What was your journey into the horticulture industry?
Growing up with parents who were passionate gardeners, I developed a love for plants from an early age. What began as a childhood hobby blossomed into a lifelong career in horticulture.
What have been some career highlights over those years?
I’ve always felt that if you love what you do, it never really feels like work — and in my career, every day brought something new and exciting. Winning Grower of the Year was certainly a proud moment, but just as rewarding has been the chance to meet so many interesting and inspiring people along the way. More recently, helping HCP rise from the ashes of AHDB and evolve into a low-cost, efficient EAMU service has been both a challenge and a real joy.
What would you say are your areas of expertise?
My career has given me the chance to grow an incredible range of crops — from market garden produce to chrysanthemums, cyclamen, poinsettias, and vibrant summer bedding. But perhaps my proudest achievement has been nurturing the Primrose Festival at Barton Grange. What began as a small display has flourished into a major annual event, with over 70,000 primroses sold each year and many beautiful new Rudy Raes varieties introduced to the public.
What is your fantasy future horticultural innovation?
I believe the future of horticulture lies in unlocking the hidden conversations of plants. They are constantly sensing, adapting, and signalling in ways we can’t yet fully perceive — responding to light, moisture, soil health, pests, and climate changes. What if we could develop technology that translates these silent signals into something we can understand, giving us a real-time “window” into what plants are thinking and feeling? Such innovation could revolutionize crop care, reduce waste, improve yields, and deepen our connection to the living world around us.
What are you most looking forward to at Four Oaks as a visitor?
For me, Four Oaks is all about inspiration and connection. I love wandering through the plant displays — there’s always something fresh and surprising to spark new ideas. I’m especially keen to explore new plant health products that work with the plant’s own biology. And, perhaps best of all, it’s a wonderful chance to bump into old friends and share a few stories among the flowers.
Robin Squance is a judge at the Four Oaks new plants awards 2 September 2025
