TASK Training Partners — TASK Academy

Rupert studied at Pershore College of Horticulture where he had his first experience of the Chelsea Flower Show in 1992 building the award winning garden ‘The Greening of Industry’. Rupert went on to set up Keyscape Design and Construction with his wife and garden designer, Ruth Gwynn. Alongside the business now running for 30 years, Rupert has built many award -winning show gardens. In 2021 he was the principal contractor on the APL garden ‘What Lies Beneath’ in association with World Skills UK and designed by Professor David Stevens at Gardeners World Live 2021. It also won a Gold at the Best Construction Awards. Rupert has been featured as the landscape expert on many BBC gardening programmes both on camera and behind the scenes as well as contributing to articles for the gardening magazine Gardening Which?

Karl has 19 years experience of landscape gardening and as a member of the Professional Garden Consultants Association (PGCA), is an expert witness for Landscaping projects. Karl is an ex-Military Engineer who has been a lead voice in the correct application of exterior timber structures since 2003. He has written the Timber and Composite Decking Guidance Specification for the Association of Professional landscapers and is currently engaged in the same for Composite Decking. Karl created the Decking Network dot com where he has promulgated professional information pertaining to correct decking construction since 2012. He also contributes to Spons Guide “External Works and Landscape Price Book”. Karl lectures to garden design colleges and associations.

Dan’s love of nature, the outdoors and garden design led him to study at Pershore College where he attained a HND in Horticulture and Garden Design. He went on to start his own business - Design It Landscapes. It was this passion for good design that has become the core of his landscaping business and has resulted in accolades including medals at RHS Malvern and BBC Gardeners World Live along with producing high quality gardens for domestic clients.

David is an International Garden Designer and Professor of Garden Design at Middlesex University. He also has many accolades to his name, including 28 RHS Chelsea medals, 11 gold and three Best in Show plus a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Garden Designers. He has written 21 books on garden and landscape design. He has also presented on two major garden design series; Gardens by Design and Gardenwise.

Andrew’s career has spanned a huge variety of roles in the horticulture and landscape gardening industry including; landscape contractor at Big Fish Landscapes, nurseryman at Wetland Plants, tutor at Cotswold Garden School, APL committee member, RHS judge, show garden builder. Andrew’s projects have attained gold medals at RHS Chelsea, Hampton Court and BBC Gardeners World Live.

Growing up in the Cotswolds surrounded by the best of British nature, Nick left school at a young age to pursue his love of dry stone walling. Nick’s passion for his craft and desire to keep this traditional trade alive led to him launching his own business – Bespoke Stone Walling (BSW) – in 2007.
Since then, BSW has gone from strength to strength, seeing Nick work alongside world-renowned designers on various garden design projects large and small. In 2019 Nick was awarded with the Silver Gilt medal for his interactive garden design at RHS Tatton and added a BALI award for Best First Time Entrant to his accolades in 2021.
After years of contracting for designers, Nick recognised a need in his clients for more than wall repairs and builds. And so, Bespoke Landscape Design (BLD) was born as a natural extension to the business. Since its launch in 2017, Nick has worked with high-profile clients and leading architects across the UK, offering a bespoke design service and creating high-end gardens to be proud of.

David believes that successful trainees become successful landscapers and often, successful business owners. He is the most recent past Chair of the APL and has been an APL committee member for the last 10 years. David was educated at Merrist Wood College and holds a National Diploma in Landscape Construction at Distinction level. For the last 17 years he has been running The Gardenmakers and has won several APL awards including ‘Best Garden over £100K’ twice and also ‘Supreme Winner’.

Lorna has 15 years’ experience working in the consulting engineering and water industry as a designer and delivery agent. Through project experience and training Lorna has focused on surface water management and water quality within both the urban and rural landscape. She has experience in SuDS design, delivery and maintenance, integrated catchment management and analysis, stake holder engagement and facilitation across the public and education sector. Prior to starting SuDSPlanter Ltd Lorna has worked on many SuDs landscape projects including Lead landscape architect / graphics designer consultant on South West Water’s ‘Downstream Thinking’ project and on Thames Water ‘Eight20’ project.