About

I feel so fortunate to have been working in gardens since 1996.

Garden making is a process, so I love to stay involved, after the initial design, to add more layers over time.

I have worked with some of my clients and their families for decades, ranging from small city gardens to large country estates.

I am happy to travel worldwide, especially if your garden is beside a surfing beach!

Currently based in the UK, between London and a farm (“Chooksbury”!) near Tewkesbury, thanks to our lockdown hens.

Being back in the countryside feels natural, having spent the first 18 years of my life on a farm in South Africa.

Philosophy

It is so exciting that gardens can be “living art” that change with each moment, increasing biodiversity and biophilia - not just aesthetic nourishment.

I try to make gardens look like they have seeded themselves and always been in place.

Slowing you down and inviting you to explore with meandering pathways and circular clearings, surrounded by immersive planting.

Holding water helps wildlife more than any other habitat and makes us pause to ponder, so I am very passionate about creating ponds.

Process

Once we have agreed the initial design, I work with your architect and builders or recommend contractors for any hardscaping/groundworks.

I then source the plants and lay them out intuitively. I create visuals, planting plans and mood boards if the budget allows.

I tend to propose meadows and gravel gardens over traditional flower beds, for their higher density of flowers, life and drama with less work and water.

This “wild” style still requires ongoing gardening to keep the planting dynamic, so I have a few gardeners who help me and love it when clients want to garden with us.

Every act as a gardener can be creative; a process of editing and making, not “maintaining” something static, we can be ecosystem engineers and artists.