Souren Ala gave an interesting and instructive talk to the Grayshott Gardeners on 9th July on growing wildflower meadows.
Souren grew up on the UK and in Iran and has lived in the USA, returning to the UK in 1998. He has an advance degree in Geology and spent ten years involved in hydrocarbon exploration and contaminated land investigation prior to taking up his current career. Being largely taught, he obtained a Level II RHS certificate at the turn of the Millennium and for the last twenty-three years has been engaged in garden design. He began writing for the journal of the Hardy Plant Society (The Hardy Plant) in 2014 and became its editor in 2019. He trades as Dynamic Gardens, designing and creating outdoor spaces for mainly private clients and some commercial and says that gardening is an art and a science. He has a particular interest in bulbs and wildflower meadows.

Souren talked on the history of meadows, maintenance and construction. Traditional meadows evolved from domestic animals, but it is a sad fact that we have lost 97% by area of wildflower meadows since the early 20th century. He said the key to a meadow is preparation and maintenance, what sort of plants do well, to use a nurse crop of annuals and to add bulbs. He advocates the Chelsea Chop and to always remove the clippings.
The evening concluded with questions from the floor.