The head of horticulture at Bristol Zoo Gardens steps into the West Country Life spotlight

What makes the West Country "home" to you?

Having a pint of cider with family or friends on a sunny afternoon.

How do you relax?

I play Pinball a lot and have games at home.

When and where are you happiest?

Having a BBQ with my family in our garden.

What's your earliest memory?

Playing with chickens on a farm in Northumberland when I was about three.

What makes you laugh?

People – including myself. There is nothing stranger and funnier than real life.

What do you dream of?

Achieving positive plant conservation action and winning a major international pinball competition.

What is your greatest fear?

I suppose it would be getting too old to do the things I enjoy.

Who do you admire, living or dead, and why?

Jimi Hendrix for his invention and imagination with the guitar, or my Grandfather for the way he lived his life with dignity and in modesty despite only just surviving shrapnel wounds in the First World War.

What is your worst habit?

Dwelling on unimportant stuff.

What possession could you not live without?

Possessions don't mean that much to me so I guess something functional like my home.

What is your greatest frustration?

Red tape and over management or anything that I can't resolve.

What is your favourite book?

Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West, by Dee Brown, because it is so thought provoking. Or the RHS Dictionary of plants.

What is your favourite word?

Today it is nudge.

What would you chose to eat and drink at your last meal?

Lasagne, with a Greek feta cheese and olive salad, some nice Merlot wine, followed by some chocolate halva.

What or who is the love of your life?

Janice my wife, along with our two kids (who are now bigger than me).

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Amy Winehouse, Iggy Pop, Shirley Manson, Brian Molko and Lou Reed. Alex Harvey would have got an invite if he was still alive. It would be an interesting dinner party with all those egos in the same room.

What law would you introduce if you were in charge?

No more laws; I would get rid of some of the sillier ones.

What single thing would improve your life?

A better work/life balance would be nice.

What is your greatest achievement?

I have promoted plant conservation issues for several years internationally through writing articles and speaking at conferences.

I am helping establish Plant Conservation Day, which is on May the 18th each year.

I'm also pleased to have represented the UK internationally at Pinball, been ranked in the top 100 world players, and this year have been invited to play in the World Championships.

What talent do you wish you had?

I wish that I had an amazing singing voice as I love music.

How would you like to be remembered?

Fondly and with a smile.