Mike Kleyn, Kitchen Gardener

Mike Kleyn spent five years as Head Gardener at Babington House, bringing the walled garden there back into production.

Prior to Babbington he looked after the container garden at the River Café in London for two years while also working as a volunteer guide and engraver at the famous Chelsea Physic Garden.

Mike is a pharmacist by training and owned and ran a large pharmacy in Cape Town for 30 years before selling and relocating to the UK. During his time is South Africa he also started a hospice and was its chairman for 15 years. He was involved in community affairs, also starting a community radio station.