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After studying for three years at the University of Bristol’s Botanic Gardens, I qualified in the “Principles and Practices of Horticulture” and “Garden Planning, Construction and Planting Design” with the Royal Horticultural Society. Leaving behind a successful career in law I switched to a career in horticulture.
I began my horticultural career first in garden management, which has given me the practical experience necessary to envisage creating gardens that are practical, as well as aesthetically pleasinng, and allowed me to develop my style of planting.
I have worked in private gardens of all sizes and types, including those designed by RHS gold medal winners Butter Wakefield and Darren Hawkes. Former clients include Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack.
I have undertaken practical training in the building and repairing of dry stone walls with the Dry Stone Walling Association of Great Britain.
I took part in an episode of the BBC’s ‘Garden Rescue’ (Series 3, episode 10 televised on 8th June 2018).
I left Bristol in the UK in early 2018 to start a new life in France with my wife and two children, and have been filmed by Channel 4’s ‘A New Life In The Sun’ following our journey (televised between 12th and 14th February 2020).
MY PHILOSOPHY
My design and planting philosophy is based around the following core principles:
- Minimal/no use of synthetic herbicides or pesticides wherever practicable.
- Water harvesting and preservation in an increasingly hot climate is essential.
- Use of durable, natural materials, recycled materials, or materials obtained from a sustainable source wherever possible.
- Mulches are essential as a means of improving soil structure, water retention, weed prevention and benefiting soil organisms, all of which in turn lead, in my opinion, to healthier, more resilient and better performing plants.
- I advocate a ‘no dig’ approach to vegetable gardens. Delicate soil ecosystems must be preserved wherever possible to avoid releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere unnecessarily.
- I use a range of trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs that work with Mediterranean xeric, meadow/prairie and steppe styling and that are, once established, well adapted to periods of dry weather.
- I use ‘no fuss’ attractive plants that, once established, require no cossetting, support, excessive irrigation, no special fertilising requirements, or need other constant special attention from the gardener.
- I use geometrical structure and juxtapose it with the softness of naturalistic planting.
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