Design and Consultancy

• I am available to work as a consultant on all aspects of planting design and the ongoing management of larger country gardens and public spaces.

• Resilient and long-lived herbaceous plantings designed for reduced maintenance – I am internationally recognised as a leading authority on the development of herbaceous plantings with a wild edge – which because of their composition on the basis of an understanding of plant ecology have a substantially lower maintenance requirement than conventional herbaceous borders – as well as a long season of interest. Such plantings also have considerable wildlife interest and complement rural or heritage surroundings.
• I work with landscape practices on a consultancy basis, advising on plant selection issues. Recent projects have included the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill, Sussex.

•  Development and maintenance programmes. I am available for consultancy, the drawing up schedules for the maintenance and ongoing development of larger gardens and planted areas in public spaces, and staff selection and training. I believe that maintenance should be seen as an on-going creative process, by which gardens develop over time
•  Green roofs and living walls. ‘Green engineering’ offers architects, landscape designers, builders and gardeners exciting possibilities to use plants on roofs and grow large climbers up walls. I am available to advise on the horticultural specification and design of such features. With Dr.Nigel Dunnett of Sheffield University I have written the first book in English on this exciting new field.

Projects

Most of the design projects I have been involved with over the last few years have been large scale or in the public sphere. All have been about selecting robust plants suitable for the ecology of the site, and which can be expected to compete with each other successfully. Keeping the site weed free during the establishment phase (the first two to three years) is vital; after this things can be ‘let go’ much more. The result will be an increasing density of vegetation as clump-forming perennials spread, and seedlings begin to appear. ‘Conventional’ plantings appear sparse and gappy by comparison – the idea is that as the density of desired plants increases and begins to approach that of ‘natural’ vegetation, the opportunity for the infiltration of aggressive weedy species decreases. In this way, a stable vegetation community begins to develop. This is all very similar to the concept of ‘enhanced nature’ developed by my colleagues Nigel Dunnett and James Hitchmough at Sheffield University.

The Promenade at Bexhill on Sea, Sussex, a very challenging project, undertaken as  a consultant for HTA Landscapes. The plants have to survive storms, seaspray and almost constant wind.

Terrace at Cowley Manor, Glos.

Three Lamps traffic island, Bristol.

Perennials with an annual overlay for the first summer. Rawnsley Rd. Bristol

A very challenging site (Malago Rd. Bristol).