Mark Lane: ‘Sustainability, Biodiversity And Accessibility Are Core [To] My Practice’

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Mark Lane is a TV Presenter and award-winning Landscape Designer who has worked on a range of shows including BBC Morning Live and Gardener’s World – and most recently designed BBC Morning Live’s Budget Friendly Garden at RHS Hampton Court in 2023.

He also regularly presents coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show on the BBC and has written countless gardening columns for publications such as The Guardian and The Sunday Telegraph.

I speak to Mark about the origins of his career and some of his favourite memories of his career in gardening.

Note that images in this article are provided with permission from Mark Lane.

How Did You First Get Into Gardening?

“I first got into gardening when I was a young boy,” shares Mark. “I remember following my grandparents around in the garden.

“My grandad used to grow vegetables at the end of the garden and would teach me how to look after the soil, how to plant things, how to care for the plants, how to take cuttings and how to sow seeds.

“My grandmother was a flower arranger, so she taught me about colour, shape, form and texture and how to put them all together. Obviously, at the time, I had absolutely no idea that it would stick with me for years to come, I was probably only 5 or 6!

“I always cherish those lovely moments that I had with my father’s parents.

“On my mother’s side, my grandparents’ garden was just full of roses. As kids, all we ever wanted to do was go outside and play, but my grandmother used to get us going out there to crush the aphids with our fingers and pick up the leaves that had black spot on them.

“I have such fond memories of being with all of my grandparents in the garden.”

From That, What Led You To A Career In Horticulture?

“I became interested in landscapes whilst I was studying Art History at University College London” Mark explains. “There was always a love of nature present during my time there.

“I then went into publishing and dealt with a lot of landscape architects throughout my time as the Publishing Director for The Royal Institute of British Architects. From this, I really got to learn about the importance of how these two things, art and nature, work together.

“Later on I became the Managing Director of Thames & Hudson and we started publishing lots of gardening books. I was the commissioning editor on these and absolutely loved it. I worked with people like Christopher Lloyd, Beth Chatto and many other leading horticulturists.

“Unfortunately, in 2000, I was in a car crash and I had to rethink my career path because I didn’t want to travel into London every day. My publishing company were amazing, they kept my job open until I decided what I wanted to do.

“Throughout my rehabilitation, I got very lucky, as there was a Horticultural Therapist based where I was recovering. She used to take me outside and I was able to sow some seeds.

“She was obviously focusing on how I was moving and breathing, but all I was focusing on was the flowers and the warmth on my face from the sun. For those 10-15 minutes each day, I forgot about everything else and just focused on that.

“I got home one day and my husband encouraged me to look into doing something more creative combined with my love of gardening and plants. I wasn’t convinced, but I started looking around online for some online courses I could do.

“Shortly after I started up Mark Lane Garden Designs Ltd and from that, television, presenting and everything else just sort of came along.”

Do You Have A Process For Designing Gardens? Is There Anything You’re Particularly Inspired By?

“I’m very much inspired by the landscape and the architecture, so I’m very lucky that in most of my projects there is a really beautiful property attached to the space I’m designing.

“I want to also make sure that the garden fits in with the landscape around it. I like to go and look around the garden to see what’s growing nearby. If I can, I use those plants or cultivated versions of those plants in the garden, so it’s almost like a seamless connection between the garden and the landscape.

“For me, it’s about trying to find the most sustainable ways of creating a garden that hopefully will be used for many years to come. It also needs to be rich in biodiversity.

“With me also being in a wheelchair, I focus on making the spaces accessible and ensuring that they can be used for many years to come with regards to the people who own it.

“None of us knows what’s going to happen, so it’s worth encouraging the clients to think at those early stages about accessibility and how long they want to live at that property.

“Sustainability, biodiversity and accessibility are the core parts of my practice.”

Do You Have A Favourite Memory Of A Garden You’ve Designed?

“There was one garden that surrounded an old 18th-century house,” shares Mark. “It was huge and surrounded by trees.

“That gave me the idea to create a woodland glade garden because there were no visible boundaries in terms of walls and fences, so it looked like the garden just went on and on.

“It was one of those spaces that I really wish we got to finish, but sadly the client ran out of money.

“Having said that, every garden is special for me because we are creating these outdoor spaces for clients that can be completely varied. That’s why I love it so much.

“These spaces will hopefully be used for many years to come, so they’re all special in their own way.”

What Are Your Standout Career Moments?

“Doing the RHS BBC Morning Live Budget Friendly Garden was a great one to do, especially with the cost-of-living crisis, as it was a great way of showing people that gardening is good for us and our pocket if we just think about things in a slightly different way.

“I planted a tree at The Eden Project for The Queens Green Canopy, which I felt very lucky to do.

“I also obviously loved meeting Christopher Lloyd, as he was a real hero of mine when it came to planting and plant combinations. I almost became completely tongue-tied because I was in so much awe!

“I think, on a day-to-day basis, the first time I covered Chelsea for the BBC was something that will stick with me forever.”

Do You Have Any Upcoming Projects You’d Like To Share?

“I’m working with the charity SENSE on their beautiful property TouchBase Pears,” he says. “It comes with quite a large site, so we are turning most of it into an accessible garden.

“We want it to become a guide for those who are also looking to make accessible spaces. Funding is one of the main issues with the client being a charity, but they’ve just managed to raise enough to get started, so that will be amazing and hopefully change a lot of people’s lives for the better.

“I work with and am an ambassador for the charity Thrive and they attend and hold sessions at TouchBase pear, so getting people with disabilities together through gardening to positively change people’s lives is something I am proud to be a part of.

“I’m also working with the Actor Rory Kinnear to start a garden for a home he set up for those with severe disabilities.

“It’s about making it a playful space that is still suitable for adults, which will hopefully make such a difference to the lives of the people who live there.”

What Advice Would You Give To Aspiring Gardeners?

“Just keep trying,” says Mark. “That’s the beauty of gardening, we all learn from our mistakes.

“Start with smaller plants. It’s a lot cheaper and, before you know it, they’ll fill out your garden and it will look amazing.

“Incorporate gardening into your life and you’ll feel so much better.

“For aspiring designers, just go for it. We really need young people to come into the industry and horticulture. Garden designing is an incredible career to have. Yes, 70-80% of your time will be spent at your computer coming up with the designs, but the other time you’re out meeting people and discovering new trends.

“No day is ever the same, which is why I love it so much. You get such a reward from seeing your client smile and knowing you got it right. Just keep at it.”