Ross Dyke Bio

Ross Dyke is a leader in sustainable horticulture and agri-technology, dedicated to combining hands-on expertise, forward thinking research, and community outreach to shape the future of the industry. Based in Worcestershire, Ross holds a BSc (Hons) in Sustainable Horticulture & Agriculture Technology that he completed at Pershore College, part of WCG. His educational journey reflects both deep commitment and rapid progression, underpinned by strong apprenticeship and scholarship achievements. 

Ross began his career in horticulture in 2015 at Webbs Garden Centres in Worcestershire and went on to do a Level 3 Crop Technician apprenticeship, which he successfully completed in 2023. This foundational training gave him real world, practical experience in crop production, plant health, and hands on techniques across a variety of horticultural systems. Building upon this, he enrolled in the BSc (Honours) programme in Sustainable Horticulture & Agriculture Technology at Pershore College. The programme has equipped him with knowledge in sustainable practices, agri-tech innovations, environmental considerations, crop protection, and modern cultivation technologies.

Ross’s work and promise have been recognised by industry peers and institutions through several prestigious honours: In 2024, Ross was awarded a The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation Smart Garden  Scholarship, recognising students in horticulture who show excellence and promise - colegraveseabrookfoundation.org.uk
Also in 2024, he was one of the winners of the IPPS Europe Six Packer Awards, placing among rising talents acknowledged by the International Plant Production Society in Europe.
These accolades reflect Ross’s ability to combine academic success with applied skills and his leadership within the horticulture sector. In 2026 Ross won the environmental category for his Get Children Growing project, at the BBC Hereford and Worcester Make A Difference Awards.

Beyond formal study, Ross is heavily involved in initiatives intended to share knowledge, inspire future generations, and strengthen the horticultural community.

One such project is Get Children Growing, a project that to date has delivered over 16,000 free, eco-friendly grow kits to primary schools in the UK. On top of that the project has also built 5 pollinator gardens in schools in the Worcestershire area. This initiative is designed not just to teach children about plant growth and ecology, but to instil a sense of environmental stewardship and hands-on curiosity from an early age.

Ross also founded and runs The Plant Pod, a hub for horticultural content, podcasts, grants & bursaries, articles, videos, and more. Through The Plant Pod, he amplifies voices in the sector and supports cross sector dialogue on sustainable horticulture and plant science.  In each episode of his podcast, he has a guest from within the horticulture industry; these guests range from managing directors, plant growers, horticulture therapists, and celebrity gardeners.  

One of Ross’s major recent accomplishments was organising and hosting the inaugural “Helping You Grow a Better Future” horticulture conference at Pershore College on 12 February 2025.

This sold out event brought together students from Levels 1, 2, 3, and the BSc programme, along with industry experts, thought leaders, and technology providers. 160 + attendees,  participated in a full day of talks and networking.

Speakers addressed a diverse array of topics: sustainable crop protection, drone technology in horticulture, emerging plant cultivars and trends, industry futures, air pruning technology, among others. Key organisations represented included Mr Plant Geek, The Boyd Partnership, ICL, Impact Aerial, Proptek UK, The Colegrave Seabrook Foundation, HTA,  and WCG.

Ross chaired and coordinated the event, ensuring smooth logistics, speaker coordination, audience engagement, and content relevance. The conference not only showcased current knowledge and technologies, but also created space for mentorship, inspiration, and collaboration among students and professionals alike. Many have described it as deeply inspiring, and there is interest in making this an annual benchmark event. The next Helping You Grow A Better Future Conference will be held on 12th February 2027 at The FPC - Pershore College.

Now Ross has completed his BSc, Ross balances academic responsibilities with practical work; he has experience working as a Crop Technician for Webbs Garden Centres on their nursery, and at Bonterre CIC on their cut flower business.  Ross has also worked for Newey in Evesham, where he was a grower of bedding plants for B & M Bargains. As of summer 2026 Ross has been employed by Pershore College, where he serves as a Horticulture Course Leader. on top of that he is also the In-House Horticulture Expert at Hornby George PR, and writes a weekly Wednesday horticulture column for The Worcester News.

Ross’s interests lie strongly in sustainable horticultural practices, agri-technology innovation (from crop protection to growing tech), education and outreach, plant propagation, and helping build resilient, environmentally responsible food & plant production systems.

Looking forward, Ross aims to further integrate research and field work, to publish insights via The Plant Pod, to scale up educational outreach such as Get Children Growing, and to develop or participate in new technologies or businesses that can contribute meaningfully to horticulture in the UK and beyond. Ross has a book coming out in the autumn of 2026 titled The School Garden Guide: Grow, Cook, Learn.

You can contact Ross via his social media accounts listed below, or by dropping him an email at - ross@theplantpod.co.uk