Matt James is a garden designer, horticulturist and university lecturer who rose to fame on the TV programme 'The City Gardener' which is shown on the UK's Channel 4. Originally from Essex, he now resides in Cornwall with his wife.
Matt's gardening career began when he was a teenager working on a small farm. He then went on to study at various horticultural colleges and work at nurseries. He was honoured in 2000 as Londoner of the Year in the field of Environment and Regeneration, in recognition of his work establishing a successful circuit of Farmers' Markets in the capital. Today his enthusiasm has led him to teaching and he now lectures on a part time basis in Garden Design at Falmouth University College in Cornwall.
Matt has also won two Gold awards at the annual California landscape Contractors Association Awards.
Matt's greatest passion as a gardener is trees - he is a genuine, 21st-century tree hugger and has made it his mission in life to get as many cityfolk as possible planting trees again.
The success of the City Gardener TV programme has also led onto other successful TV programmes - Matt James Eco Eden is shown on UKTV and he is also the co-host of Selling Houses.
Matt James has also filmed an American version of The City Gardener called Urban Outsiders for HGTV, featuring gardens in New York and Los Angeles. The first 13 shows aired in 2006, the remaining 13 shows are due to air shortly.
Matt has also released a book - The City Garden Bible released in 2005, The City Gardener in 2003 and The City Gardener:Urban Oasis in 2004.
Matt has also released a range of plants, exotic trees and shrubs named the 'Matt James Collection' which are sold through various outlets in the UK.