Sylvia has worked in horticulture for over 20 years, having studied at the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin and at Reading University. Specialising in kitchen gardening throughout her career, she moved to Denmark to complete a PhD in plant science in 2010. She ran the productive gardens at The Lost Gardens of Heligan and has set up and managed kitchen gardens for Michelin starred restaurants. She also worked for the RHS overseeing the construction and planting on the Paradise and Kitchen gardens at Bridgewater in Salford. These days she is Head of Horticulture at Haigh Hall in Wigan, Lancashire, a part time tutor at West Dean College of Arts and Conservation as well as consulting on all aspects of walled kitchen garden restoration and management.