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do some filming but I’m not building<br />
anything now.<br />
HOW DO YOU GO ABOUT BUILDING A<br />
GARDEN FOR CHELSEA?<br />
It can be 12 months to 2 years planning<br />
but at one point I was doing them back to<br />
back finishing one then moving straight<br />
onto the next one. But it’s fascinating, it’s<br />
how I built my career.<br />
“I think ultimately<br />
gardens are about<br />
4 things; People,<br />
Space, Plants <strong>and</strong><br />
Place.”<br />
HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT YOUR<br />
FIRST CHELSEA GOLD?<br />
If I’m honest, I think I was slightly<br />
oblivious to what they actually meant. My<br />
dad was a l<strong>and</strong>scaper <strong>and</strong> he built early<br />
John Brooks gardens in the early 70s I<br />
recently met Professor David Stevens<br />
Garden designer who also worked for<br />
John Brooks. We were talking about<br />
Chelsea <strong>and</strong> he said that my dad would<br />
have been a few gardens along from<br />
where we were. David also taught me a<br />
lot about design in that sense.<br />
WHEN YOU START A DESIGN IS IT<br />
FROM A THOUGHT OR ARE YOU<br />
PLANNING IT IN ADVANCE?<br />
It depends on whether its for a client.<br />
I think ultimately gardens are about 4<br />
things; People, Space, Plants <strong>and</strong> Place.<br />
It’s normally one of those that I tap into<br />
first <strong>and</strong> it might be a bit of l<strong>and</strong>scape<br />
it might be an individual picture I’ve<br />
seen it might be the shape of something<br />
whatever it is that gives me an insight<br />
into a person or if it’s a show garden what<br />
particular design will drive it that’s how I<br />
start <strong>and</strong> then create from there.<br />
DO YOU THINK BEAULIEU WILL BE A<br />
REGULAR EVENT NOW?<br />
I think so, I walked in <strong>and</strong> thought<br />
what a glorious piece of l<strong>and</strong>scape<br />
<strong>and</strong> the moment I walked in the gate it<br />
had a good feel. People really enjoyed<br />
themselves <strong>and</strong> as a setting it had quite a<br />
lovely intimate feel to it, even the stages<br />
had an open canopy, <strong>and</strong> everybody<br />
was sensible <strong>and</strong> had plenty of space.<br />
The st<strong>and</strong>ard of the displays was really<br />
good <strong>and</strong> Hilliers had gone there <strong>and</strong><br />
built a garden, so it was great that you<br />
had something there of Hilliers quality. I<br />
think a positive out of the last 15 months<br />
is that people have slowed down have<br />
connected or reconnected with what’s<br />
outside their back door or in the area.<br />
I’ve seen a report saying we now have<br />
3 million new gardeners. Everybody<br />
www.minervamagazines.co.uk | 23
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