Modern heroes of horticulture - Roy Lancaster

Roy Lancaster, born in 1937, is one of British horticultures most recognised figures.  Growing up in Bolton, Lancashire, he embarked on a journey that would take him around the world in search of rare and interesting plants. 

Roy’s early years were marked by a curiosity for the world that surrounded him.  The flora of his childhood home—dahlias, chrysanthemums, privet, and laburnum - sparked an interest that would lead to the botanical world he would later explore.  As a teenager, he took his first professional steps, joining the Bolton Parks Department in 1952.

His horizons expanded dramatically during his national service in Malaya.  Here, he immersed himself in the tropical paradise, recording and collecting specimens, and corresponding with experts about his discoveries.  This laid the groundwork for his future as a plant hunter and botanist of international renown.

Upon returning to England, Roy’s horticultural education continued at the prestigious Cambridge Botanic Gardens.  This apprenticeship honed his skills and deepened his knowledge, preparing him for the next significant chapter in his career - eighteen years with Hillier Nurseries.  It was here that his expertise truly shone, culminating in the creation of the Hillier Manual—a comprehensive plant catalogue that became an indispensable resource, the ‘bible’ if you like, for gardeners and botanists alike.

Roy’s curiosity and adventurous spirit led him to embark on numerous plant-hunting expeditions.  His travels to Nepal and China, chronicled in his books ‘A Plantsman in Nepal’ and ‘A Plantsman's Paradise - Travels in China,’ not only expanded the known botanical world but also inspired countless gardeners and plant enthusiasts across the globe.

As his reputation grew, so did the demands for his expertise and he became a sought-after lecturer, particularly in the United States.  These speaking engagements allowed him to share his vast knowledge and infectious enthusiasm, while also providing opportunities to explore new landscapes and encounter plants in their native habitats—a pursuit that seemed to bring him as much joy as his professional success.

An innate ability to communicate his passion made him a natural for television and radio.  For eight years, he turned up every week on BBC's Gardener's World, later expanding his reach through various Channel 4 programmes.  His warmth and  knowledge on Gardeners’ Question Time made him a trusted voice for amateur and professional gardeners alike.  In print, his contributions to magazines and journals, were numerous and included a forty-year stint with the Royal Horticultural Society's ‘The Garden’.

Throughout his career, Roy remained, at heart, a plantsman who loved storytelling.  His autobiography is a testament to this, telling tales of botanical discoveries and fond memories of the friends and colleagues who shared his journey.  Each plant he encountered holds a story, a connection to a person or a place that has left a mark on his life.

At home in his own garden the diverse range of plants is a living anthology of his life's work - his own private botanical garden..

Having sat next to Roy at a garden media dinner we can vouch for his continual enthusiasm and passion for sharing information.  In his eighth decade, even the restrictions of lockdown couldn’t stop him finding interest just outside his front door.   Every journey to the corner shop was an opportunity to log an encounter with a wild plant.