GARDENING
largely formal, with cross-axial gravel paths that
divide the garden into quarters and a structural
backbone of clipped hedges, inspired by the
stained glass windows in the chapel. At the centre
is a fountain with a pool and on the pool’s floor
will be a mosaic depicting Princess Beatrice’s
heraldic crest and the garden follows a red, blue
and gold colour scheme inspired by the crest.
“Many of the plants we have chosen would
have been available in Beatrice’s day,” said Chris,
“ but these rub shoulders with
post-Edwardian varieties that
are more robust, or have better
resistance to pests and diseases,
than earlier varieties. We have
used those that would be most
suitable to the site and the
conditions they need to survive
in.”
There are many stars amongst
the herbaceous borders but
some of the most notable are:
Rosa ‘Boule de Neige’ – a
shrub rose from 1837 with
heavily scented white flowers,
Nepeta tuberosa – a cat mint
with tall spikes clad with purple
flowers,
Rosa sericea subsp. omeiensis
f. pteracantha – a rose with
broad crimson thorns that was
first grown in 1890,
Rudbeckia occidentalis ‘Green
Wizard’ – also known as the
The Island's most loved magazine
life
western coneflower, this perennial has green
flowers,
Euphorbia x pasteurii ‘John Philips’ – a recently
introduced spurge with honey-scented flowers,
Papaver orientale ‘Louvre’ – new Oriental poppy
with white, wavy petals.
“I caught the gardening bug at the age of four
- thanks to my Gran and a birthday present of
seeds and a watering can,” said Chris. “ Ever
since receiving and sowing my first packet of
seeds all I ever wanted to do was work with
plants.
“After leaving school I went to train in
Horticulture at Pershore College and after
working in the industry I returned to studies
this time for a four year post grad course
in Landscape Architecture. I practised as a
Landscape Architect then took on a full time
lecturing role back at Pershore College and I
now combine my own busy design practice with
media work. I do however, maintain my strong
links with education and teach part time at the
Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh and have
been the external examiner at Falmouth College
University for the last four years. “
And who are the people who most influence
Chris’s design work? “I certainly have a love of
the arts and crafts movement in this country for
its appreciation of nature and art and I particularly
admire great plants people such as Gertrude Jekyll.
I guess one of the most influential designers for
me was Thomas Maws