With more people looking to eat healthily and with the growing popularity of vegetarian and vegan foods, salad is now so much more than a garnish on a plate.

One man who knows a thing or two about salad leaves is pioneering salad farmer Dr Steve Rothwell, the man behind funky salad brand Steve’s Leaves (www.stevesleaves.co.uk) and the first person in the UK to have a PhD in watercress – yes really!

Together with his team of Hampshire based salad farmers, Steve has introduced a wide variety of salad leaves to the UK, including rocket, baby spinach and pea shoots.

Today Steve’s Leaves prides itself on its unique and delicious salads, which are washed in spring water, produced to high environmental standards and available in handy, convenient small bags to reduce waste. Steve’s Leaves is available to enjoy from Waitrose, Ocado and independent foodie outlets like Wholefoods.

Here Steve shares ten things you might not know about salad