My garden

This garden has been a labour of love, created by my partner and I, by hand over the course of three four. When we bought the house, it had been empty for 7 years and the garden was covered in 6 foot high brambles and foxes dens. We spent a day levelling the site and removing a tonne of earth through our narrow hallway, I have bought ladybirds on the internet to ward off aphids and I have tried and failed to make peace with the foxes whose home it once was.  The design is informal, using flowing shapes and bold colours. As I spend most of my working life with my hands in the soil, I wanted the garden to be easy to maintain - maximum one hour a week of pottering was my brief to myself. The planting plan therefore features robust perennials, pollinator friendly flowers with herbs dotted around the borders and clipped bay balls for winter interest and kitchen use. The planting palette plays off the bright yellow and terracotta walls, creating a vibrant, private space. And yes, the shed is an homage to Derek Jarman’s cottage.