RSS Governance

I began my career as a commercial grower before spending over 25 years as Technical and Quality Manager at Homebase, specialising in garden centre products, quality standards, and sustainability.

I’ve always been passionate about driving the industry towards more responsible practices, contributing to initiatives like the Growing Media Initiative, the Growing Media Task Force, and helping to found the Responsible Sourcing Scheme.

Today, I run my own gardening business, working directly with customers to create and care for their gardens. This hands-on experience offers valuable insight into how industry products are used and understood at a consumer level, completing the full circle of my professional journey in horticulture

Catherine Dawson has worked with bark and horticultural growing media for well over three decades, following a degree in Soil Science and irrigation research in the vineyards of South Africa.

As Technical Director for Melcourt Industries, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of peat-free growing media, she has been instrumental in developing commercially successful media that are widely used by professional growers and gardeners across the UK.

A previous Chair of the Growing Media Association, Catherine has been very actively involved in the Responsible Sourcing of Growing Media Scheme from its inception as well as various other industry committees.

I was brought up in Devon on a small farm that became an organic market garden and then a retail nursery and garden centre.

My wife Louise, and I graduated from the University of Bath with degrees in horticulture. We set up Castle Gardens in 1987 and we now have 3 garden centres, Castle Gardens in Sherborne, Dorset, Brimsmore Gardens in Yeovil, Somerset and Poundbury Gardens in Poundbury, Dorchester, known collectively as The Gardens Group. I am a former Chairman of the Garden Centre Association and still represent the GCA in peat free matters liaising with other organisations including a close relationship with the RHS.

I am a non executive director of the Horticultural Trades Association (HTA). I was awarded the Pearson Memorial Medal by the HTA in 2024.

I have been on the board of the Responsible Sourcing Scheme since May 2022.

I have a strong interest in the environment, sustainability and community. I speak regularly to garden clubs and other organisations on gardening subjects especially those related to the environment and how positive gardening is for mental heath, physical health and the environment.

I have worked as a soil scientist supporting horticulture for 40 plus years.

My main areas of expertise are around physical constituents of growing media and fertiliser requirements.

I was the chairman of AHDB Horticulture for 7 years, and past chair of the BOA and OHAS.

Simon Blackhurst is managing director of growing-media business Treasure Gardening and director of SJB Quality Consulting.

He was formerly at The Greener Gardening Company (ex-Bord na Móna), working in peat-free production, quality standards and innovation.

Blackhurst has been developing peat-free mixes for businesses and is the Growing Media Association Chair, advocating on behalf of the manufacturers in the growing-media industry.

Steve Carter is the General Manager of Fleurie Nursery Ltd. and Director of
the Farplants Group.

He has been a grower of ornamental plants for over 25 years. The Farplants Group spans multiple production sites in the six villages area of West Sussex, supplying approximately 10 million pots to garden centres and multiple retailers nationwide.

For the past 20 years he has been involved in the transitional journey of growing media, serving on AHDB, DEFRA, GMA and latterly RSS groups.

Steve Harper is a leading figure in the UK horticultural industry, recognised for his commitment to sustainability, innovation, and responsible sourcing.

With more than 25 years’ experience across manufacturing, retail, and product development, he has been instrumental in shaping the industry’s transition towards peat-free growing media and more sustainable supply chains.

As Chair of the Responsible Sourcing Scheme (RSS) for Growing Media, Steve works collaboratively with government, manufacturers, and retailers to establish clear, evidence-based standards for responsible material use and transparency across the sector.

Previously CEO of Southern Trident, he helped build the company into one of the UK’s most respected suppliers of coir-based, peat-free composts and sustainable growing media. Now as Managing Director of Grass Gains, Steve leads the development of high-performance, eco-conscious lawn and plant-care products designed for the peat-free generation.

A regular contributor to trade conferences, industry panels, and podcasts, Steve combines technical expertise with commercial insight and a practical approach to sustainability that continues to influence the direction of modern horticulture.