Piers Lunt

Author

Piers Lunt

Piers has lived and worked in Wales for over ten years, having previously trained with the RHS. As a bursary trainee, and then a permanent horticulturist at the National Botanic Garden of Wales, he worked in all areas of the garden over five years, ending with responsibility for redeveloping the arboretum.

The skills and experience he gained at the garden gave him the perfect springboard for his next role as Head Gardener of Parc yr Esgob, Abergwili. Working on a five-year project to restore the nationally significant park and garden, Piers oversaw and implemented its horticultural development, playing a vital part in transforming the site from near dereliction into a valued community green space. As part of this role he brought the Regency walled garden back into food production after a long fallow period, supplying the local community with organically grown food through the onsite café and visitor centre.

In his new role as Head Grower at Bremenda Isaf, Piers is supporting the work of the local food partnership, establishing a market garden on two acres of the farm to grow fresh produce primarily for local public procurement. This combines his passion for vegetables, horticultural experience, and concerns for sustainability and biodiversity enhancement. Of this, he says,

“There are lots of really pressing issues affecting food globally, from adverse health problems to supply disruptions caused by conflict, climate change and biodiversity loss. A unique project like this helps to raise the importance and profile of locally grown veg, especially when it’s destined for the public plate, reaching some of the most vulnerable in our community. This is a great way of turning challenge into opportunity, and I’m really excited to be playing a role in supporting the local food partnership in this way.”

Email: [email protected]