Alice studied Biological Sciences at Oxford University. The degree incorporated aspects of Plants, Productivity and the Environment, Ecology and Conservation, as well as fieldwork both in the UK and Portugal. She has volunteered for BTCV and the Sussex Wildlife Trust but has been mainly involved in Science education for over 20 years.
Teaching Biology both in classroom and outdoor settings, Alice has enjoyed developing ideas and growing an appreciation and awareness of the environment and its importance for the future generations. Her latest role as part of the Silvatree team combines her ongoing passion for the natural environment with her background in Biological Sciences.
Maria has travelled the world in pursuit of her lifelong interest in gardening and landscaping. She has worked on long-term projects in South America and Australia in a variety of areas including deforestation and WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms). Her experience on hard-landscaping projects has included construction of sheds, cabins, decking and glamping pods all enhanced by a planting background. She has also been involved in farming and harvesting, as well as general grounds and garden maintenance.
Growing up with a grandfather as the head gardener of a large National Trust site enabled her to spend the summer breaks drawing inspiration from the beautiful grounds. Later in life Maria began to work on her own landscaping projects.