Reckless Gardener - Online Gardening Magazine, including online gardening shop!

Design - Large and small gardens in town or country, formal or informal with a contemporary touch.

Awards – Gold medal and Garden Designer of the Year, Thames Valley Flower Show 1997; Silver medal, Blenheim Palace Flower Show 2002.

Qualifications – Diploma in Garden Design, Oxford College of Garden Design; RHS General Diploma in Horticulture.

Most exciting garden designed? - a Contemporary small town courtyard.

What inspires you about each garden that you design? - Keeping the client's desires in mind while designing a garden which not only compliments the house but also has that something special which appeals to the senses on a higher level.

Is there a plant that seems to be consistently used in your designs? – It changes depending on the site and situation of the garden, but I do often use purple leafed Heucheras for their colour and texture, and the fact that they are easy to care for and remain evergreen in the south of England.

How do your clients cope with looking after their garden once you and your team have left? – I provide a plant guarantee service which includes quarterly visits to make sure the plants are thriving and replacing any which have failed together with specific maintenance advice to the client for the time of year, plus an annual review to see whether the planting is successful, and what might need to be added or taken away. I can also recommend a gardener to cover spring and autumn maintenance, or at more frequent intervals if required.

What is the average time scale for a typical garden? Approx one month from initial consultation to final plans, construction time will depend on the size of the garden and the complexity of the project and the availability of the contractor, but usually between 2 and 6 weeks.

Advice to would be designers? – Find a garden design course at a design school which is in tune with your own philosophy.