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The Team

Toby Buckland – Festival Director

A lifelong gardener, Toby dispenses his light-hearted garden wisdom and answers garden conundrums on his weekly garden BBC Radio Devon show, every Sunday from 9am to midday. He started out as a Devon boy as apprentice on a local rose nursery, via a botanic garden to researcher, and went on to present numerous gardening TV shows, including BBC Gardeners’ World, and RHS Chelsea Flowershow coverage. When not working as garden consultant to a local estate, Toby also writes a witty and practical weekly column for Amateur Gardening and Devon Life and is regular contributor to Telegraph Gardening. He also gives fun and informative garden talks around the UK and abroad.


Alan Lewis – Festival Director

Alan Lewis owns the Country Gardener series of magazines throughout the South West, Hampshire and the Cotswolds. A former newspaper and magazine editor, he was managing director of Archant Specialist Magazines before starting his own Somerset based publishing business. His experience at running exhibitions and events includes a period in charge of one of the UK’s largest specialist exhibitions businesses. Email: alan@tobygardenfest.co.uk  Tel: 01823 431767 


Gabrielle Jackson – Creative Director

Gabrielle’s career has largely been in television working for BBC TV, Granada TV and independent TV companies in the South West making food programmes.

Working with chefs Michael Caines, Heston Blumenthal, Gary Rhodes and many others, she also has a keen interest in growing food – particularly unusual vegetables. More recently she has been involved in organising festivals, putting together varied programmes of lectures and demonstrations and also has been much involved in selling and marketing South West events. 

Toby’s Garden Fest is owned and organised by Toby Buckland Garden Festivals Ltd