agricultural engineer I was able to view trees along the way and then negotiate with the farmers to collect Hawthorne that had been naturally bonsaied by nibbling sheep! You have to be selective what you collect , making sure of a good nebari, shape and most of all healthy trees. This was just the start. Who was your teacher? I have been very fortunate to have people such as Peter Adams, Colin Lewis and Dan Barton giving me instruction and ideas in one day workshops, and for 4-5 years I also attended workshops with Nobu Kagiwara at Dai-ichi Bonsai in Newbury, they covered seasonal work. After I collected a big Yew tree a couple of friends from the Phoenix Group arranged with myself for Kevin Willson and Richard Chambers to come down to Hampshire in order to carry out a weekend workshop. I loved the work that Kevin and Richard did to my Yew tree and we had a lot of banter and fun. I remember that Kevin asked for a chain saw first! Then he would light up a fag and go outside, then return and look at the tree before starting work. He put a lot of thought into his designs. A master at work. There were further workshops with Will Baddeley and friends."
Your thoughts on Bonsai? It’s a journey you go on. It’s not a hobby for anyone who requires quick results. In the early days I did rush and overworked trees that killed them. It’s like life, you have to move on and learn from your mistakes and hopefully improve your care of the trees. I feel that having this hobby I get so attached to my trees. You organise your life around them, only going on holiday during the winter when there is less work to complete on the trees. You need to have complete trust in the person you elect to water and care for the trees during your time away. I also go on “storm watch” when the weather forecast is not good!. This Bonsai hobby has kept me going when life gets tough. It is good to work together as a group. You do have to be in the right frame of mind, and be creative otherwise you should leave any work until you are feeling better. It is good for mental health and well being. I have made some very good friends and travelled to some remarkable places. You should be able to enjoy your hobby and not get caught up in all the politics that go on. No two Bonsai trees are the same, and if people like what you have created it is a pleasure and you get a good deal of satisfaction from it. A tree is never finished and you are continually learning. Do you have a favourite tree? I love the maples because of their autumn colours and winter images, it is very difficult though to choose one favourite. I like the Hawthorn for their flowers and berries, and the Scots Pine and also of course the Yews.
What mistakes have you made? Lots. Too many trees to care for, not enough time to work on them. Incorrect pots for the trees. Not checking on any wire cutting in. Displaying trees the wrong way around, pointed out to me at a Heathrow show, which was much appreciated! Have you experienced Bonsai abroad? I have not shown trees abroad but have attended many shows, the Ginkgo Bonsai Centre and Noelanders Trophy in Belgium. Salieu in France, Arco in Italy and was fortunate to go to the Kokofu Show in Tokyo before the pandemic hit! It was great to see European and Japanese Bonsai on display. Can you recommend one or two Bonsai books? The first book that I bought and it helped me on my way, was “ Successful Bonsai Growing” by P Adams, at the incredible price of £2.95. It was first published in 1978 and I bought the book in 1981. Another book that helped me was “ The Collingridge Handbook of Bonsai” written by Anne Swinton, a lovely hardback book published in 1982. Then came “Bonsai with Japanese Maples” another Hardback by Peter Adams and published in 2006. I also have hundreds of Bonsai Focus magazines. What is your best achievement? One of my best achievements was when I won the Banksian medal at the Wessex show for gaining the most points. Then in 2011 at the Swindon show, I won first prize in the conifer class with one of my Scots Pine and was awarded a plaque. Then, thanks to Mr. Reg Bolton, who chose a Trident Maple of mine to be used on the stand at Chelsea Flower Show in 2017. I have had other trees on the Chelsea stand in 2018 and 2019 and they have all received gold medals. And thanks to Swindon for asking me to become one of their show judges.
Do You have any future ambitions? I would like to improve the quality of the bonsai that I own and make them of a better standard. It would be good to encourage other people of all ages to give the hobby of Bonsai a go. I did have a go at making a pot with Davy Jones of Walsall Ceramics, it was a fun day, but I don’t think that I will make a potter!
Do you have any other hobbies? Fishing, Motorbikes, Walking and Bird Watching. Also Beer drinking.
Do you have a favourite potter? One of my favourite potters is Gordon Duffett, I really like his style and I commissioned him to make his biggest pot yet for my big Yew. I had to go to his studio on Exmoor to help him turn the pot over so that he could attach the feet! Also Walsall Ceramics come up with some lovely pots. We are lucky to have so many good potters in this country.