Meet the Loveday Team: Joshua

60 Seconds with Joshua, Loveday Resident Horticulturist.

Name: Joshua 

Position: Resident Horticulturist

How long have you worked at Loveday: I started in 2022

Where do you live: Woking, Surrey.

Hobbies & Interests: 

For the past 10 years, Tai Chi has been a source of peace and balance in my life—a practice that keeps me grounded and present. I also cherish long walks in the forest and countryside with my young daughter by my side (or on my shoulders when she gets tired!), where we explore, gather treasures from nature and make memories together.

Growing fruit, herbs, and vegetables brings me a profound sense of fulfilment. I feel truly blessed to share this passion with my family at our allotment, where we work the soil and watch things grow together.

Favourite part of London & why:

The Southbank—whether visiting the Tate and then walking along the river on a sunny summer afternoon or exploring the Christmas market in the winter. There is always something special to do, and it’s a wonderful place to people-watch.

Favourite garden (in London): 

Kew Gardens 

Favourite holiday destination & why:

Manuel Antonio National Park Costa Rica. The wide variety of plants and wildlife is breath-taking.    

Favourite movie & why?:

One of my favourites is The Grandmaster (2013): It offers great insight into the history of some famous martial artists. It has lovely music and beautiful cinematography.

Career highlight?:

The latest highlight was winning the Best Exterior Space at the 2024 Care Home Design Awards for our sensory garden at Loveday Abbey Road. 

What inspired you to become a horticulturist?:

Gardening has been woven into my life since I was very young. Some of my fondest memories are of my grandmother, who would let me water her plants and teach me the magic of nurturing life from a tiny seed. As a family, we were regulars at garden centres and had a shared love for plants that shaped who I am today.

About 12 years ago, I found myself at a crossroads in my career, feeling unfulfilled and searching for something more meaningful. I returned to those joyful memories of plants and gardens and realised how much happiness they brought me. It was a turning point—a realisation that life is too precious to spend it doing anything other than what truly brings you joy. So, I decided to pursue a degree in horticulture, immersing myself in the knowledge I needed to turn my passion into a purpose.

Now, my mission is to share the happiness and peace that gardening has given me, spreading my love for nurturing nature to as many people as I can.

Favourite part of your job?:

Working closely with people and sharing my passion for plants and the natural world with them. 

Favourite activity to do with the Members?:

Harvesting the fresh produce that we grow at each Loveday location. It’s very hard to top the feeling of Members harvesting potatoes, herbs, salads, courgettes or tomatoes that we have grown together from seed. 

It’s become part of the culture at Loveday and what’s even more lovely is when we deliver the produce to the kitchen which then ends up in the Members’ meals! Fresh, organic produce grown with love is unbeatable.

Favourite plants and why?:

There are too many to mention, but I love salvias as they are very generous throughout all seasons. One variety I particularly enjoy is Salvia nachtvlinder, which has deep dark purple flowers and blooms from May until the first frosts—sometimes as late as November during milder years. Great value!

I also love Edgeworthia chrysantha Grandiflora, a bushy, deciduous shrub with rounded inflorescences of small, lightly fragrant yellow flowers that open from hairy buds in late winter and early spring, before its narrowly oval leaves appear. We have these placed around our gardens at Loveday, offering a glimmer of hope as winter gives way to spring.

Favourite part of the day?:

Early morning. I love hearing the dawn chorus and seeing the sunrise. The light at this time of day is exquisite.

What gets you out of bed in the morning?:

The chance to reconnect with nature each morning. I’m always excited to see how gardens evolve with the seasons, presenting new colours, textures, and fragrances. Watching these transformations and discovering new points of interest, fruits, and blooms never fails to lift my spirits. I also enjoy sharing conversations about plants, gardens, wildlife, and nature with fellow enthusiasts.

If you could take Members on a journey anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?:

I would take them to the cloud forest in Costa Rica. The sheer variety of species and their sounds create an experience that feels as if the forest is breathing as one entity. It’s a truly magical sensory experience.

What does good care mean to you?:

For me, good care means being treated with kindness, dignity and respect. 

It’s about showing empathy to Members and their families. It’s about feeling safe and part of a community as opposed to being isolated.

Anything additional you’d like to add?:

We continue to promote gardening as a powerful tool for interaction and engagement. Its impact is particularly evident in connecting with Members through sensory experiences. Whether it’s the touch of soil, the fragrance of flowers, or the visual beauty of plants, gardening fosters a meaningful connection with nature and each other.