James Wong, Countryfile presenter, ethnobotanist and best-selling author, is to be a new RHS Ambassador to encourage careers in horticulture. James will be promoting the science of gardening and inspiring young people to consider a career in botany and horticulture. He will be showing how important horticultural knowledge is for the planet in dealing with climate change, care for the environment, human, animal and plant health, pollination and much more. James also presented the BBC series ‘Grow Your Own Drugs’ about plant-based remedies sharing his passion for botany.
We're also passionate about promoting the opportunities that jobs in horticulture can provide - it's a diverse discipline that requires knowledge of many things: botany, biology, chemistry, business, alongside art and design (amongst others). Horticulture is not often mentioned as a career choice for young people so it's great to hear that a very public figure in our field is willing to champion the cause. We wish James every success in his ambassadorial role and would urge everyone to consider the opportunities available in horticulture just as much as you would any other career option.