Garden Designer
"There were moments when I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t make it to the end, but I have, and I feel much better prepared for the real world."
What was your background before KLC?
Adult education policy and funding. My last job before studying garden design was running a small training company for a national charity.
Why did you decide to study Garden Design?
I remember being in a meeting with the head of a local authority adult-learning service when she said she was retiring to run a nursery in Yorkshire. I was so jealous. That conversation flipped a switch in my head and I knew I had to work with plants.
What did you think of the course?
It is amazing to work on real live projects and to know that each one matters to the clients. It is also extraordinary to hear from so many influential figures in garden design. The workload is challenging - there were moments when I wasn’t sure I wouldn’t make it to the end, but I have, and I feel much better prepared for the real world.
What are your design interests/strengths?
Planting design is probably my biggest strength. I love plants and find them endlessly interesting, and I like the challenge of thinking in so many different dimensions. You have to balance spatial and visual design with the effects of time, climate and chemistry.
Which are your favourite gardens?
I only really have one favourite garden – Fenton House in Hampstead. It is a perfect example of organized chaos, and I get to go there once a week and get my hands dirty. Some mornings I walk in and it takes my breath away. I have learnt so much from Andrew Darragh, the Head Gardener there, both about plants and design.
