Nadine Mansfield is swapping marketing for magnolias as she exhibits at the RHS Flower Show in Tatton Park this year.
After a 25-year career in marketing for some of the most well known brands including Manchester United, Manchester Airport and British Airways, Nadine Mansfield has decided to embrace her love of gardening.
In 2020, Nadine completed the RHS level 2 diploma in Principles & Practices of Horticulture, in which she gained a distinction for the Garden Design Module.
Now she is excited to exhibit in ‘The Career Changer of the Year Competition’ category at the popular July event.
Family genes
She said: “I’ve always felt at home when in nature and gardens. My mum used to run her own floristry business in Cheshire and my grandad was an avid horticulturist, so it is most definitely in the genes.
“Designing a show garden at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park 2024 will be a fabulous next step for me in my garden design career and the category of The Career Changer of the Year Competition is certainly the perfect fit for me.”
Following the birth of her son in 2015 Nadine found increasing pleasure from being outdoors and was spending more time in the garden.
Then when she moved house, she decided to embark on the studying route with a view to changing career. The garden was a blank canvas and it was the ideal opportunity to develop her horticultural and design skills.
Nadine added: “I have a lot to thank my previous career for I spent over 25 years in the corporate world and was fortunate to enjoy some fantastic experiences along the way, travel the world and deliver projects of which I’m really proud of. The years I spent in senior marketing roles for major brands have stood me in good stead to be able to run my own business and work in an industry I truly love.
“It genuinely never feels like I’m going to work. Providing clients with creative solutions to their brief, and seeing those ideas built, is a privilege. Garden design is a wonderful career and horticulture is something we should see on the national curriculum as it plays a fundamental part in all our futures.”
Career change
Since the creation of her garden design business she hasn’t looked back. Nadine has worked with many clients across the North West in spaces both large and small.
Exhibiting at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park will be pertinent in her career change journey as she has recently embarked upon a masters in Landscape Architecture Studies to build her knowledge and expertise even further. She is also a pre-registered member of the Society of Garden Designers.
The Career Changer of The Year Competition is a brand new category for 2024 and open to those aged 31 or over, who have not exhibited in any show garden category at any RHS shows previously.
Nadine will be at RHS Flower Show Tatton Park from July 17-21.
