Be Inspired! Noel Kingsbury Reflects On The Memorable Moments From His Career

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Noel Kingsbury is an influential figure at the heart of the UK sphere of horticultural consultancy and planting design.

With a career spanning several decades, he is particularly noted for his advocacy of naturalistic and sustainable garden design – and his continued efforts to join ecological principles with aesthetic appeal.

Through his books, workshops, and projects – with insight grounded in the application of thorough research – Noel continues to inspire a new generation of gardeners.

Please note that the imagery in this article is provided with permission, courtesy of Noel Kingsbury and Malgorzata Kiedrzynska.

Your Journey In Horticulture Began At A Young Age. How Did This Early Passion Shape Your Career And Your Approach To Horticulture?

“My father was a very keen gardener, so as a child, I would be out in the garden with him,” shares Noel.

“My mother wasn’t a gardener, but she did know the names of all of the wildflowers, which I picked up from her.”

You Have Been Professionally Active In Horticulture Since 1986. Looking Back, What Were Some Of The Most Memorable Moments From Your Career?

“I used to have a small nursery business, so the first time I did an RHS show was probably the most memorable and career-changing experience,” he says.

“It was quite intimidating on that occasion, but I got a lot of interest from people and it was definitely a major moment in my career. To be able to go to these shows was such a wonderful thing, but the RHS don’t run them on a monthly basis anymore.”

With Over 25 Books Written On Various Aspects Of Plants And Gardens, Which One Is Your Favourite And Why?

“‘The New Perennial Garden’, which came out in 1996, was a real breakthrough for me,” Noel explains.

“It was based on some wonderful work I had come across in Holland and Germany, which was all about selecting plants from a garden in a scientific way from particular habitats.

“That book sold well and I think one of the strong features in it was these tables we had where we packed in as much information as we could, and people said to me that the knowledge there was really valuable.

“I most enjoyed doing a book called Garden Flora, which came out about 6 years ago. It was a source of non-horticultural aspects of garden plants, which had to do with their history and cultivation.

“Once I’d cracked it with the illustrations from old catalogue prints, that historical overview of how plants got from the wild into our gardens was really fascinating. I’m really proud of that one.”

You Have Also Launched Garden Masterclass Which Runs Day Workshops Throughout The British Isles. Can You Share Some Success Stories From These Workshops?

“When the pandemic happened, myself and Annie Guilfoyle, whom I have a business with, decided to take our content online and upload videos to share with people.

“During the first two months of lockdown, we did a broadcast 5 days a week where we interviewed lots of gardeners and horticulturists on a donations-only basis and we instantly created this global gardening community.

“It was an emotional survival tool for lots of people during that time. Once lockdown was lifted, we dropped the live broadcast down to once a week, and now we have expanded to do courses and webinars.

“We’re still trying to develop it and looking to commission some films in the future. It’s been a hugely exciting journey.”

How do you stay updated with the evolving trends in planting design?

“The key thing is to try and create plantings that are sustainable and actually benefit wider biodiversity,” he advises.

“I think it’s really important that all plantings have wildlife in mind, and we should be looking at public spaces and parks with conservation at the forefront so there is no conflict between that and functionality.

“The crucial thing is to create planting combinations that are stable enough to become artificial ecosystems. Quite a few of us have been working on that for years now.

“We’ve learnt a lot, but we still have a lot to learn. For me, it’s very important to get out and about and see what other people are doing.”

What Is Your Favourite Thing About Your Job?

“I think it is the work I do with Garden Masterclass. It’s that opportunity to be part of and help create a community. It is also an opportunity to travel. I love putting people in touch with each other.

“One of my favourite things I did was mentor a woman in Argentina over email who went out and did everything I suggested and really began to build up a practice, using native plants for the first time ever from where she was living in Uruguay.

“Somebody else popped up in Southern Brazil who wanted to do a similar thing, and I managed to put them in contact, so they began to fly out to each other to work together.

“It was wonderful to have passed that knowledge on. It was a really special experience.”

Are There Any Upcoming Publications Or Projects That You Are Particularly Excited About?

“I’m working on a planting design for a new garden in Regent’s Park in London,” explains Noel.

“It is a one-hectare site which is still in the planting stages, but we are hoping for an opening in 2026. That’s really exciting to be working on.”