Meet Lee Betts | Plant Records Manager, National Trust, UK.

With 180 parks and gardens registered in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the National Trust UK is Europe's largest conservation charity and collection of historic gardens and parks. Lee Betts is the Plant Records Manager overseeing this impressive list of historic treasures. He tells us the distinct botanical moments and plants that inspired him to pursue horticulture and plant conservation. 

When did you know you wanted a career in Horticulture?

In 2004, I visited the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, which really opened my eyes to the world of plants. As I meandered around the terraced subtropical paradise paths, I was star-struck by the unusual specimens' different types of foliage, habits, and flowers. This catalysed further trips to National Trust Gardens and private gardens in South-West England, a plant lover's paradise with a deep history of plant hunting.  The final piece of the puzzle was a trip to the Isles of Scilly in 2009, where I saw many frost-tender specimens from South Africa to New Zealand growing happily outside. I knew then that I wanted to pursue a career in horticulture and grow unusual subtropical plants.

Lee at Overbeck’s National Trust Garden with a Juania australis.

Who are your Horticulture mentors?

I've had many mentors from all walks of horticulture—from private head gardeners and plant specialists to botanists and living collection curators. I am very fortunate to have met horticultural experts along my journey, and I feel privileged, in some instances, to have these experts pass down their knowledge to me. I have taken a little specialist knowledge from everyone and built an excellent horticultural foundation for further learning.

What is the plant or horticulture event that started it all for you?

Which garden/ nursery tool or aid could you not live without?

It has to be the secateurs I use for cutting, pruning, and tidying specimens. I probably go through 3 pairs a year. Maybe I need to invest in a pair that will last a bit longer!

What IrisBG report do you find most useful?
The item summary report is the one I use the most for collections. I generally use it for item splitting into separate accessions, position fixing for multiple records, and any other mass record changes that can’t be done in Item Management.
What have you found the most handy IrisBG function to use?
Probably the Data import module or Item Management. Anything that speeds up managing and updating plant records gets my vote. As the National Trust's plant records manager (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland), I manage approximately 400 plant records collections, so tools that help me do this role faster are valued.
Do you have a book or podcast that you would like to recommend?
I listen to the Talking Heads’ Gardening podcast. Saul Walker is a good friend of mine and helped me initiate my transition to horticulture in 2018. Saul and his cohost, Lucy Chamberlain, talk about what it’s like to be professional horticulturists leading busy teams on large, private estates.

Lee representing Exotic Earth Plants at Plant Fair, 2018.

What is one thing that most people wouldn't guess about you?
As of June 2024, I am a Plant Heritage National Collection holder of Brugmansia in the UK. I hold a private collection of Brugmansia, which I make available to customers online at my website, Exotic Earth Plants , and at fairs throughout the year. I am also an active member of Brugmansia Growers International and Plant Heritage.