Following completion of a BSc (1st Class Hons.) and MA in Archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology (UCL London), Twigs spent several years working as an archaeologist in England, Europe and South America, supervising excavation projects and undertaking training of students and professionals. She developed a particular interest in prehistoric and environmental archaeology. In 1990 Twigs commenced a PhD at Cambridge studying the impact of park creation on landscapes in Cambridgeshire. This led her to focus on the social, cultural and status dimensions of landscapes and to further work on park-related crime. Subsequently, Twigs carried out a series of projects for Cambridgeshire County Council on Heritage Monuments, Celebration of the Millennium, and a Gazetteer of Parks and Gardens in the county. In 2001 Twigs designed and implemented a new Certificate programme in garden history for the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education based at Madingley Hall, subsequently developing a Diploma programme as well. She has also lectured for Birkbeck College, London and is a popular speaker with NADFAS, the University of the Third Age, friends of museums or galleries and other groups. Twigs undertakes consultancy work and research for private clients and for public bodies such as English Heritage. She has compiled a number of histories of private gardens, worked on conservation and management plans for historic parks and gardens, and assisted with the preparation of funding and planning applications. She has also co-ordinated research projects for Essex Gardens Trust. In the media, Twigs has appeared in television programmes for Channel 4, BBC East Anglia and on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. Her latest book 'Virgins Weeders and Queens: A History of Women in the Garden' was published by Sutton in November 2006. She is currently working on the relationship between war and gardens. Twigs lives in Cambridge where a growing number of pet rabbits enjoy her unique 'rabbit friendly' garden. She is a regular contributor to Rabbitting on. |
