Simon Maughan studied Plant Science at the University of Edinburgh, and has spent 25 years furthering his knowledge and developing a love of practical gardening and plants. He was employed in 1995 to work on the RHS A-Z of Garden Plants and has worked on many dozens of gardening books, covering all aspects of the subject from species rhododendrons to garden design. He has worked as an editor and publisher for the RHS for over 12 years.
Dr Ross Bayton gained a Bachelor's degree in tropical ecology, and later a Masters and a PhD, both in taxonomy. He is the co-author of New Trees: Recent Introductions to Cultivation and used to work for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine.