THE SECRETS OF GARDEN DESIGN
Grayshott Gardeners were treated to a very interesting talk by Nick Turrell who is an award-winning freelance gardening journalist. His writing appears in The Sunday Times, The Guardian, The RHS magazine and Daily Telegraph.
He also designs gardens all over the country having studied with the late John Brookes MBE. His design work includes Bowden Park Estate in Wiltshire. He has also worked with Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh and Carol Klien, presented gardening programmes on TV with Jane Asher, on radio with Steve Wright in the Afternoon on BBC Radio 2 and is a regular garden expert on BBC Radio Leicester.
Nick started his talk by telling the audience that it was the bone structure of a garden as to why we liked some gardens more than others. Gardens need a strong design, colour is only a small part of the jigsaw, and he set out ideas for a bone structure.
- Repetition – to use fewer plant varieties and repeat them
- Symmetry – to engage you. Pots either side of a bench, a path either side with lavender.
- Framing – a window cut into a hedge focusing attention to the other side.
- Optical illusions –mirrors can create interest by reflections in the garden and vanishing points and texture
- Accessories – large pots do not need to have plants in them; they can be in a flower bed. Use as an exclamation mark. Consider the outlines and shapes which can add maturity to an immature garden.
- Height – Uninteresting gardens lack height. Obelisks are a great way to create height and for plants to grow up.
- Lighting – uplighting is great for highlighting interesting plants and creating mood.
- Water – interesting for any garden, whether you have running water or still. Encourages wildlife and tranquillity.
Nick ended his talk by saying that impatience is the enemy of good garden design and that you should enjoy your garden, have fun with them as they are so good for our wellbeing.
