About us
A lifetime of gardening in Wellington
I know about gardening in Wellington
I’m Terri Shaw, and I’ve been gardening since I was a nipper, when I helped my mum in our Upper Hutt garden. Gardening is inherent to who I am and the family fascination goes back (at least) to my great-grandfather, who managed some of London’s unique parks.
Over the years I’ve owned five properties in Wellington’s southern suburbs. They were difficult sections with some big challenges. Some had precarious, crumbling banks. Others had clay or very poor soil. Another was extremely windy. One property had all of these challenges rolled into one.
Those gardens taught me a lot.
I planted to reduce wind, encourage birds, lizards and insects, establish native plants and suppress invasive plants. I grew food for the belly and food for the soul, and I owned chooks to help with gardening.
This local, hands-on experience, and my desire to share knowledge, is the foundation of Wild about Weeds.
Where we’re rooted
Alongside practical experience, I’ve always kept learning. Over the years I’ve studied the environment and nature through organic and permaculture gardening, landscape gardening, and horticulture at The Open Polytechnic. I’ve explored regenerative practices and, more recently, taken part in the Underground Soil Festival.
My curiosity about nature keeps growing.
After 18 years working in communications, it was time for a change. I took a break to travel and, while away, had a lightbulb moment. I really wanted the challenge of starting my own gardening business. It felt like an opportunity to bring together everything I’d learnt so far, both professionally and personally.
Today, the top notch Wild about Weeds team works with customers to create gardens they enjoy spending time in, while helping, in a small way, to allay climate change impacts. Wild about Weeds is for Wellington people and our environment. We’re all part of a larger ecosystem.
Caring for your garden
If you’d like support caring for your garden, look at our services or get in touch to see how we can work together.