Meet the Team

Peter became interested in tropical ferns whilst making regular trips to India in the 1990s and 2000s. He retired from the NHS in 2012, allowing him to develop his interest in growing tropical ferns from spores. He now lives in Norwich, where he has much more space to grow them. He maintains a particular interest in the ferns of South India and Sri Lanka.

Matthew is an amateur pteridomaniac with a passion for tropical, tender and aquatic ferns. He is an avid collector with a keen interest in fern taxonomy. His day job is in theatre, where he works as a musical director and composer.

Ruth is a professional horticulturist and fern enthusiast, particularly fascinated by filmy ferns. She works at Treborth Botanic Garden, where she helps care for and develop the Tropical House and the National Collection of Welsh ferns. She also runs a specialist horticultural business. Originally trained in benthic taxonomy, she developed a deeper interest in tropical plants, fern ecology and conservation during her time in Southeast Asia.

Richard is a professional horticulturist with a passion for plant conservation and tropical ecology. He runs a specialist horticultural business and works at Treborth Botanic Garden, where he helps maintain and expand its collection of tropical and temperate ferns.

Miguel is based at the Hortus Botanicus in Leiden, where he worked on a voluntary basis from his early teens before being appointed full-time. He is particularly interested in ferns and has worked alongside Harry Roskam in maintaining and expanding their large hardy fern collection. Prior to his appointment at Leiden, he worked at Henk Braam, one of the biggest companies in the world specialising in the mass production of fern sporelings for the horticultural trade.

Alex is an amateur pteridologist growing miniature fern species in terrariums, along with unusual winter-hardy and cold-tolerant ferns in the garden. Originally a keen aquarist, his focus switched from zoology to botany whilst studying biology at university. He remembers choosing ferns over flowers from a young age and believes you can always find space for another.