Lance Chilton first visited Greece in April 1982, travelling to Plakias in southern Crete to see the flora. Further visits led to him initiating and guiding botanical walks there for a UK holiday company. Later, based in Iraklion from 1987-1991, he worked full time for them in the administration of their Crete, Rhodes and Kos program.

Since setting up his own company, Marengo, in 1993, he has been writing, drawing and publishing walk guidebooks and large-scale maps, and leading walks in Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the Canaries. In addition to walking and botanical publications from Marengo, Lance co-authored (with Nicholas J Turland) "Flora of the Cretan Area", published by The Natural History Museum in 1993, and has contributed to articles in various international botanical journals.

Lance's main interest is in the flora of Greece and of the Canarian islands of Gomera and La Palma. More details can be found at the Marengo website, www.marengowalks.com.