Experienced and knowledgeable nurseryman Stuart Gammage has joined the ICL (formerly Everris) professional horticulture technical sales team, advising growers in East Anglia.
Stuart takes over from Mike Humphries, a highly respected, popular and longstanding member of the team, who is retiring at the end of July to become a consultant and devote more time to his Christmas tree growing business.
With nearly 30 years experience gained at Notcutts Nurseries, which became John Woods Nurseries, Stuart entered the industry straight from school on an YTS scheme. A two-year apprenticeship followed setting him on his way to becoming Technical Assistant Manager, overseeing the day to day running of the technical department on the busy 64 acre nursery. Along the way he has gained qualifications including a City and Guild level 3 in Nursery Stock Production and is a member of NRoSO.
“Stuart joins our technical sale team with considerable practical growing experience as well as in-depth working knowledge of our products,” says ICL professional horticulture sales manager Adrian Thirtle-Watts. “His knowledge of propagation, liner and container production as well as open ground field production of trees, roses and herbaceous plants will prove invaluable in advising and working with other growers.“
Having overall responsibility for devising nutrition, plant protection and growing media programmes at John Woods Nurseries, Stuart has plenty of hands on experience of ICL’s Osmocote controlled release range, the Peters and Universol water soluble ranges as well as Levington growing media and plant protection portfolio and will be studying for the BASIS and FACTS qualification once settled in to his new role.
Outside of work, Stuart and his wife Teresa enjoy unwinding at Centre Parcs and are committed supporters of the East Anglian Air Ambulance, which came to her rescue six years ago when involved in a serious workplace accident.