Set in the inspiring surroundings of Chelsea Physic Garden, this careers panel discussion is an opportunity for young people interested in horticulture and plant-based careers to hear directly from professionals on the ground.

The event brings together voices from Wormcasts, a podcast from Chelsea Physic Garden created by the Young Producers – a group of 16–24 year olds working to engage more young people with the Garden. Guests from the episode Working in the Garden reunite to share their experiences of working in horticulture, how to get started, and to answer audience questions.

Founded in 1673 as a training ground for apothecaries and gardeners, Chelsea Physic Garden has long supported the education of young horticulturalists, making it a fitting place to explore modern career pathways at the intersection of art, science, business and technology.

The event includes a 45-minute panel discussion followed by a 15-minute audience Q&A.

Herbal teas will be provided. Ticket-holders are welcome to explore the Garden afterwards.

Free for under-30s (booking required) and £5 for 30+

The Panel:

Louisa Mansfield

I am the Programmes Manager for Future Gardeners, a free horticultural employment programme run by Bankside Open Spaces Trust in Central London. Since the programme launched in 2016, I have overseen and supported more than 300 students into training and employment. I am passionate about the power of horticulture as a career pathway, particularly for people who have faced challenges in their lives, and I believe it offers both meaningful work and long-term opportunity.

Under my leadership, the programme has received two industry-recognised awards from the Royal Parks Guild and the Chartered Institute of Horticulture. I have previously worked with a wide range of charities across the horticultural sector, and before moving into this field I spent several years in the online advertising industry, working with top-tier internet companies including Yahoo!

Richard Choksey

Richard Choksey is Chelsea Physic Garden’s former Community and Youth Engagement Manager and an active member of London’s community gardening movement, facilitating networking and peer-to-peer training with Social Farms & Gardens, and delivering nature engagement and community food growing activities across the city. Previously, he trained as a horticulturist with the RHS, Cambridge Botanic Garden and Kew Gardens.

Richard is currently undertaking a Ph.D in the history of Early Modern botanical collections based at the Natural History Museum.

John Constable

I’m John, Glasshouse Manager & Gardener at the Chelsea Physic Garden.  I was in the Future Gardeners winter 2021 cohort and went onto a traineeship at the Chelsea Physic Garden in Spring of 2022.