Lecturer in Horticulture

Email: rachel.freeman@tudublin.ie

Tel: +353 1 220 7331

Rachel is a full-time Lecturer in Horticulture with 25 years experience in both the further and higher education sectors.  Rachel holds a Teagasc Diploma in Amenity Horticulture from the National Botanic Gardens Glasnevin, a BSc (Hons) Horticulture from University College Writtle, Post Graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurial Education from UCD and an MSc in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture from University of Coventry. 

Her early career in industry was spent in the areas of nursery, landscape and horticulture retail. She later entered the FE sector with the Irish Probation and Welfare Service, teaching horticulture to young offenders, young mothers and marginalised groups.

Rachel lectures on and is Co-Chair of, the BSc (Hons) Horticulture programme and is both final year thesis and industry placement coordinator. In lecturing Rachel enjoys sharing the practice of horticulture, where she focuses on creative experiential activities in her teaching, and reflection as a component of delivering authentic assessment strategies. She is motivated by a strong desire to support all learners in developing the professional skills to succeed in their chosen career.

With colleagues in the University she has exhibited at Bloom, where, as team lead on two occasions, the team won at both gold and bronze level. University civic engagement activities provide opportunities for collaborative projects with students, sharing skills and building networks locally, in both school gardens and with community groups. She is a sought after specialist in the areas of School Gardens and Social and Therapeutic Horticulture, has presented papers at conference both in the UK and Ireland, and is a regular contributor to Horticulture Connected magazine.

Research Interests

The role of the School Garden in Irish Primary Education, Social and Therapeutic Horticulture, Community Gardens, Sustainable Landscape management, Trees, Interior Landscapes and Floristry.