Now a free-lance author and tutor, Patrick Harding BSc, DPhil is an ex-university lecturer who has enjoyed teaching adults for over 30 years; about the same time that he has been a vegetarian.

Patrick is the author of eight popular books including 4 on mushrooms, 2 on wild flowers and 1 each on trees and Christmas. He has made frequent appearances on television including BBC Breakfast, Castle in the Country, Flying Gardener and Richard & Judy.

As a teacher he believes that education should be fun. Along with giving one off talks he takes residential courses for a number of organisations including Cambridge University and leads study tours both in this country and abroad.

His courses at Parkdale include a day on edible wild mushrooms and a day on food (and drink) from the countryside.