The Garden- Introduction
The Beginning
He first began garden at around the age of 3 or 4 when he would help his mother and father on their garden. The joy of sowing, planting, husbandry and harvesting was unleashed and has never left him. Although for many years a practising and exhibiting artist his art activities have now been directed into the landscaping and design and management of his large garden in the county of Wiltshire, England. He said: "My garden might be said to be my studio now and each part therein being a canvas on which I paint. As for the landscape and wildlife: they were always my first friend and teacher. If Heaven or the Elysium Fields mean anything then it is as a garden where our highest ideals and hopes live in perpetual harmony and fecundity.".
This mammoth undertaking commenced in 2012 - the garden being gradually converted from a small unused field attached to the house. All the work has been undertaken single-handed by the Founder. He admits it is a 7 day a week full,-time unpaid job, which when combined with actually running the Trust leaves him no time for anything else.
Design
It now a designed suite of 'rooms': Fishpond; Waterfall; Wetland; Orchard; Beach; Vegetable parterre garden; Urn Garden; Moorish courtyard; Herbarium; Butterfly garden; Woodland; Cottage garden; Tropical garden; and also various collections (Grasses, Conifers, Dianthus, Heathers, Fuchsias, Roses, Phormiums, Begonias, Acers, Coastal) all being separated by sections of lawns, hedges, low walls of brick and Cotswold stone, large wooden archways, pergolas, arbours, and paths. Another feature are life size statues of ancient Greek deities and mythological creatures. There are over 23 separate seating areas, 5 patio areas, and 12 free-standing fountains.
Over the short number of years since conversion from a field, it has grown to embrace a variety of plant collections and thematic rooms and range of landscapes vistas together with wildlife habitats. It is of course always evolving. There is always at least one new project in progress at any one time throughout the year. There is a dynamic interplay and harmony of: unity in diversity, formal and informal.
Insipiration
What lay at the heart of the garden and what is its inspiration? Since he was a small child living in the rural West Country of England, he became deeply imbued with the power of Nature, the heritage of trees, and spirit of place and luminosity of certain landscapes. And later when he became an artist Joy, wonder and celebration were never far from his approach to Nature in his art. The magical insight or revelation of the given moment of a particular view or perspective, or hidden aspect or corner of the rural vista combined with a haunting timelessness- and restlessness. His landscape paintings were like a series of secret gardens intuitively discovered. His paintings expressed a sculptural timelessness and person-like quality to the trees in particular - sculpturally defined like ancient creatures, waiting in the landscape for humans to once again know their language and bring them to life. Yet to him they were friends, and hauntingly sang to him.
His garden continues this symbiotic relationship and constant awe and wonder and love of Nature and the landscape.
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