Interviews
Interviewing The Plant Rescuer Sarah Gerrard-Jones: 'I Love Experimenting To See What Works'
Sarah Gerrard-Jones is the Author and Curator of The Plant Rescuer and is known to her 302k online followers by that name too. Her passion for reviving dying houseplants has inspired thousands and Sarah has even gone on to display her own garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, winning a gold medal in 2022. I spoke to Sarah to find out more about her gardening journey in her own words. How Did You First Get Into Horticulture? “As a child, I spent time with my Grandad in his garden where he grew an array of vegetables and flowers, but it was as a student, without the luxury of outdoor space, that I developed a love for growing plants indoors,” says Sarah. “More recently, I became obsessed with rescuing plants. “This started when I was at a local DIY shop and saw members of staff binning Orchids which had finished flowering. It struck me as really sad that these healthy plants were being thrown away simply because they had stopped flowering, so I asked if I could take them home. “Seeing them flower again inspired me to go out looking for more plants which needed rescuing. I rarely buy the perfect plants when I go to shops because I know other people will, so it’s the sad ones which I scoop up and bring home to rehabilitate. “It’s really rewarding to see them recover.” What Is It about Houseplants That You Love? “Outside in the garden, plants have all they need to survive, but indoors, it’s up to us to provide them with everything they need to survive. “I love experimenting to see what works best. It’s a challenge to grow plants indoors, but seeing a plant thriving is so rewarding – knowing you did that. “I can spend hours tending to my plants. It’s my way of relaxing and forgetting about the stresses of everyday life.” What Was The Process Behind Designing Your Gold Medal Winning Display At The Chelsea Flower Show In 2022? “A lack of knowledge and improper care can contribute to the cycle of buying and killing plants,” she explains. “The idea behind The Plant Clinic was to help break this cycle by demonstrating simple adjustments and additions which can increase the health and longevity of plants. “This includes the correct substrate, light and plant food. “Houseplants are often viewed as short-lived disposable items, much like a wilted bunch of flowers, but with some basic care, they can live for decades and even become heirlooms.” How Much Does The Online Gardening Community Mean To You? “Social media has been an incredible tool in my gardening career and without it, I wouldn’t have met so many amazing, talented people, some of whom have become close friends. “Since joining Instagram, I’ve found it to be a great place to learn new ideas and share not only successes but failures too. “Much of what you see on social media isn’t reality but I think it’s important to share true experiences, including the highs and the lows, as this normalises the challenges we all face as houseplant growers. “My aim is to encourage people not to show off!” What Advice Would You Give To Those Who Are Thinking About Getting Their First Houseplant? “We can all be happy plant owners with healthy plants if we choose the plant that’s right for our home,” says Sarah. “Before buying a plant, it’s best to think ahead and understand the conditions your home can provide so you can choose a plant that suits you. “That initial research is the first step to choosing a long-lasting, happy and healthy relationship which need not end in dead plants and tears.” What’s Next For You And The Plant Rescuer? “There will almost certainly be another book which I’m excited to start writing and I hope many more plant growers and retailers will join the Plant Rescue Box Initiative. “Most of us agree that throwing away vegetables because they’re wonky shouldn’t be an acceptable practice, yet plants are discarded on a massive scale for the same reason. “The Plant Rescue Box gives imperfect plants a second chance and prevents valuable resources from being wasted. The initiative, championed by the RHS, highlights the importance of sustainability in horticulture. “I’ll also be at Gardeners’ World Live from 15th-18th June with The Plant Clinic,” she says. “The Plant Clinic aims to educate houseplant owners on how to reduce the stress our houseplants experience in our homes and how to increase plants’ health and well-being.”
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Hannah Reid AKA 'Ginger Grows' On The Träkol Kitchen Garden Project And New Initiatives
Hannah Reid, better known online as @gingergrows1, is an Organic Gardener and Garden Writer who runs her own allotment in the North of England. She is currently working as the Head Gardener at Träkol Restaurant, where she grows and provides edible crops for use in the kitchen, and has her first solo RHS project coming up at RHS Hampton Court Palace in July. I was lucky enough to speak to Hannah to find out more about her and her love for gardening. How Did You First Get Into Gardening? “I have been gardening since I was young,” says Hannah. “My Mam and Auntie really loved their gardens and started taking me to garden centres as soon as I was old enough to walk! I always helped in the garden by planting bedding plants and watering the beds. “My own interest really started with houseplants when I moved into my own home. I then experimented with growing herbs and vegetables indoors (in a third-story flat!). I grew tomato plants and cucumbers in my kitchen but quickly realised I needed more room, so I applied for an allotment. I was lucky and got a plot straight away. I’ve had my allotment for 5 seasons. Last year, my hobby became my full-time job, and I started growing on a commercial scale for a restaurant on the Quayside – Träkol. “I grow produce and micro greens on-site for them.” Can You Tell Me More About The Träkol Kitchen Garden Project? “The Träkol Kitchen garden has been in development over the last few years,” she shares. “I joined the team over a year ago now as Head Gardener, growing produce and microgreens on-site for the kitchen. “The aim is for a near-zero waste, nose-to-tail, closed-loop food system with sustainable practices. We have 13 raised beds, a greenhouse and a grow room upstairs with lights for microgreens. “The produce has increased in volume year on year. I work closely with the chefs onsite and grow seasonally for the changing menu we have.” What Drives Your Passion For Gardening? “I love knowing exactly where my food has come from. I grow without the use of chemicals, which I think is important, as I leave no negative impact on the environment or animals. “I like knowing what I’m eating is completely organic and fresh, with zero food miles, too. “I also find that gardening helps me to relax. When I’m potting on or concentrating on pricking out tiny little seedlings, it’s the only thing I can think about. “My mind switches off from everything else and, when life is usually so busy and hectic, I love this!” How Important Is Organic Gardening To You? “Organic gardening is all I have known, as it is all I have ever done,” explains Hannah. “When I first started gardening, I knew I had no intentions of using chemicals or fertilisers. “I think even just growing your own food is a massive way to help the climate. “Transporting food around the world means a lot of miles, so by growing your own, you are helping to reduce the fossil fuels burnt from importing foods from other countries. “Unfortunately, eating seasonally does also mean no strawberries in November!” What Have You Learnt From Documenting So Much Of Your Horticulture Journey Online? “There is such a wonderful group online. Gardeners are willing to give information so freely and share some of their plants and harvests, too. “I started my own Instagram as a form of a journal, a log to look back on. I had no idea that the community of gardeners online was so huge! “I have met some lovely people over the years, some of whom I have connected with online from the beginning and eventually met in person at gardening events or shows. “I have had conversations with people from all over the country and the world, which provides an insight into life and gardening I likely would never have gotten without the internet. “There are so many innovative ideas online that people have tried, such as using plastic bottles or milk cartons to grow seedlings in or making tool storage and planters out of upcycled pallets. “There is so much information right at my fingertips and I am so appreciative of that.” What’s Next For You And Ginger Grows? “I will be exhibiting a community allotment garden at RHS Hampton Court Palace garden festival in July, which I am so excited and nervous about as it is approaching quickly! “The majority of the plants have been grown from seed here in Newcastle, in partnership with Ouseburn Farm, a charity which provides a space for adults with additional needs to grow their own food and care for animals. “This is the first year I’ve done an RHS show myself. It’s been a whirlwind since I found out I was accepted in February, but I have loved every minute so far. “I’m also planning on getting a Youtube channel up and running with regular videos and longer content. I have started recording the videos already in the run-up to the show.” What Advice Would You Give To Those Who Are Thinking About Getting Into Gardening Or Starting An Allotment? “Just go for it! Buy a packet of seeds and give it a try. “I think people would be surprised how much you can grow even with limited space. No matter what size your garden, allotment, balcony or even windowsill is, there will be plants you can grow. “My main piece of advice is to spend some time just watching. Watch the way the sun moves across your garden or allotment, see which areas are in shade at what times of day and then plan accordingly. “Even when everything is planted up and you’re in the swing of things, it’s so important to just sit back and appreciate it for a minute or two. “Taking on an allotment is a lot of work depending on how well looked after the plot has been, but it’s so rewarding and fun. “I’d start small, clearing a few areas at a time and covering other areas you’re not working on with black plastic, cardboard or membrane – to help you manage the workload and keep weeds at bay until you’re ready to clear that area. “Most importantly – it’s meant to be fun! So, enjoy the process and hopefully, you will harvest some veggies or some beautiful cut flowers as a bonus!”
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Gardeners Lucy Hutchings And Kate Cotterill On Their ‘She Grows Veg’ Community
Lucy Hutchings, better known as @shegrowsveg on her socials, has been sharing her edible plant-growing journey online since 2017. This year, with the help of fellow Horticulturist, Garden Designer and vegetable enthusiast Kate Cotterill, the pair have turned the ‘She Grows Veg’ community into a garden design business and garden brand. With their first show garden coming up imminently, Kate & Lucy are also busy planning a new website, podcast episodes, online vegetable growing courses and a seed range that will all be available later this year. We learn all about them and how they are embarking on this new journey together in their own words. Please note that the imagery featured in this article is provided courtesy of Lucy Hutchings & Kate Cotterill from She Grows Veg. How Did You Both Get Into Gardening? “I’ve always grown some food throughout my life, but I never classed it as a hobby,” says Lucy. “I think I just liked any type of plant that was edible in some way.” “Previously I went to art school and then ran a fashion label for a decade, so I had a completely different life that was very removed from horticulture. During this time, I tried to grow herb and vegetable gardens even though I didn’t really know what I was doing at all – I just loved it. “I left fashion because it was stressful and I wasn’t really enjoying it. I later went through a really stressful period and it was food growing that I turned to as something to make me happy, as it was completely removed from everything that was going on. “I started researching heirloom edibles and retrained in horticulture. I did my RHS Horticulture diploma and a course in garden design at Beth Chatto school, which is where I met Kate, and I have never looked back. “I started my Instagram account @shegrowsveg when my interest in growing unusual edibles properly began and here we are, several years down the line!” Kate’s introduction to gardening followed a very different path, as she shares: “It’s awful to use sowing analogies, but the seed was sown quite a long time ago,” she says. “My husband and I bought our first property in Brixton 20 years ago and it had a tiny garden, but the minute I had that, I started to figure out what I could grow there and what I could do with the plot. “Every house and garden I’ve bought since then has been an absolute wreck, so I’m the queen of renovating a piece of land covered in rubble, brambles and nettles and making it into something lovely. “As Lucy said, we qualified together about 6 years ago at Beth Chatto. We’d never met before, but we were from the same area and were living down the road from each other. We sat next to each other on the first day of a year-long course and just hit it off. “I’d been doing a lot of garden design on the side of my marketing job for friends and a few private clients, but Lucy’s been going solo since we graduated. She put a shoutout for volunteers for her Gardeners’ World Live garden, so I sent her a message about helping out. “We went out for a coffee about two days later, started chatting and, before I knew it, I’d quit my job and we decided to go into business together. I’m now 2 feet into this new adventure of ours and it’s been great.” “It felt a little bit like fate,” Lucy adds. “Everything since that initial conversation has just slotted so perfectly into place.” How Does The Design Process Change When There’s Two of You? “Between the two of us, we’ve got complementary skill sets, so I think the sky’s the limit,” shares Kate. “Lucy’s got a creative background and I come from marketing, so I know how to set up and run a company. We both have a passion for garden design, so with all of that, I feel like it’s a match made in heaven. “Every time we have an idea, we both tend to agree with it,” she continues. “I’m sure we’ll have our disagreements at some point, but we’re very much on the same page. “Our vision is similar, we’re very ambitious for the company and we’ve got loads of sparkly, great ideas.” What Is Your Process For Designing Gardens? “We feel quite strongly that it’s really important that people start growing some of their own food as there are so many more benefits to it than people realise,” says Lucy. “If more people embraced it it can have a really positive impact on the planet. “We have so many gardeners in this country that are really passionate, but they often want a really beautiful space and are ornamental gardeners. Ornamental gardening is way more popular in this country than food growing is. It’s certainly more aspirational. “Having come into horticulture relatively late on and from a background in design, I’ve never really understood why there’s this big divide between grow-your-own and ornamental gardening. They don’t tend to cross over, so that’s where we feel we fit in and what we want to do is blur that line. “We think gardens should be beautiful and we want to be able to facilitate gardens that have a beautiful outside space that can also produce a really abundant harvest. “We do use ornamental edibles or purely ornamental plants for pollinators in our designs, as they are really important, but we do try and promote harvesting in a garden in one way or another. “What we want to help our clients do is understand how to make the right choice in planting for their space,” adds Kate. “For example, we want them to think about the sustainable choices they can make, such as installing ways to harvest rainwater into their garden design. “Often, people who come to a design studio don’t tend to know a lot about gardening, so we feel we can help guide that process and get them thinking about the environment in their garden.” How Important Is The Online Gardening Community To You? I feel really lucky to be part of that community and for it to have been such a big part of my journey,” says Lucy. “It’s the new way for people to interact through gardening. “I think there’s a whole new generation of gardeners who don’t go straight to gardening books for advice. They prefer to learn through other people’s experiences and through knowledge sharing in the community. “I think the online gardening community is a bit like an old-school gardening club but on a really big scale, as people are there to support each other and answer questions which have been put out to a huge array of people. “Yes, not all of the advice is going to be by the book, but actually, some people’s experiences of a certain extreme can really open your eyes to what’s possible. “I think it is just starting to be understood how important the online gardening community is within the mainstream garden media. It’s a really important resource for new gardeners and it builds confidence more than other old-fashioned gardening advice tends to.” Do You Have Anything Coming Up That You Want To Share? “One of our big ideas is to launch a seed range by the end of the year,” shares Kate. “We’re in the process of exploring the best ways to do this and have been communicating with some brilliant individual growers for advice. “We also have a show garden at BBC Gardeners’ World Live and, at the same time, we are going to be launching our new website. We’ve got a monthly newsletter that people can already sign up to which is going to be full of growing advice and tips. “We’re launching a podcast in the autumn called the We Grow Podcast, where we will be going on a tour of the UK to learn about the latest trends in growing,” she adds. “We are going to be speaking to people at NASA who grow in space and horticulturists who are growing plants in unusual ways. “We will also be launching some courses to teach people how to grow vegetables. As you can tell, we’ve got a lot of amazing stuff planned!” What Advice Would You Give To Aspiring Gardeners? “Don’t be afraid to get it wrong,” says Lucy. “A lot of people are terrified to try as gardening can be quite prescriptive and there are a lot of do’s and don’ts. “There is nothing wrong with just having a go. Yes, sometimes it’s not going to work, but every garden has its own little microclimate, so what someone says works for them is not always going to work for you. “There are a million different things that could impact your garden, so the only way for you to really understand how to grow things is to try and to fail – and that’s okay. For every failure, you’ll have a success. “Sometimes you might have to try things several different times in different ways before it will work, but the fact that you’ve gone through that process will mean that you have learnt so much more than by just doing it by the book. “Trial and error is 100% the best way to learn.” “Just don’t be scared,” adds Kate. “It is intimidating if you feel like you know nothing. The online community out there will enable you to learn most of what you need. Buy that first bag of compost, get a few seeds and just try it. “Start small and don’t be afraid.”
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Sunil Patel And 13 Broom Acres: Opening Up His Garden To The Public For Charity
Sunil Patel has been documenting his gardening journey online for almost 10 years. He owns 13 Broom Acres, home to an open garden that can be visited during the summer months under the National Garden Scheme, and has even published his own book about his experiences, titled A Year In A Small Garden. I spoke to Sunil to learn more about his love of gardening and the garden at 13 Broom Acres. Please note that the imagery featured in this article is provided courtesy of Sunil Patel and 13 Broom Acres. How Did You Get Into Gardening? “I remember when I was a young child, my grandfather would exclusively grow two plants – African marigolds and spinach,” says Sunil. “I was amazed by the big, vibrant flower heads of one, and the fact that you could pick and eat the other. I wanted to have that same ‘green touch’ and this stayed with me, although dormant, through childhood and adolescence. “The gardening bug was finally unleashed in adulthood when I moved to a place with a small garden I could get thoroughly stuck into.” Why Do You Think You’re So Passionate About Gardening? “Gardening is my creative outlet and nature is the ultimate palette to draw from. “Being able to create something beautiful, calming, energising, nourishing, joyful, healing, refreshing; all of these things from a single space, is very fulfilling for me. “There’s also a sense of achievement and humbling responsibility in growing a community of plants, which condition the soil, that then brings in insects, bees, wildlife and, before you know it, you’re the custodian of a miniature thriving ecosystem.” How Did The Garden At 13 Broom Acres Become A Garden That The Public Could Visit? When Did This Become More Than A Hobby For You? “I got into gardening in a big way in a small garden,” he explains. “It was perfectly sized for a practice garden and I learned about soil, climate conditions, plants, pests and horticulture in general. “It was also then that I saw a TV series about people opening their gardens to the public under the National Garden Scheme. “I was so inspired by that TV series and by the mission of the National Garden Scheme that, when we moved to Broom Acres, one of the criteria was to have a larger garden that would also be suitable for an open garden. “You could say that it became more than just a hobby from the moment we moved. I was determined to create the best garden I could because of the opportunity I had in being given a much larger space to work with.” You’ve Been Blogging About Your Gardening Experiences For Years Now. How Important Is The Online Gardening Community To You? “I’ve been blogging for over a decade, which is probably over a century in internet years, and I’ve made several friends along the way. I’ve even met some of them as they were passing through on their holiday! “The online gardening community is very important because that’s where you’ll get gardening advice, ideas, inspiration, motivation and support. Everyone has valuable knowledge and experiences to share. “It’s also a great way to learn and understand the challenges of growing across a vast array of climates and conditions, from desert to mountains, coping with monsoon rain and dealing with bears. “We covet each others’ ability to effortlessly grow things we can’t while being thankful we don’t have to deal with each others’ pests and problems.” What’s Next For You And The Garden At 13 Broom Acres? Do You Have Any Upcoming Projects You’d Like To Share? “You’ve caught me right at the end of a nine-year project to create a garden from a suburban expanse of grass,” Sunil shares. “All the borders are dug and planted, all the piles of rubbish have gone, the neglected shrubs have been rejuvenated and the more rampant weeds have been firmly escorted from the premises. “That doesn’t mean the garden is done and that there’s nothing more to do. I have some gaps to fill with perennials and last winter also saw some established plants succumb to bitter cold, so they’ll need to be replaced. “It’s actually my favourite part of gardening, namely, filling the gaps and moving plants around. “It’s like I have the final draft script, but it just needs a little editing here and there to make it perfect.” What Advice Do You Have For Aspiring Gardeners? “I’d say absolutely give it a go. It’s simply not possible to fail at gardening because if something doesn’t work, there are always other ways, means and seeds or plants to try. “There’s endless resources and advice too, from TV programs, books, magazines, blogs, local gardening groups, nurseries, allotments and social media. “It can all be overwhelming, so start small, even if it’s just by sowing mustard seeds on wet kitchen paper (yes, that is how I got started). “Gain confidence and get more adventurous; you’ll soon be bitten by the gardening bug and there’s no recovery from that.”
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Allotmenteering With Joe Harrison: 'It’s A Good Idea To Grow A Few Things And Do It Well'
Having acquired his first family allotment in 2016, Joe Harrison has not stopped since and has gone on to document his gardening experiences for his army of followers. Known across social platforms as Grow With Joe, he is passionate about growing vegetables and encouraging young people to get involved, starting with his own children, who can be spotted getting their hands dirty in images captured on the allotment. Joe works as a Freelance Garden Writer and has hopes in the future to start his own gardening podcast. Learn more about Joe and all of his projects in his own words below. Please note that the imagery featured in this article is provided courtesy of Joe Harrison. How Did You First Get Into Gardening? “We were very lucky to have a large garden growing up, so there was always something to do outside,” Joe shares. “We would watch the fish, tadpoles, pond skaters and frogs in our pond. “We’d tend to our chickens by collecting eggs, cleaning them out, feeding them and watching them have a scratch about looking for insects and other treats in the soil. “Then there was, of course, our vegetable patch. This is where my passion really began and it’s all thanks to my grandad – ‘The Master Gardener’. “I have so many happy memories growing up in these wonderful surroundings. My grandad would lovingly tend to his vegetables, such as broad bean and pea plants, which were just perfect for a small boy like me to get lost amongst. “He would look after his vegetables from dawn until dusk, only stopping at lunchtime for a sandwich and a mug of tea. I have lovely memories of following him around his veg patch, soaking in as much advice as he would send my way. “Sitting alongside him, shelling peas and beans in the evening summer sun, is something which is still very close to my heart and are memories I look back on which bring so much joy and happiness. “It’s my hope that I am creating memories like these for my children to look back on with the same fondness.” Why Are You So Passionate About Gardening? “Gardening is just so rewarding, enjoyable and addictive for all the right reasons. I will never tire of seeing those first signs of life emerge from the soil, no matter how many seeds I sow. “Sitting down at the dinner table knowing you and your family are enjoying the food which you have grown really is the most satisfying feeling. By growing your own produce, it means you are in charge of how your produce is nurtured. You are in charge of how it’s grown, maintained and harvested. “Working alongside nature is such a joy and something I never take for granted. Being outside in the fresh air with your hands in the soil is such a fabulous mood booster.” Tell Me More About Your Experience With Allotment Growing… “I favour working alongside nature and keeping a healthy balance in the surrounding biodiversity,” says Joe. “This is why we are completely chemical and pesticide free on our allotment. “When visiting our allotment, you will see lots of nets and barriers to protect crops and a few munched holes in the odd leaf or root vegetable is common, which is all part and parcel of growing in a completely chemical-free, organic environment. “The end goal of this whole process wasn’t to be fully self-sufficient or to never need to visit a supermarket again. The goal was for our children to be involved from a young age. “We wanted them to know where their food comes from and to teach the skills and knowledge so they could grow it themselves. Seeing them sow, grow, tend to and then harvest and eat their own food makes me very happy indeed.” Do You Have Any Tips For Getting Children Involved In The Garden? What Are Some Good Plants To Grow To Introduce Them To Gardening? “Giving your children ownership of something is key to help motivate them. A great way to do this is to give them an incentive to venture outside, which you can do by giving them their own area of the garden or even just a plant pot to look after. “Strawberries are the perfect plants for children to have a go at because they’re fun to grow, really easy to care for and they’ll be rewarded with lots of yummy, sweet treats that they’ve grown themselves. “Creepy crawlies are always fun to find no matter how young (or old) you are,” he adds. “The great thing about this activity is that insects are all around us, so you don’t need to have a huge garden or even venture too far to find something. “Gently moving a plant pot or an old log can uncover lots of fabulous minibeasts for the kiddies to inspect, draw and if they’re brave enough, even hold. “Counting how many insects you find with your children and seeing how many different species you can spot is the perfect way to introduce them to nature and get them excited to be outside.” What Would You Say To Those Who Are Thinking About Giving Gardening A Go? “It can be a little daunting if you’re completely new to gardening, no matter how big or small your growing space. Whether you’re starting your gardening adventure on a new allotment or even in a container on a patio or balcony, just remember to try and start with a small selection of things. “It’s a good idea to grow a few things and do it well, rather than trying to grow lots of things and struggling. “Gardening is supposed to be enjoyable, so don’t put too much pressure on yourself if something doesn’t grow or dies suddenly. You may even find that something you grew successfully one year will be a complete disaster the next year, so don’t be disheartened – just have another go. “Gardening is all about having successes and failures and even the most experienced gardener will fail at things over the course of the growing season. “If you’re struggling or are really unsure about something, just ask. There is one subject growers really enjoy talking about and that’s gardening, so don’t be afraid to reach out. “If you don’t know the answer to something or need a little extra direction it really is ok to ask and I can almost guarantee it will be something someone has queried before. “Just remember, there are no silly questions if you don’t know the answer!” What’s Next For You And Grow With Joe? Do You Have Any Future Projects You’d Like To Share With Our Readers? “I think Mother Nature overheard me saying how much we were getting ahead with things during autumn and winter because she has thrown a spanner in the works with terrible weather in April and equally awful conditions in May, which has slowed everything down and put us behind with proceedings on the allotment somewhat. “However, more time spent catching up in the greenhouse with my hands in compost, sowing seeds and potting on has given me the opportunity to record more gardening videos for my Instagram followers, including the introduction of live chats. “These live videos have given me an opportunity to speak firsthand to my followers to offer help and advice and give them a little insight into what happens on our Suffolk allotment. “I am also hoping to start my podcast very soon which will be a chance to chat, answer questions and have some fun with my listeners each week. “However, my time thus far in 2023 has been taken up with lots of freelance garden writing and catching up on the allotment, so there has been a slight delay in podcast proceedings. “This is still a project I will be pursuing in the near future, which I am very excited about.”
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TV Presenter Flo Headlam: My Relationship With Gardening And The Wider Community
Flo Headlam is perhaps best known for her work on TV Shows such as Garden Rescue and Gardeners’ World, but her passion for gardening and what it means to the wider community is endless. With over 10 years of experience working as a Garden Designer, Flo is also a keen community gardener, working in various spaces in the South of England and with organisations such as Coco Collective. I was lucky enough to get her to speak to Flo and to hear about her career & relationship with gardening in her own words, which you can find in full below. Please note that the imagery featured in this article is provided courtesy of Jenny Smith. What Led You To A Career In Garden Design? “I got to a point where I needed a change in career,” Flo explains. “I’d been working for a charity for almost 14 years and I came back after a second round of maternity leave and thought that it was time to go and do something else. “At that point, I didn’t know what I wanted to do, I just knew I wanted to be doing something else. “I had all these skills and didn’t know where to put that focus, so I went to see a life coach, which was really valuable because it gave me the opportunity to think about things. “She gave me a blank piece of paper and told me to write down everything I wanted to do in my life. “I started scribbling down answers and when I looked back over it, the first five things I’d written included ‘grow my own produce’ and ‘do some landscaping’. “I realised after that I was subconsciously going around and redesigning people’s gardens as I walked past. I was thinking about what I would take out, change and add.” “I had my own little garden at home and I was always growing things,” she continued. “I liked being outside, but I didn’t realise how much deeper it went than that.” “I was talking to a friend and he mentioned he was doing his Level 1 Gardening Qualification at a college and he encouraged me to do it. It turned out that the course that was running was on one of my days off. I took that as a sign that things were starting to align for me. “I did a part-time horticultural course whilst I was still working at the charity and in that time I picked up two garden jobs on my other day off. I was working and studying full time and had the opportunity to slowly venture into horticulture. “In 2012, I left my job and started full-time as a gardener, doing maintenance and some little planting schemes. I studied for 5 years at Capel Manor College and completed my Garden Design Foundation and Diploma. “I was designing and looking after gardens when I met a producer from Gardeners’ World. They got in touch with me and I was on the show in 2016. “I think sometimes you’re just in the right place at the right time.” What Does Gardening Mean To You & How Has It Shaped Your Outlook On Life? “One of the things that really sits with me, when you’re gardening and working in outdoor spaces, is how connected you feel to the lifecycle of the seasons and nature. “I think that’s really important on lots of levels. Definitely on a mental health level. Being outdoors makes me alive and vital, but equally calm. It gives me huge satisfaction. “Although gardening in itself is quite slow, if you’re creating a border, planting or rejigging a space, you start the task and see it through to the end. That’s so satisfying – seeing the impact of your hard application is beneficial on so many levels. “That’s one of the greatest takeaways from gardening – a level of satisfaction from engaging with nature at whatever entry point you start. “Just working outside, working with nature, I’ve become much more sensitive in terms of what’s going on with the climate emergency and the environmental impact of everything I do. I’m very aware of the importance of passing on lessons to my clients.” Have You Got A Specific Process For Designing Gardens? “It all starts with getting a brief from a client and finding out what they want,” says Flo. “It might be very well thought out in their minds or it might not, so the beginning of the process is about understanding what it is they want. “Then I go and write up the brief and make mood boards, taking inspiration from different places, other designers, nature, architecture and other art forms, trying to distil all of that into an idea for the design.” “Every creative process is iterative. There’s some back and forth with the client and with myself until we’re all on the same page with the design. “The process begins again with the planting. The design plan is about what it will look like with the structures in place, but with any garden, it’s the planting that really creates the emotion in the space.” Do You Have Any Secret Tips For The Garden For Our Readers? “Often when people have a garden that they’ve acquired or had for a while they’re like – what do I do with it? Sometimes, the best thing to do is to keep things simple – don’t overwhelm the garden. My first piece of advice would be to do nothing. “Observe the garden for the first year, see what the garden is naturally doing, what grows, how the light falls. If you have the patience, that’s the best first response. “Then, it depends on what you want, too. If you want a cottage garden, you’ll want to make it soft with lots of different textures, pollinators, scent, a romantic feeling. Or you may want a more contemporary style, more ordered, calmer. “Then restrict the number of species you select and plant in bigger numbers so you get blocks of texture. Stick to mainly evergreens and lots of texture, with muted colours. Nothing to make the heart race. “Bringing scent into a garden is always a good idea because it has such an emotional effect on people. Smell is evocative and associated with our memories. “So, if you have a seating area and you have the option to grow plants around it, choose scented shrubs or climbers, as these are perfect for infusing the air with fragrance and adding another texture to the garden. “This can help to create a certain mood or energy depending on when you use that space. Some plants even release their fragrance in the evening, so you can plan accordingly. “Think of the garden as an outdoor room. It’s about dressing the area where you sit outside like a room inside your house – you want to feel equally comfortable in your outdoor space.” You Do A Lot Of Work With Community Gardens. How Important Are These Spaces, Not Just To You, But To The Rest Of Society? “Community gardening is really taking off around the country. While people have had allotments for decades, community gardens are popping up in spaces that people have reclaimed. “It’s part of this whole movement where people are realising that we have become so alienated from nature because of the way we live as a result of technology, modern living and the digital hegemony in our lives. “The movement is about realising that we need to get back to nature. Community gardens offer people an opportunity to grow another community with shared a purpose. It’s about people coming together to reclaim a piece of land, work it, grow on it and watch it develop. “The process is twofold: growth is happening to the people who are involved as much as to the land they are working. It’s a real vehicle for emancipation.” Are There Any Things That Are Particularly Good To Grow In These Spaces? “Different community gardens grow different things,” says Flo. “Coco Collective is an organisation close to my heart. It is a black-led community garden in South London. “As well as growing crops that are more commonly grown here in the UK, they are also trying to grow heritage crops found in the Caribbean. They’re having some success with it. “Gardening is as much about trial and error as it is patience and observation. I call it the ‘green classroom’. Every day is a school day and community gardening groups know this and embrace the ethos of shared learning and growth. “Everyone involved in it goes on some kind of journey. It’s a wonderful celebration of the human spirit.” Do You Have Any Career Moments That Stand Out To You? “My standout career moment is happening right now with Garden Rescue, which I’m loving,” says Flo. “It’s good fun, my best day at work and allows me to showcase all of my skills as a designer, presenter and a quirky, funny, energetic character.” How You Got Any Projects Coming Up That You’d Like To Share? “I’ve just taken on a commission for a client to ‘re-wild’ her garden, which is quite an exciting project. “It’s a big garden, around 140 feet long, and there’s lots of lawn that she wants to reduce and replace with wildflower meadows, bug hotels and a water feature. “It’s really nice because the garden at the moment is quite formal and this is about softening it and making it look so much more wild and organic. I’m really excited about that.”
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Danny Clarke's Work With Grow2Know: 'Whoever You Are, Gardening Is Good For You'
We had the pleasure of speaking with Garden Designer and TV Presenter Danny Clarke, also known as The Black Gardener. Danny is the Director of Grow2Know, a not-for-profit organisation set up by CEO Tayshan Hayden-Smith that aims to get young people from disadvantaged communities involved with gardening and horticulture. From chatting with Danny, it’s clear how passionate he is about this project, which he claims, to his delight, is slowly starting to take up more and more of his time. He also works on shows such as Love Your Garden and Filthy Garden SOS, having previously presented coverage of RHS Chelsea and Tatton Flower shows on the BBC. Read on to discover more about Danny and his incredible career in his own words. Imagery featured in this article is provided courtesy of Neil Marshment Photography. Where Did Your Journey With Gardening & The Great Outdoors Begin? “It all started, I think, from my childhood,” he said. “I was always outside in nature. My early years were spent outdoors, I was barely ever inside. “When I got my own garden, it evoked memories of my childhood. I remember my dad once saying to me to go out in the garden and find him a four-leaf clover – we know how rare they are. “When I looked at the clover in my own garden, I remembered what my dad said. I didn’t really know a plant from a weed when I first had my own space, but I found myself enjoying being outside because it was a link to my past. “When we have that link to our past, especially of happy memories, it’s quite comforting. Before I knew it, I just wanted to be in the garden all the time and it just became a real pleasure.” When Did You First Decide To Work In The Horticulture Industry? “I didn’t suddenly become a gardener, it was little steps first,” Danny shares. “Back in the 90s, I worked in sales and had my own business. One day, I got a phone call from a lady who wanted me to work for her in her garden. “I agreed to work for her for one day a week. I had no intention of being a gardener, it was just to bring a bit of money in and put food on the table. “What she didn’t know about gardening, you could put on the back of a postage stamp. She taught me that there’s beauty in everything if you choose to find it, and that just completely changed my frame of mind. “She became my mentor, and during the 3 years I spent with her before her death, people would approach me, offering me other gardening work. It eventually became a no-brainer and I turned to horticulture as a proper means of earning money.” She Clearly Had A Big Influence On You… “If I hadn’t known her, I wouldn’t be here talking to you.” Danny had many stories to tell about the woman that first hired him, but one story stuck out in particular. “At the Chelsea Flower Show last year, we had a lot of media attention,” he shared. “I was doing a radio interview, talking about how this woman became a mentor to me. When the interview was over, I turned around and saw her daughter, who I hadn’t seen since she had passed away all those years ago. “It was a really emotional moment and it meant a lot to me that her daughter heard all the amazing things I had to say about her mum. “Like I said, I would not be on this journey if it wasn’t for her.” Can You Tell Us More About Your Journey With Grow2Know? “I met the CEO of Grow2Know Tayshan Hayden-Smith soon after the Grenfell fire,” says Danny. “He turned to guerrilla gardening as a way of healing. He would find a community space and pick up litter or go and find some failing plants and nurse them back to life. “This got him talking to the community and he got a lot out of it. Shortly after, I was put in contact with him and, in the last 6 years, we’ve been on this amazing journey together. “Tayshan wanted to promote the virtues that he got out of gardening to a wider audience, which is why Grow2Know was formed. It’s all about bringing horticulture to as many people as possible. “We’re about diversity, inclusion and just saying to whoever you are, gardening is good for you.” What’s Been Your Favourite Experience With Grow2Know So Far? “I was involved with Grow2Know in producing a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show last year and it had a very strong message that was really well received. “Last year’s garden was paying homage to the immigrants who came to this country from the West Indies in the early 50s. We were telling the story of their bravery and the things they had to endure through the garden. “Our subject was a restaurant called Mangrove that was owned by Frank Crichlow, who came from Trinidad in the early 50s,” explains Danny. “It was an amazing place. Malcolm X, Mohammed Ali and Jimmy Hendrix all visited. “However, this restaurant was raided and brutalised by the police throughout the 1960s-1980s for no reason. “Within the confines of the premises, there were people that would protest peacefully against this. In one of the protests, 9 people were arrested and charged with causing a riot, which, of course, they didn’t. “The case went to court and the Mangrove nine defended themselves and won. It was a landmark victory which caused the judicial system to challenge the police, and the ramifications of this are still felt today. “Our garden told this story. We juxtaposed this brutality of man against man with man against nature. Mangrove trees are a safe haven for wildlife and we wanted to show that the restaurant should have been the same.” What’s Next For Grow2Know? “We’ve got some exciting stuff coming up in the near future,” Danny teased, joking that if we’d interviewed him in a couple of weeks he’d be able to tell us all about it. “We’ll be doing something at the Chelsea Flower Show this year. I never thought we would top what we did last year, but we are signposting a new idea for next year at this year’s show.” Can You Give Us Any Indication Of What It’s About? “It’s to do with inclusivity and a lack of access when it comes to nature for certain sections of the population,” says Danny. “For some reason, nature seems to be the preserve of people who have money. We are going to highlight that difference with this garden.” Do You Have A Process That You Follow When Designing Gardens? “When it comes to redesigning gardens, I try to keep as much from the existing garden as possible,” says Danny. “I work with a space and not against it. “As much as I can, I try not to rip anything out unless it’s necessary. I look to reuse things. For example, if there’s some crazy patio that needs removing, I won’t just throw the tiles away, I’ll break it up and use it as hard-core. “It’s taking that mentality of reusing and sustainability into my design space and working with what you’ve got whilst enhancing it. “For me, it’s also important to speak to the client and not impose what you think on them. They will be able to design the garden for you if you ask them the right questions. “That garden has got to be about their personality and not about you.” How Do You Make The Most Out Of Nature In Your Spare Time? “I get my fix not only from working in other people’s spaces, but I visit lots of great gardens near me and go on lovely walks near where I live. “A garden is your link to nature and what gives us that calm feeling. “There’s nothing nicer than going out into an open space and feeling the wind on your skin, listening to the birds tweeting and smelling the scent of flowers.” You’ve Had Such A Successful Career As A Horticulturist. Do You Have Any Career Highlights That You Are Particularly Fond Of? “One of my career highlights is obviously the Grow2Know stuff and the Chelsea Flower Show I did with them. “I was on The One Show last year at Buckingham Palace on behalf of the charity The Queen’s Green Canopy, encouraging people to plant trees in their garden to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. “Being able to talk about one of my passions at Buckingham Palace was a huge highlight. “I was also commissioned to build a COVID garden at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital 2 years ago to say thank you to the nurses, doctors and staff for being at the frontline of the pandemic. That was a real honour and a huge moment for me.” Do You Have Any Advice For Aspiring Gardeners? “People often beat themselves up and feel like they need to know Latin names and everything about each individual plant, but they don’t,” says Danny. “A lot of it is just instinctive.” “Being green-fingered is about observation. A plant will tell you what it needs and what it doesn’t need, and if a plant needs something, it won’t just die. They’re no different from people in this way.” “Don’t look at gardening as a chore,” he adds. “Look at it as something to be enjoyed and take a holistic approach. Just enjoy being in an outdoor space and be in touch with your surroundings. “Gardening gives you the excuse to be outside and encompass all that nature has to offer. If you’re out in your space and spot a weed, pull it up. Gradually build on this and you will find satisfaction from it. “Before you know it, it will infiltrate into your being and it just becomes a habit. That is definitely what happened to me.”
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Author Ann-Marie Powell On Her Mottos ‘Nature Amplified’ And ‘Plants, People, Place’
Award-winning Garden Designer Ann-Marie Powell has been designing private and commercial gardens since 1998 and has since become a prominent figure in UK Horticulture. In 2021, Ann-Marie released My Real Garden, a book based on the advice of the online community she fostered during the lockdowns of 2020, with proceeds going to the charity Greenfingers, of which she is a patron. RHS Gold Medalist Ann-Marie is also set to appear on an episode of Art of the Garden in June of this year. We spoke with her to learn more about how she found gardening, her career to date and some exciting plans for the future. Imagery featured in this article is provided courtesy of Charlie Hopkinson and Ann-Marie Powell. Can You Tell Us A Little About How You Got Into Gardening? “Unusually for a Garden Designer, I grew up without a garden, because my father was in the army,” says Ann-Marie. “My grandfather was a miner and lived in Leeds. He had a very small lawn that he was very proud of; I remember he used to cut it with kitchen scissors! He also had an allotment, which supplemented his family table but also gave him a deep connection with light and sunshine after spending all his days in the dark. “He was so inspiring and I think of him often.” Photo credit – Charlie Hopkinson “When I was in my early twenties, I went travelling and visited India, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand and Central America. That’s when I saw the magic that my grandfather was experiencing when he was not down a coal shaft. “I’d been doing textile design at college but dropped out as at that time of my life, I found the nightlife of Nottingham more fun than studying! But whilst abroad, the beautiful textures, fabrics and colours that nature puts together in a living landscape astounded me. “When I came back from travelling, I enrolled straight into a Garden Design Course at Capel Manor College in Enfield back in the mid-90s. I trained in Garden Design and Hard Landscape.” What Do You Love About Gardening? “I’ve been designing gardens for longer than I haven’t and I still get a kick from it,” Ann-Marie shares. “My grandfather once said ‘find a job you love and you’ll never work a day in your life’, and even though I do work very hard, I definitely feel that I took up his advice. “I’m also amazed at how horticulture is at the centre of almost everything we do. There’s a horticultural element in everything that shapes our day-to-day, and after so many years, I’m still learning. “I think it’s true to say that without plants, we’re screwed!” Do You Have A Process For Garden Design? What Are You Inspired By? “Inspired by all those years ago whilst travelling, for me, it’s all about amplifying what nature does so brilliantly,” she says. “We have 2 mottos in our studio: ‘nature amplified’ and ‘plants, people, place’. “Every garden is different, so we want to make sure that we’re designing each space for each individual client and their unique outdoor space – I don’t think any of our gardens are the same. “I think one thing we do really well and are not afraid of is colour. Back in the mid-90s, when I first started my practice, it felt like Garden Designers were being very safe when designing their planting schemes and there was a prevalence of green, whites and pastel colours. “I was very much influenced by Sarah Raven and Nori Pope, who were boldly putting together some exciting and very different colour schemes together. “So, my team and I are inspired by what nature does and what wildlife and ecology our work with plants brings into any garden we design, be it in a town or city. We like to embrace the wildness and the uncontrollability of nature to create exciting spaces for our clients and wildlife to live in harmony together.” You Mention You Garden In Your Spare Time – “Full-time,” she laughs. “Garden design is my vocation, but I don’t feel good about my life unless I go out into my garden every single morning before I go to work, and if I can, when I get home too! Photo credit – Ann-Marie Powell “I garden in almost any spare time that I’ve got – it just makes me feel better.” Do You Have Any Secret Tips Or Hacks That You’ve Developed Over The Years For The Garden? “I think you have to be true to yourself. “When people first start gardening, they’re very self-conscious about what they do in their own garden. It’s understandable, and when I first grabbed a trowel and a plant, I know I certainly was. You’re constantly thinking ‘am I doing this right?’, so I think that the best tip I can give to any starter gardener is don’t be afraid of plants because plants want to grow. “They don’t want you to plant them and then to curl up and die. Having a bit of confidence around plants actually enables them to grow better. Think about them as small beings, give them light, and water and feed them regularly. That’s all plants want really – a good start. “I also think one of the biggest things people have issues with is that they are really scared to edit their gardens. They’re worried that if they prune something, deadhead it or dig something up to divide it and make something smaller, they are going to kill the plant. “Editing is something that, as a gardener, you’re doing every single day when you step outside into the garden. You need to do what works for you and get rid of what doesn’t. Don’t let fear hold you back.” You Published A Book That Seems To Have A Real Focus On The Gardening Community. What Does This Community Mean To You? “At the start of lockdown, a lot of our projects got put on hold,” Ann-Marie explains. “Our studio designs a lot of high-end commercial and private gardens, and as lockdowns ensued, many of our clients were cautious about the future of their own businesses and obviously didn’t prioritise the services we usually offer. “It was a really frightening time for me, so I ended up doing what I love best and gardening my way, frenetically, through it quite honestly. “I found having my hands in the earth grounding and comforting, and it gave me some focus to my day in between doing whatever I could to keep the business afloat. I started doing Instagram lives on a different account called @myrealgarden where I shared what I was doing in my garden because I thought it might help people. “The community grew really fast. Every day at 12.30pm for 100 consecutive days I went live and showed people what I was doing in my garden on any particular day, it was such a positive experience for me and, suddenly, a large joyful, generous community was built. “I wanted to do something positive with this joyful community we had built. “It was the community’s idea that we crowdfund to do a book called ‘My Real Garden’, with a lot of the profits going to my favourite gardening charity Greenfingers, which I am a patron of. Greenfingers fundraise to build gardens in children’s hospices throughout the UK; it’s such important work. “We managed to crowd raise £35,000, (books are expensive to produce!) which I was blown away by. “Everybody from the My Real Garden community sent through pictures of their own garden, their gardening tips, tricks and hacks, and words about how gardening made them feel. My friend Tamsin Westhorpe spent countless hours editing and designing it all, and then had it printed and sent out. “It’s an amazing book. My favourite quote about the book is that ‘it’s a compendium of gardening joy’ – and it really is. It’s colourful, bright and unlike any gardening book that I’ve ever seen, so I’m very proud of it.” Do You Have Any Standout Career Highlights You’d Like To Share? “I was recently proud to be made a fellow of the Society of Garden Designers recently. To be picked out by your peers for your contribution to horticulture and garden design is really quite something. “It’s a huge honour because these people are those that I admire and have inspired me for the whole of my career, so for them to make me a fellow is quite extraordinary. “I was also thrilled last year when my team and I won the American Horticultural Society’s Environmental award for our show garden that we did at the Philadelphia Flower Show; that was super hard work for me and my time and came at a particularly difficult time for me personally. “I’m also proud to be a patron of Green Fingers, so I can try to enhance the every day of children with short lives, their families and the staff in the hospices that support them. “And, I love the My Real Garden community and what we’ve created together, inspiring people to garden because, whether professionally or personally, if I can give people a tiny bit of the pleasure that I get from my day-to-day gardening life, then I’ve done my job well. “I think my grandad would be dead proud of me.” Do You Have Anything Exciting Coming Up That You’d Like To Share? “There’s a documentary about me coming up on the Sky Arts show ‘The Art of the Garden,” says Ann-Marie. “It highlights selected Garden Designers throughout the series and talks about their work and their approach to design. “I’m really proud of that because it’s a really great series. I’m so nervous about my episode, but the show itself is so good!” Photo credit – Ann-Marie Powell You can watch Ann-Marie on Art of The Garden on Sky Arts on Tuesday 6 June at 7.00pm. Do You Have Any Advice For Those Who Are Thinking Of Giving Garden Design A Go? “Just do it because life is really short – don’t waste a moment. “If you’re wanting to get involved in Garden Design, you’ll never regret it. You might have less money than you’re used to if you’re changing your career, but my god, you’ll be happy.”
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