We bought our house because it had a well-established, large garden – it was designed in a style which was in keeping with the Arts and Crafts style house built in the 1920s. We loved the wonderful old trees and were persuaded to commit ourselves to the hugely labour intensive outdoor swimming pool! Once I retired I set about doing a lot of clearing, replanting, remodelling of borders and building new features. It is now more of a ‘plantsman’s garden’ with some unusual and interesting woodland plants and shrubs and a secret glade at the bottom for children to play in.
It provides me with good exercise, a reason to learn more about plants and horticulture, a place for parties and playing children and an opportunity for making new friends. Since I retired I try to pop out into the garden every day – it is wonderful to see the plants, birds and other creatures change with the seasons.
Nothing in the garden is permanent – I see every cleared border as an opportunity for a new design. We have a beautiful collection of life-size bronze statues by Brian Alabaster which look perfect in our garden.
I probably spend about three days a week in the garden – I fit this in with playing golf, looking after my grandchildren and being a member of the house committee at the Royal Automobile Club with responsibility for the renovation and development of the gardens at the Woodcote Park Country Club. Every day is busy and I love doing all the things I didn’t have time to do when I worked in the NHS. I have found time for designing gardens for friends and relations – the rule ‘right plant, right place’ works every time.